HI SB1023

Appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2015-2016 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017 to restore the Hawaii child welfare education collaboration between the Department of Human Services and the University of Hawaii Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work.

Restores a workforce recruitment and training program that operated successfully between 1998 and 2008, providing specialized child welfare curriculum, field seminars, and practicum placements for graduate students.

Addresses critical staffing shortages in child welfare services, where 21% of positions were eliminated in 2009-2010 and 64 positions were vacant as of December 2013.

Program participants would receive tuition, fee, and educational expense reimbursement in exchange for committing to work in child welfare services for a minimum of three years after graduation.

Effective July 1, 2015.