HB1932

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1932
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that according to the department of human services' Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Progress and Services Report, the rise of children in foster care over the past five years, from state fiscal year 2014 through state fiscal year 2019, reflects a twenty-nine per cent increase in the annual total number of children in foster care, and a 43.7 per cent increase in the monthly average number of children in foster care for that period. The report also indicates that over the past five years, workers' percentage of monthly caseworker visits to children in foster care was eighty-six per cent or below, which is well below the national standard of ninety-five per cent. In addition, the strength rate of child and family involvement in case planning decreased from fifty-five per cent in 2015 to thirty-four per cent in 2019, and the strength rating of the mental and behavioral health of the child decreased from eighty-seven per cent in 2015, to forty-seven per cent in 2019. The legislature finds that these statistics signify the need for modern, web-based technology that can support the department of human services' child welfare services branch.

The legislature further finds that having modern software that workers can access on their mobile phones during case visits and doing field work will allow workers to more effectively manage their caseloads to meet the growing number of children in foster care, ensure that Hawaii can meet the national standard for monthly visits, improve case planning, and strengthen child and family involvement to improve mental and behavioral health outcomes for youth and the health needs for children.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the child welfare services branch of the department of human services to establish a pilot program to develop a modern case management software solution compatible with existing child welfare technology; and

(2) Appropriate funds for this purpose.

SECTION 2. (a) The child welfare services branch of the department of human services shall establish a child welfare services case management pilot program to develop a modern case management software solution compatible with existing child welfare technology.

(b) The pilot program shall be headed by the branch administrator of the department of human services' child welfare services branch, or the branch administrator's designee.

(c) The department shall contract with a qualified child welfare software provider to develop the case management software solution, which shall include the following features

(1) A method for case workers to:

(A) More effectively track the children in their caseload management;

(B) Create and manage case plans; and

(2) A family portal for resource caregiver families to easily document information related to the care of children in their homes, including information related to the documentation of medical and dental visits;

(3) Online access for families to information related to the care of children placed in their care, including allergy, education, and health information; and

(4) A portal for older youth in care to access resources online about available support services.

(d) The child welfare services branch shall submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2023 and 2024, including a status update on the development of the child welfare services case management software solution, findings and recommendations, and any proposed legislation.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the child welfare services case management pilot program established by this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________