Hawaii Senate Bill SCR169

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

Requesting The Auditor To Conduct A Program Audit Of The State's Child Protective Services System.

Impact

The resolution highlights pressing issues in the state's CPS system, particularly in light of alarming statistics from the Department of Human Services, which reported over ten thousand cases of child abuse between 2017 and 2021. Recent high-profile incidents of child abuse have called into question the effectiveness of CPS in adequately protecting vulnerable children. By conducting this audit, the legislature aims to uncover systemic flaws within the CPS, thus forming the basis for potential reforms aimed at enhancing the safety and wellbeing of children throughout Hawaii.

Summary

SCR169 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Auditor of Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive program audit of the state's Child Protective Services (CPS) system. This initiative aims to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided by various state and county agencies involved in child protection, including the Department of Human Services and the Department of the Attorney General. The bill draws attention to the ongoing challenges facing the CPS, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that Hawaii's children are protected and that families receive adequate support in crisis situations.

Contention

Key questions posed by the resolution include whether effective communication mechanisms exist among the various agencies involved in child protective services, and whether agency staff are sufficiently trained to identify and act upon instances of child abuse and neglect. Moreover, the audit seeks to evaluate the adequacy of resources available to these agencies and to ensure that caseworkers are not overwhelmed by high caseloads. Findings from this audit, supplemented by stakeholder consultations, will be crucial in guiding necessary reforms to improve the overall child welfare system in Hawaii.