Bill > SB950

This bill aims to support the development of a trauma-informed child welfare system in Hawaii by authorizing the Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR) to design and implement comprehensive organizational assessments and training for the Child Welfare Services branch. Specifically, the bill requires the OWR to create evidence-based assessment tools to evaluate the branch's policies, procedures, and staff well-being, focusing on addressing the impacts of trauma on both children and service providers. The assessments will include tools to measure worker experiences with vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout, and will develop a training curriculum that includes mentorship, branch-wide trauma-informed care training, specialized supervisor training, and ongoing technical assistance. The bill appropriates $425,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support these efforts, and allows the OWR to contract with public or private entities to help implement the program. The legislation is grounded in findings that children and families in the child welfare system experience significant trauma, and that a trauma-informed approach can help prevent retraumatization and support better outcomes for all involved. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=950&year=2026