| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a severe shortage of mental health service providers in the State. This shortage is due to a lack of appropriately educated individuals and high rates of turnover in the field, which is exacerbated by compassion fatigue, burnout, and inadequate preparation for the provision of mental health services. The legislature therefore finds that the mental health provider shortage in the State addressed by this measure is a matter of statewide concern. The legislature further finds that the university of Hawaii Windward community college, in collaboration with the Hawaii state hospital, has developed a mental health technician certificate of competence program. The coursework for the certificate program addresses the immediate and critical workforce needs of preparing potential employees and upskilling existing employees. These certificates are also a foundation to increase qualifications, as the initial certificate of competence opens a pathway to further training and development. A new one-year certificate program currently under development will build on the skills developed by the existing mental health technician certificate of competence program by adding clinical skills and knowledge necessary to perform higher job requirements in more advanced clinical settings. The coursework can also be applied toward baccalaureate degrees. These programs help to grow the State's overall capacity to address the mental health challenges and needs of Hawaii's residents. The existing mental health technician certificate of competence program consists of three approved courses, which provide a basic foundation in mental health knowledge in a short-term, focused program of study available in person and online. The asynchronous online courses can be offered to mental health workers and students across the State, with Windward community college coordinating with other community colleges in the university of Hawaii system. In order for the program to be offered statewide, additional resources are needed to provide for key personnel and establish a scholarship program to increase access to the existing mental health technician certificate of competence program for individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, low-wage earners, or otherwise interested in pursuing a career pathway in mental health. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the office of the governor for the establishment of one temporary full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) mental health technician certificate of competence program coordinator position. SECTION 2. 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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of one temporary full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) mental health technician certificate of competence program coordinator position. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a severe shortage of mental health providers in the State. This shortage is due to a lack of appropriately educated individuals and high rates of turnover in the field, which is exacerbated by compassion fatigue, burnout, and inadequate preparation for mental health serving positions. The legislature therefore finds that the mental health provider shortage in the State addressed by this measure is a matter of statewide concern. The legislature further finds that the university of Hawaii Windward community college, in collaboration with the Hawaii state hospital, has developed a mental health technician certificate of competence program. The coursework for the certificate program addresses the immediate and critical workforce needs of preparing potential employees and upskilling existing employees. These certificates are also a foundation to increasingly higher qualifications, as the initial certificate of competence opens a pathway to further training and development. A one-year certificate program currently under development will build on the skills developed by the existing mental health technician certificate of competence program by adding clinical skills and knowledge necessary to perform higher job requirements in more advanced clinical settings. The coursework can also be applied toward baccalaureate degrees. These programs help to grow the State's overall capacity to address the mental health challenges and needs of Hawaii's residents. The mental health technician certificate of competence program consists of three approved courses, which provide a basic foundation in mental health knowledge in a short-term, focused program of study available in person and online. The asynchronous online courses can be offered to mental health workers and students across the State, with Windward community college coordinating with other community colleges in the university of Hawaii system. In order for the program to be offered statewide, additional resources are needed to provide for key personnel and establish a scholarship program to increase access to the mental health technician certificate of competence program for individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or low-wage earners, and others interested in pursuing a career pathway in mental health. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the university of Hawaii to expand and support the mental health technician certificate of competence program. SECTION 2. 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 2023-2024 to support and expand the mental health technician certificate of competence program through the hiring of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) mental health technician certificate of competence program coordinator, establishment of a scholarship program, granting of scholarships, and funding of other necessary administrative costs. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 2023. |
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