63
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES TO REVISE ITS STRATEGIC
    PLAN.



 1        WHEREAS, the State has a responsibility to provide and
 2   encourage services that strengthen the physical, emotional,
 3   social, educational, and moral development of Hawaii's youth;
 4   and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, there is a need for a strong state commitment to
 7   prevent youths from violating the laws of the State; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, to achieve this commitment, there is need for
10   statewide planning and system coordination, oversight of
11   activities and services, and evaluation and monitoring of the
12   effectiveness of these services; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, the Office of Youth Services (OYS) was created in
15   1989 to serve as a central intake agency, and to coordinate the
16   delivery of services, provide a continuum of programs to
17   eliminate gaps, and provide a clear sense of responsibility and
18   accountability for youth services; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, the Legislature also finds that a policy for
21   youth was established for the State in 1989 when OYS was
22   established, which states:
23   
24        (1)  "It shall be the policy of this State to concentrate
25             on the prevention of delinquency as an important
26             strategy which can be planned and implemented on
27             behalf of youth and their families.  The State shall
28             encourage community involvement in the provision of
29             services for youth including, as an integral part,
30             local government, public and private voluntary
31             groups, public and private nonprofit groups, and
32             private for-profit groups in order to encourage and
33             provide innovative strategies for these services.  To
34             maximize resources and services to youth in need of
35             services, agencies shall develop standards of care,
36             methods to coordinate services, and evaluate and
37             monitor these activities.  For youth with special
38             needs, the furtherance of this policy requires all

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        



 
 1             agencies to recognize that their jurisdiction in
 2             meeting these youths' needs are not mutually
 3             exclusive and that they will work jointly under the
 4             coordination of the Office of Youth Services;"
 5   
 6        (2)  "When youth at risk or their families request help,
 7             state and local government resources shall be
 8             utilized to complement community efforts to help meet
 9             the needs of youth by aiding in the prevention and
10             resolution of their problems.  The State shall direct
11             its efforts first to strengthen and encourage family
12             life as the most appropriate environment for the care
13             and nurturing of youth.  To this end, the State shall
14             assist and encourage families to utilize all
15             available resources.  For youth in need of services,
16             the State shall secure those services as are needed
17             to serve the emotional, mental, and physical welfare
18             of youth and the best interests of the community,
19             preferably in the youth's home or in the least
20             restrictive environment possible.  When youths must
21             be placed in care away from their homes, the State
22             shall ensure that they are protected against any
23             harmful effects resulting from the temporary or
24             permanent inability of parents to provide care and
25             protection for their youth;" and
26   
27        (3)  "This policy for youth shall be implemented through
28             the cooperative efforts of state and county
29             legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as
30             well as other public and private resources.  Where
31             resources are limited, services shall be targeted to
32             those youth in greatest need;"
33   
34   and
35   
36        WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that the strategic
37   plan for OYS will be ten-years-old in 2001, and that OYS's
38   operations have not been updated accordingly; now, therefore,
39   
40        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
41   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
42   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that OYS is requested to revise
43   its strategic plan; and
44   
45        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OYS is requested to submit a
46   report on:

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        



 
 1        (1)  Its revised strategic plan;
 2   
 3        (2)  The next steps toward achieving the Office of Youth
 4             Service's vision;
 5   
 6        (3)  The necessary resources to accomplish this vision;
 7             and
 8   
 9        (4)  Its relationship with other youth-serving agencies in
10             its mission to serve all youth, and not just youth in
11             the juvenile justice system;
12   
13   and
14   
15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OYS work in collaboration with
16   the following to revise the strategic plan:
17   
18        (1)  The Department of Health;
19   
20        (2)  The Department of Human Services;
21   
22        (3)  The Department of Education;
23   
24        (4)  The University of Hawaii;
25   
26        (5)  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations;
27   
28        (6)  The Department of the Attorney General;
29   
30        (7)  The Department of Public Safety;
31   
32        (8)  The Judiciary;
33   
34        (9)  Each of the counties; and
35       
36       (10)  Private, youth-serving agencies agencies, including
37             the Coalition for Youth Services;
38   and
39   
40        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OYS seek public input on the
41   revised strategic plan from the communities that are affected
42   by the strategic plan; and
43   
44        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OYS submit its findings and
45   recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days
46   prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and

 
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 1        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 2   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director
 3   of OYS; the Directors of Health, Human Services, Labor and
 4   Industrial Relations, and Public Safety; the President of the
 5   University of Hawaii; the Attorney General; the Chief Justice;
 6   the Superintendent of Education; and the Mayors of Hawaii,
 7   Maui, Kauai, and Honolulu.