Hawaii House Bill HR142

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Health To Convene A Task Force To Identify And Develop Minimum Professional Standards For Community Health Worker Training Programs.

Impact

As HR142 aims to establish minimum professional standards for community health workers, it is positioned to significantly influence public health policy within Hawaii. The initiative seeks to create a more structured environment for community health worker training, which is currently lacking in Hawaii but is being addressed in various jurisdictions throughout the country. Establishing these standards is expected to enhance the quality of care provided by community health workers, thereby improving overall health literacy and health outcomes for the communities they serve.

Summary

House Resolution 142 (HR142) requests the Department of Health in Hawaii to convene a task force aimed at identifying and developing minimum professional standards for community health worker training programs. Community health workers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between clinical services and community needs, and have demonstrated success in improving health outcomes for individuals managing chronic conditions. The resolution underlines the importance of developing standardized training protocols to ensure efficacy and trust in these roles across the state.

Contention

While HR142 received support for its objective of enhancing the training of community health workers, there may also be discussions around how these standards are implemented. Stakeholders, including representatives from health departments and educational institutions, are encouraged to contribute to the task force, but the exact dynamics of these contributions and the consensus for the proposed standards might provoke debate. Questions concerning the practicality of implementing these standards across diverse community settings and the potential for additional regulations could be focal points during legislative discussions.