SB 3204

THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
3204
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
H.D. 1
C.D. 1
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.� The
legislature finds that more programs and resources are necessary to increase
family resilience and reduce the risk of child abuse or neglect.� Many
families at high risk of entering the child welfare system are unaware of
available services or how to access them, or public benefits are not available
to address the economic or other fiscal challenge they are facing.
���� The malama ohana working group was established
by Act 86, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, within the office of wellness and
resilience to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's
existing child welfare system.� In its
report submitted to the 2025 legislature, the malama ohana working group stated there is a shortage of resources
in Hawaii dedicated to preventing children and families' involvement with child welfare
services, especially primary prevention and universal support.� The malama ohana working group recommended the
establishment of primary prevention and universal support programs that are
trauma-informed and culturally responsive in an effort to divert children and
families away from involvement with the child welfare system.
���� The
legislature also finds that community- and school-based organizations are safe,
accessible, and non-judgmental spaces where families can access formal and
informal supports and referrals.�
Providing family strengthening programming helps to increase parents'
protective factors, including:� parental
resilience, social connections, concrete support, knowledge of parenting and
child development, and social-emotional competence of children.� Community- and school-based organizations,
such as family resource centers, have been successful in reducing the number of
families reported to the child welfare system.
���� Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish a two‑year family resilience
pilot program within the office of wellness and resilience.
���� SECTION
2.� (a)�
There is established within the office of wellness and resilience a
family resilience pilot program to build family resilience and provide
comprehensive specialized support services to eligible families.� The program shall:
���� (1)� Hire and train five trauma-informed peer
support resource navigators to assist up to eighty families with enrollment in
public or other benefits, parenting classes, and cultural family strengthening
program services; provided that each peer support resource navigator shall be
trained in alignment with the recommendations of the peer support specialists
working group established by Act 88, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024; provided
further that each peer support resource navigator shall use motivational
interviewing methods and serve not more than twenty families;
���� (2)� Train program staff on eligibility screening
to ensure families meet temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) or
related eligibility criteria and connect interested and eligible families with
peer support resource navigators;
���� (3)� Assist families to identify goals, connect
them to community resources and supports, and assist them with applications for
public assistance benefits, housing, education, or employment that are in
alignment with their identified goals; and
���� (4)� Identify monthly parenting classes or cultural
family strengthening services offered by contracted or subcontracted providers
and connect families to those classes and services as appropriate.
���� (b)� The office of wellness and resilience may
contract with a third-party administrator to operate the family resilience
pilot program.
���� (c)� The office of wellness and resilience shall
submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed
legislation, on the family resilience pilot program to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.� The report shall include the number of
eligible families who:
���� (1)� Connected to and are receiving community
resources and supports;
���� (2)� Applied for public assistance benefits,
housing, education, or employment;
���� (3)� Participated in parenting classes and cultural
family strengthening services; and
���� (4)� Reported favorable changes in their knowledge,
attitudes or beliefs, skill acquisition, behavior, and relationships as a
direct result of program participation.
���� SECTION 3.�
There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for
needy families (TANF) funds the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the family resilience pilot program
established pursuant to section 2 of this Act, including
the contracting of services to implement and operate the
program.
���� The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION 4.�
If any part of this Act is found to be in conflict with federal
requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal
funds to the State, the conflicting part of this Act is inoperative solely to
the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected,
and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this Act in
its application to the agencies concerned.
���� SECTION 5.� This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026,
and shall be repealed on June 30, 2028.
Report Title:
Office of
Wellness and Resilience; DHS; Family Resilience Pilot Program; Report; Peer
Support Resource Navigators; TANF; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
a two-year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and
Resilience.� Requires a report to the
Legislature.� Appropriates Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families funds to be expended by the Department of Human
Services for the pilot program.� Sunsets
6/30/2028.� (CD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.