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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2037 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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C.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PROJECT KEALAHOU.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that despite intervention efforts, girls are at greater risk than boys for sexual abuse, running away, truancy, suicide, prostitution, and further victimization. These challenges require interventions tailored to the unique psychosocial and interpersonal characteristics of girls. Accordingly, Project Kealahou was developed in response to broad recognition among leaders and workers in Hawaii's public child-serving system that established treatment programs do not adequately address challenges encountered by adolescent girls.
The legislature further finds that Project Kealahou is a six-year, federally funded program housed within the child and adolescent mental health division of the department of health that promotes community-based, individualized, culturally and linguistically competent, family-driven, youth-guided, and evidence-based services. In addition to these standard system of care principles, Project Kealahou also emphasizes gender-responsive and trauma-informed care when serving its target population of adolescent females age eleven through twenty-one who have experienced significant trauma in their lives. Project Kealahou offers a relatively low-cost array of community-based services and support that provide cost-effective deterrents and alternatives to more expensive and disruptive out-of-home placements for youth and a range of cultural and recreational community-based group activities to help youth and their families reconnect with each other and their communities.
The legislature also finds that federal funding for Project Kealahou is phasing out by October 2014. State funding is therefore needed to continue and expand the array of services offered by Project Kealahou to at-risk youth and their families. Although services are currently offered only in limited catchment areas on the island of Oahu, ideally, these services would be expanded to include additional areas on Oahu as well as the neighbor islands.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for Project Kealahou.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $216,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the continued funding of Project Kealahou within the child and adolescent mental health division of the department of health.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.
Report Title:
Department of Health; Project Kealahou; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for the continued funding of Project Kealahou within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health. (HB2037 CD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.