Healthy Start and Quest

Coming up on Monday, November 16th, the House and Senate committees on Human Services and the Senate committee on Health will hold joint informational briefings on the state's Healthy Start and Quest programs.

Healthy Start
11:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 329

At one time, Hawaii's Healthy Start program was recognized as a model for the rest of the nation to follow. It aims to reduce child abuse and neglect by providing comprehensive home visitation, child development screening and intervention, psychosocial assessment, and counseling.

This past year, Healthy Start was reduced from 13 program sites statewide to two program sites, one on Oahu and one on the Big Island. These cuts make compliance with federal mandates under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) difficult, and impacts the state's relationship with the Office of Special Education Programs.

Quest
1:00 p.m.
State Capitol, Room 329

The Department of Human Services has been asked to attend and provide a status on the implementation of the Quest Expanded Program. This is a follow up briefing.

Rep. John Mizuno is chair of the House Committee on Human Services
Contact: 586-6050

Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland is chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services
Contact: 586-6130

Sen. David Ige is chair of the Senate Health Committee
Contact: 586-6230