Bill Text: HI SR83 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Early Childhood Developmental Screening; Department of Health

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-21 - (S) Referred to HMS/EDU, HTH. [SR83 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-SR83-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	83
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REquesting the Department of Health TO Convene a DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING task force to review Early Childhood Developmental Screening pilot projects, and make recommendations for the development of an early childhood developmental screening system in hawaii.

 

 

     WHEREAS, neuroscience research demonstrates that a child's early years are the most crucial in the child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development; and

 

     WHEREAS, early screening, identification, and intervention for physical impairments, developmental delays, and psychosocial problems can dramatically improve children's outcomes and have a critical influence on school success and family functioning; and

 

     WHEREAS, early screening, identification, and intervention result in significant cost savings; and

 

     WHEREAS, potential savings realized when a child does not require special education programs can be as much as $14,000 per child per school year; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is critical to provide each child with ongoing access to quality primary health care that includes screening for developmental delays, to ensure that the effects of these delays are mitigated as soon as possible; and

 

     WHEREAS, many of Hawaii's children do not have access to quality primary health care and many parents are unaware of or choose not to use available primary health care services; therefore, many of Hawaii's children do not receive proper screening, identification, evaluation, or referrals for correction or treatment; and

 

     WHEREAS, Aloha United Way has implemented two pilot projects on Oahu that provide early childhood developmental screening; and

 

     WHEREAS, preliminary findings from the projects show that twenty-one percent of the children screened have a problem that requires follow-up services; and

 

     WHEREAS, the projects indicate a need for a comprehensive outreach component to ensure families are aware of the need for screening; and

 

     WHEREAS, the projects also indicate that a case management component is important so that children who require follow-up services can receive treatment; and

 

     WHEREAS, early screening services are necessary to identify, mitigate, and treat developmental disabilities as early as possible, and an integrated, universal developmental screening system would clearly benefit the children of this State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Department of Health is requested to convene a Developmental Screening Task Force to review Aloha United Way's Early Childhood Developmental Screening pilot projects and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Center on Disability Studies' evaluation of those Early Childhood Developmental Screening pilot projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to report, based on the Task Force's review, its findings and recommendations for the development of an integrated, universal early childhood developmental screening system in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health submit its report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Chairperson of the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and President of Aloha United Way.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Early Childhood Developmental Screening; Department of Health