THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

106

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES AND CHILD WELFARE SERVICES CONDUCT A STUDY INTO SAFE SHELTER OPTIONS FOR YOUTH.

 

 


     WHEREAS, runaway and homeless youth on the street are at high risk for assault and sexual victimization, have no safe place to sleep, and lack proper nutrition; and

 

     WHEREAS, current Hawaii law requires parents or guardians to provide consent before a minor may be admitted into an emergency shelter; and

 

     WHEREAS, situations arise when that consent cannot be obtained because a parent or guardian either cannot be reached or refuses consent; and

 

     WHEREAS, unless Child Welfare Services opens an abuse or neglect investigation in these instances, the youth may not be admitted into the shelter and will likely spend the night on the street; and

 

     WHEREAS, children are entitled to emergency shelter benefits in the same way as adults and should not be denied services and forced to remain on the streets; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Youth Services and Child Welfare Services are requested to conduct a collaborative study into safe shelter options for youth concerning the following:

 

     (1)  How a runaway or homeless youth may access emergency shelter;

 

     (2)  What services and resources will be available to the youth during the emergency shelter stay;

 

     (3)  What longer term shelter options may be available to the youth after short-term, emergency stays may expire;

 

     (4)  What is the role of Child Welfare Services during the emergency and the longer term shelter stays; and

 

     (5)  How the legal liability concerns of shelter providers may be addressed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Youth Services is requested to submit a resulting report to the Legislature, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services, the Director of Child Welfare Services, and the Director of the Office of Youth Services.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Shelter Admission; Youth Services; Child Welfare Services; Study