Feasibility of Integrating Human Services in Hawaii: Some Issues, Problems, and Opportunities. Report Number One

摘要

Results are reported from a study conducted pursuant to the Hawaii Senate Resolution No. 133 of 1976, which requested the Office of the Legislative Reference Bureau to assess the feasibility of an integrated services approach to human services, to ascertain whether Federal funds and assistance might be available to support such an endeavor, and to submit specific recommendations for future action. The study consisted of a preliminary survey and orientation, data gathering, data analysis, and development of recommendations. The services integration movement was found to consist of three major program approaches: (1) the comprehensive human resource agency (CHRA) approach, which aims to strengthen administrative and program linkages by consolidating previously autonomous human service agencies under one agency; (2) the human service center approach, where human need services and social problems previously rendered from different locations are consolidated at a common location; and (3) the information systems approach, where a computerized information and data function is used to support service planning, service coordination, and service delivery. The Bureau recommends that a CHRA not be developed in Hawaii until further information about the effectiveness of this approach is obtained. An office of human services within the Office of the Governor is recommended which will consolidate existing separate offices oriented toward particular needy groups. An ad hoc task force should review the report, ''Community Service Centers: An Organizational Diagnosis,'' as it explores the human service center approach to integrating human services. A management information system should be developed to provide information required by major State agencies engaged in the provision of human services. Further, the progress of the Maui County Department of Human Concerns should be carefully watched by the legislature and the Governor, as it constitutes a prototype for a CHRA at the State level. Appendices provide a copy of Senate Resolution No. 133, a bibliography, and a recommendation and bill regarding the establishment of an office of human services. Tabular and graphic data are provided throughout the report.