Lawmakers are considering funding a pilot program to reduce caseloads for Child Welfare Services in East Hawaii.
According to House Bill 2277, caseloads for the area have become unmanageable, with the Child Welfare Services branch being sanctioned by Family Court for failing to meet court deadlines.
The legislation says workers have as many as 40 to 50 cases each, while the Child Welfare League of America recommends no more than 15 children for each social worker.
The state Department of Human Services said in testimony that it supports the bill but pegged average caseloads at 25 in East Hawaii, one less than the state average.
The bill, which passed the House and one Senate committee, would provide funding for an additional eight case managers and 15 support staff positions for the East Hawaii Child Welfare Services section. Caseloads would be limited to no more than 20 under the five-year pilot program.
It also directs DHS to assess the effectiveness of the staff increase in annual reports.
The bill doesn’t provide a funding amount to support the program.
Mayor Harry Kim, Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter, and Councilwomen Sue Lee Loy and Jen Ruggles submitted testimony in support.
“We are all too familiar with the tragic consequences to children when the child welfare system is inadequately staffed to properly supervise children who are already at high risk of abuse and neglect,” the prosecutor’s office said in testimony. “The improvements made since the Peter Boy Kema case were essentially wiped out by the loss of workers in 2011.”
A group called East Hawaii Friends of Foster Families also supports the measure.
Rep. Chris Todd, D-Hilo, introduced the bill.
If the House Ways and Means Committee passes it, the measure will go to a floor vote.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.