Bill > SB1399

This bill establishes a five-year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience to help prevent child welfare system involvement by supporting at-risk families. The program will provide trauma-informed peer support navigators with lived experience to help families enroll in public benefits and access cultural programming, as well as offer financial assistance for essential needs like food, clothing, housing, childcare, and transportation. By December 31, 2025, the office must create a data and referral tracking system that complies with state and federal laws and develop an implementation plan with specific, measurable goals. The legislation recognizes that many families at risk of entering the child welfare system are unaware of available services and aims to provide accessible, non-judgmental support through community and school-based organizations. The bill appropriates funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to implement the pilot program, with the program taking effect on December 31, 2050, and set to be repealed on June 30, 2030.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1399&year=2026