HI HR6

Urges the Department of Health to continue expanding and improving its home visiting program, including reinstatement of evidence-based home visiting services for families at highest risk for child abuse and neglect.

References the former Healthy Families America-Hawaii program, which served approximately 2,400 high-risk families annually and achieved a 99 percent non-abuse rate before being dismantled in 2008 due to budget restrictions.

Notes that the current Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, funded since 2018, includes Healthy Families America sites, Parents as Teachers services, and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters services targeting cognitive development and child abuse prevention.

Highlights that approximately 10-12 percent of families had very high-risk assessments with scores indicating multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), correlating with higher rates of drug use, mental health problems, and suicide attempts without intervention.

Directs the Department of Health Director and Hawaii Family Support Institute Executive Director at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to receive certified copies of the resolution.