Hawaii House Bill HR110

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Requesting The Executive Office On Aging To Partner With The University Of Hawaii At Manoa Center On Aging To Establish A Kupuna Workforce Innovation Hub To Implement Short-term Strategies Outlined In The 2025 Strengthening Hawaii's Long-term Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan.

Impact

The resolution acknowledges the challenges faced by direct care workers, including low wages, poor benefits, and a lack of employment opportunities. It emphasizes the importance of aligning with national trends in direct care workforce development and establishes a data infrastructure to better understand the needs and gaps within the workforce. By standardizing training and competencies required for direct care workers, the resolution aims to enhance the care provided to older adults and those with special needs in Hawaii.

Summary

House Resolution 110 requests the Executive Office on Aging of Hawaii to partner with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Aging. The aim is to establish a Kupuna Workforce Innovation Hub designed to implement short-term strategies as outlined in the 2025 Strengthening Hawaii's Long-Term Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan. This initiative addresses pressing issues related to the recruitment and retention of direct care workers, who are essential to the state's long-term care system.

Contention

While the resolution proposes constructive collaboration between government and educational institutions, some stakeholders may have concerns about the adequacy of resources allocated for training programs and how effectively these initiatives will address existing workforce shortages. Additionally, there may be debates on whether the proposed strategies are sufficient to meet the growing demands of an aging population in Hawaii, given the state’s unique geographic and economic challenges.