HI SB2861

Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a comprehensive plan for a "Kakou Pilot Program" to support families and children in need, with a preliminary report due before the 2027 legislative session and a final report by June 30, 2027.

Hawaii has accumulated approximately $470 million in unspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, with about $333 million in encumbrances, which this program would help utilize.

The pilot program would provide child wellness visits, food box distribution, counseling services focused on families exiting foster care placements, and trauma-informed care for vulnerable families and children at risk of neglect.

Beginning July 1, 2028, TANF funds may be spent on the pilot program, including $130,000 annually for an external evaluator to assess program effectiveness.

The planning phase sunsets on June 30, 2027, while the provision allowing TANF expenditures for the program continues beyond that date.