HI SR79

Requests the Office of Wellness and Resilience establish the Malama Ohana working group to identify and recommend transformative changes to Hawaii's child welfare system.

Working group composition includes the Directors of Human Services and the Office of Wellness and Resilience, two Child Welfare Services Branch staff members, CEOs of Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, and Lili'uokalani Trust, co-chairs from EPIC Ohana and Hale Kipa, and the Trauma-Informed Care Task Force Chairperson.

Co-chairs are requested to invite two former foster youth, two birth parents involved with child welfare services, two licensed resource caregivers, and two kinship resource caregivers to participate.

Working group directed to conduct informational meetings statewide, identify training and best practices for child welfare workers, identify Native Hawaiian and other cultural practices that build wellness and resilience, and collaborate with the Trauma-Informed Care Task Force.

Working group must submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; members serve without compensation.