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Queen Lili`uokalani Children's
Center, 1300 Halona Street, Honolulu, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Attendance: L.A. Burke,
Mike Casey, Liz Chun, Sondra Dockham-Leong, Susan Doyle, Kathi
Hasegawa, Gail Hironaka, Irving Lauber, Jeanne Ohta, Kathy Reinhardt,
Dan Watanabe, Mary Pat Waterhouse, Claire Woods, Tessy Yokota
We adopted a simpler
framework of three major goals to create a document more appropriate
for public dissemination. (This language is in black
below and posted separately under Three Big Goals.) Based on our discussion we have agreed to
continue our existing committee structure for now, with subcommittees
for legislative issues and other special projects as needed.
We also agreed to meet every three weeks and calendared meeting dates through June 7. Location will
be confirmed later.
Status reported for each
activity is noted below in red:
1. Increase availability of good information
to support decision-making about resource allocation and access
to services by those in need
- Identify and collect data
- Develop data set describing social
condition that can be tracked over time
- More interesting
current data has been added and will be added in next six weeks.
See separate data team status report
- Track usage of dollars allocated
to address needs - No confirmed information from
state on food and shelter dollars yet; however, Kathi Hasegawa
believes about 2/3 of the EAGL fund money has been spent.
- Create mechanisms for disseminating
information
- Develop a website and listserv - About
800 people receive listserv notices; number of website hits not
yet available. Need to get word out. See separate data team report
from Ivette Rodriguez Stern.
- Create a contact directory for broad
information dissemination - Committee members requested a
final copy of the directory the service linking team has put
together. Now that Hawaii Together has clear priorities, this
team's efforts will be needed to get appropriate messages out.
Mervina Cash-Kaeo is our Service Linking chair, and will be more
available after some 2/1 deadlines.
- Implement 211 three-digit dialing
access statewide to comprehensive information and referral service - Aloha
United Way has succeeded in getting PUC permission to use this
number. We added this objective to assist ASK Aloha United Way
in getting broad community participation in assuring the best
data is available in the ASK database. Havinne Anderson is heading
this effort.
- Produce a publication of resources
for distribution through an Oahu newspaper
- This is done! and
on the web.
- Produce a publication of resources
for distribution through neighbor island newspapers - Because
we did not take the $100,000 from the food and shelter dollars,
Jackie Kido of the Governor's office says they be able to provide
some funding if the county mayors and publishers are willing
to help. Or, there may be a more effective way to make this information
available. Andy Levin is willing to help spearhead this neighbor
island effort.
- Facilitate clearinghouse activities
to support areas of particular need
- Strengthen the community food security
network to increase capacity
- A network has been
established, and Claire Woods is working to sort out Hawaii Together's
part in making it stronger. Hawaii Together may be asked to consider
supporting getting resources for establishing a stronger clearinghouse
function and obtaining data on food security. Bills to establish
a food security commission in the State Office of Planning are
working their way through the legislative session. These are
not Hawaii Together initiatives.
- Strengthen network and increase coordination
of mental health care system to increase capacity - We
have not started work in this area.
2. Maximize resources available to
support needed services
- Maintain support for existing safety
net services
- Minimize cuts to existing services
supported by state funds - The administration's financial
plan is reliant on Hurrican Relief Fund dollars being used to
balance the budget. State departments have been asked by the
Legislature to provide scenarios for various levels of cuts.
Susan Chandler suggested, and Susan Doyle has requested, that
we ask the Governor to convene key departments (DHS, DOH, DLIR)
to meet with Hawaii Together representatives to review priorities
and criteria for cuts, so that we have the opportunity to provide
input regarding the impact of proposed cuts on safety net services.
We have not yet received a response from the Governor.
- Improve state contract provider cash
flow process - Mary Pat Waterhouse reported that this subcommittee
continues to make progress. All of the right department people
are in this group, and they are working on making changes in
POS contract language to front-load payments. There are a few
successful examples of this in some units of government. If successful,
this should eliminate the primary source of cash flow problems
related to POS contracts.
- Influence, solicit gap/operational
funding from local grant makers
- As we clarify areas
of need, we will go back to funders.
- Maximize federal funds and funds
from other national sources -
Our main goal here
is to raise awareness and work towards a broad-based community
strategy that will help increase federal and other resources
in Hawaii. There is a Republican House bill to establish an office
of federal revenue maximization, and we had asked for short form
bills in the House and Senate as vehicles for discussion. There
is no consolidated information regarding funds available and
untapped, so that the potential benefit of a collaborative effort
can be established. Mary Pat Waterhouse worked on this issue
in 1995, primarily in the health area, increasing state revenue
by about $30 million. L. A. Burke will see how she can help to
pull together this information. Kathy Reimers has established
contact for us in the disabilities area, and we have received
some information from providers.
- Support increases in resources to
support areas of particular need
- these are all legislative
issues being watched by members of our legislative group. Kathi
Hasegawa, Jeanne Ohta and Claire Woods reported on status
- Ensure that the state continues to
provide rent stipends to displaced workers -
HB2072 Relating to
Social Welfare is an Administration bill, supported by the Women's
Caucus. It will be heard on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8:30 a.m.
- Use state bonds to repair public
housing - HB2078 Relating to Housing is an Administration
bill, supported by the Women's Caucus., and will be heard on
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8:30 a.m. Kathi noted that Hawaii Together's
intent had been to support increasing housing capacity, and it
was not clear whether this bill would repair units currently
in use or make vacant housing available.
- Increase funds to primary care centers
for provision of low or no cost health care
- Beth Giesting and
the Primary Care Association have HB1867, which seeks additional
funds for health care for the uninsured.
3. Increase community participation
in helping to address needs
- Implement communications plan aimed
at increasing civic vitality coupled with community mobilization
efforts in the areas of volunteerism, philanthropy and voting
- We adopted three areas for community mobilization.
Kathy Reimers has offered to help be our task force liaison to
our communications committee volunteers. The Communications and
Service Linking groups need to meet on this objective, now that
areas of focus have been determined. Jeanne Ohta and the Commission
on the Status of Women have an on-going interest in improving
Hawaii's dismal voting statistics.
- Work with community resources to
reduce the risk of homelessness and to allow those who are homeless
a safe night's sleep - We removed specific strategies
we want to discuss from our public statement of priorities. Task
force members volunteered to work on different pieces in January.
Andy Levin will help with neighbor island county discussions.
(Updated 2.2.02)
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