PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has served as a pioneer and leader in population-based child health promotion, identification, and intervention programs. These initiatives, designed and field-tested in Hawaii, serve as the foundation for health care delivery systems across the country for children with special health care needs and their families, as well as those who are at risk. The primary reason for Hawaii's status as a pioneer stems from the vision, leadership, and collaborative spirit of our kupuna, Dr. Setsu Furuno, Dr. Calvin Sia, Josie Woll, Ivalee Sinclair, Loretta "Deliana" Fuddy, and Ruth Ota who exemplified on a daily basis family-centered care and upheld the principles of family-centered care in their quest to identify and serve Hawaii's most vulnerable children in a culturally-appropriate, comprehensive, and community-based manner.

The purpose of this Act is to honor the legacy of Hawaii's health pioneers by appropriating funds to support a well-functioning early intervention system of services for children from birth to age three and to improve the social-emotional and behavioral outcomes for children from birth to age five.

PART II

SECTION 2. The department of health provides early intervention services to infants and toddlers who have developmental delay or are at risk for delay based on medical conditions. These services are mandated by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and by section 321‑352, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to early intervention services for infants and toddlers with special needs. Early access to services combined with parent training have proven to reduce and or eliminate delay and better prepare families of children with complex needs who may require lifelong care and support.

The department of health provides early intervention services through nineteen state and purchase-of-service programs, with services provided to approximately three thousand five hundred children each year. This large system of services requires an updated web-based system to improve efficiency and quality of services. Thirty-four other states have web-based early intervention data systems. However, the State's early intervention section data system is antiquated and does not have the web-based capability for real-time access to data, access from multiple locations, service documentation, report generation, quality assurance, and billing services.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for a web-based early intervention section data system.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to develop the specifications and pricing, as well as an implementation plan, for a web-based data system in the early intervention section of the department of health.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 4. Research on early childhood has shown the importance of early life to social-emotional development, or how children learn to express their feelings, form relationships, and interact with others. The early years of life lay the foundation for a child's future development. Intervention for social-emotional and behavioral concerns in the early years can reduce the need for more intensive behavioral and mental health services in later life.

Of concern, data from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2011-2012, shows that thirty-one per cent of Hawaii children age four months to five years are at moderate or high risk for developmental, behavioral, or social delays.

Resources to address social-emotional and behavioral concerns in Hawaii decreased when funding for the department of health's keiki care project ended in 2009. This statewide project provided training, consultation, and technical assistance to early childhood programs with children age three to five with social-emotional or behavioral concerns. In fiscal year 2008, the keiki care project provided services for one hundred children with referral concerns that included physically aggressive, non-compliant behaviors, sensory integration concerns, high activity level, and anger management and impulse control.

The department of health's preschool developmental screening program, which also ended in 2009, trained community providers in using screening tools, facilitated follow-up, and provided consultation to community providers regarding developmental and behavioral concerns and intervention strategies.

Another Hawaii initiative that was not sustained due to a lack of funding, was training and coaching for early childhood programs to improve social and emotional outcomes. This initiative was operational from 2007 to 2010, with support from a national resource center, the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning.

To improve social-emotional and behavioral outcomes for children from birth to age five, a statewide coordinator in the department of health is needed to:

(1) Facilitate development of a statewide system that supports positive social-emotional and behavioral outcomes for young children by coordinating and collaborating with the department of health, department of human services, and department of education, as well as early childhood programs and associations, child health professionals and associations, and other early childhood initiatives;

(2) Provide training on evidence-based effective practices, technical assistance, and consultation to equip early childhood providers with the appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the social-emotional and behavioral needs of young children;

(3) Identify areas for improvement or policy changes through needs assessment and monitoring indicators of social-emotional development;

(4) Promote the early identification of young children with social-emotional and behavioral concerns through developmental screening; and

(5) Promote the general health of children in child care settings through the use of early childhood health and wellness guidelines.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for operating expenses and to establish one permanent coordinator position in the children with special health needs branch of the department of health to improve social-emotional and behavioral outcomes for children from birth to age five years.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1377
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII