Hawaii Together

February 22, 2002 Meeting Summary

Queen Lili`uokalani Children's Center, 1300 Halona Street, Honolulu, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Attendance: Ivette Stern, Geri Marullo, Iokepa Campton, Andrew Aoki, Claire Woods, Tessy Yokota, Sondra Dockham-Leong, L.A. Burke, Patty Bates, Mary Pat Waterhouse, Kathy Reimers, Kathi Hasegawa, Jeanne Ohta, Susan Doyle

Discussion at this meeting focused on discussion of proposed improvements in the state contracts process, community mobilization efforts and Hawaii Together communications needs.

State Contracts Process Improvement

Mary Pat Waterhouse and Geri Marullo presented status and strategies on the state contracts/cash flow project. They will be meeting with representative agency representatives to gain their support of proposed changes. The idea is to encourage departments to use good practices already being used in other departments:

1. Include start up costs for new contracts or where there are significant changes in contract requirements
2. Include initial payments up front
3. Pay to guarantee minimium capacity of service rather than only paying when service is delivered
4. Conduct a requests for information process to gain information from providers prior to issuance of large requests for proposals

In addition, the group is also recommending that contracts strive for clarity in payment methodology and move to longer term contracts (e.g., 4 - 6 years).

Committee members include: Kate Stanley, Heidi Ryan (attorney general's office), Suzy Kawamoto (department of human services), Val Ako (department of health), Loretta Fuddy (department of health), Aaron Fujioka (state procurement office), Geri Marullo (Child & Family Service), Norm Baker (CFS), Patti Bates (CFS), Mary Pat Waterhouse, chair (Hawaii Community Foundation).

A more complete presentation of the committee's ideas will be posted when finalized by the committee.

Mobilization Efforts

Voting

Jeanne Ohta reported that the Oahu County Committee on the Status of Women is taking the initiative in this area. They have also talked with Lyla Berg of Kids Voting. More data is needed by geographic area, so that they can focus activities. Ideas raised were that the Substance Abuse Coalition might include the voting initiative in their treatment plans; also AARP is interested in voter education efforts. The City has indicated that it will deputize those interested so that groups can be registered on site. Hawaii Together could help with publicity, communications effort.

Philanthropy; Volunteering

Work in these areas has not begun in earnest. Ideas raised included expanding the information available on our website and to use the community foundation research results on giving in Hawaii when this information becomes available.

Communications Discussion

It has been difficult to get the communications team together, so we began discussion of needs in this area with the big group. Ideas and needs were identified as:

• Need to have global recommendations to frame impact more broadly. This could help support funding strategies that might be more effective in addressing needs. For instance, this may not be a good year for specific categorical granting; there is a need to give with more flexibility.
• Need to get out the word that providers expect a second wave of fallout from the September 11 events.
• Information is critical--for instance, community foundation research information needs to be communicated to the state legislature
• Ivette indicated that the data team is working to collect and post information that will help paint a clearer picture of impacts, for instance:
  • Foreclosures
  • Domestic violence
  • Child abuse
  • Homeless count
  • ASK Aloha United Way calls for food, suicide and crisis
• Stories about agencies could be included in the perspectives being posted to the website
• Who is Hawaii Together? We need to get out what/who we are
• The listserv needs to be expanded. POS providers, legislators, KidsCount contacts are on, but additional email lists are needed. Target for this are professionals, decision makers, those affected.
• There are different tiers of advertising and communication needed

Other issues

Legislative issues

Kathi noted that Hawaii Together has not been very evident at the legislature. The legislative group will come up with strategies to improve this and start sending out notices to the Hawaii Together committee. Individual and organizational testimony in support of legislation is needed in addition to Hawaii Together testimony.

Maximization of federal funds

L.A. Burke distributed lists of websites that may be helpful in researching availability and access to federal government funds by Hawaii.

Next meeting, March 15, 2002 at Aloha United Way.

(Updated 3.10.02)