Improving community health, well-being
Posted on Dec 19, 2019 in Capitol Connection, Featured
The Ige administration is improving programs and resources for keiki and their families, especially in early learning.
More partnerships for family, child welfare and early learning – State departments and the Executive Office on Early Learning are working together to improve programs and resources for keiki and families, with help from the National Governors’ Association and other grant funding.
- Kupuna Caregiver participation increased – More working caregivers received financial assistance for support services this past year, according to the Executive Office on Aging.
- Better coordination for substance abuse treatment – A new system to help people with substance abuse problems — Hawai‘i Coordinated Access Resource Entry System (CARES) — was launched with the Department of Health and UH Mānoa. The goal is to develop a call center and service referral system for better access to addiction treatment and behavioral health services. Also “take-back boxes,” including those at pharmacies, promote safe disposal of prescription medication.
Governor Ige and Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald join DOH’s Eddie Mersereau and judicial speakers at the Mental Health Summit.
- Working together to better treat mental illness –The Department of Health (DOH) and the Judiciary held a first-in-the-nation statewide summit to develop better community and court responses to mental illness. The plan is to work together to develop better treatment facilities for early intervention — especially to help those who are homeless or dealing with substance abuse.
- Internet sexual predators arrested and multistate efforts in health and environmental protection – The Department of the Attorney General coordinated undercover operations with other government agencies to arrest 22 sexual predators seeking juveniles over the Internet. Hawai‘i also joined other states in multiple cases involving rules related to abortion counseling, healthcare services and environmental monitoring.
The state continues to help residents recover from the 2018 volcanic eruption and flooding.
- Historic amounts of emergency funds for disaster recovery -The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency is administering record amounts of funding to help residents recover from the 2018 flooding and Kīlauea eruption disasters.
- Hawai‘i’s consumers protected – The state’s Office of Consumer Protection received some $4.7 million from enforcement efforts related to deceptive trade practices, data breaches and improper marketing. A new “one-stop” BusinessCheck site created by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs helps consumers protect themselves from fraud. DCCA also increased public WiFi access statewide, especially in rural areas.