Bill > HB1079

This bill aims to improve trauma-informed care within Hawaii's child welfare services by directing the Office of Wellness and Resilience to collaborate with the Department of Human Services to develop a comprehensive assessment and training program. The program will include evidence-based tools to evaluate current policies and procedures related to serving traumatized children and families, as well as assess worker well-being and the impacts of vicarious trauma and burnout. Specifically, the bill mandates creating a training curriculum with a cohort of trained trainers, providing specialized trauma-informed supervisor training, and ensuring ongoing technical assistance. The program will also include a child welfare services expert to help implement assessment findings. The bill recognizes that child welfare staff are exposed to significant secondary trauma through their work and seeks to support both the families they serve and the staff themselves. Funds will be appropriated from state general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support the program's implementation, with the ultimate goal of transforming the child welfare system's approach to supporting traumatized children and families. The bill is set to take effect on December 31, 2050.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1079&year=2026