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Children’s
group ineffective,
critics charge

But supporters of the
Children's Council say it helps
special-needs kids and
their families

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

A proposal to eliminate the state Children's Council -- formed to aid parents, service providers and local community councils in improving mental health and educational services to special needs children -- is being met with mixed reviews.

Supporters of keeping the state council, which began in accordance with the federal Felix consent decree, say the council has been an advocate and source of information for those not familiar with how "the system" works.

"We've done a lot in getting information out," state council member Bonnie Graham said. "When you're alone and you reach out and find anyone who is sympathetic and has information that helps you, it's a lifesaver."

But many others say the state council has become another layer of bureaucracy that isn't meeting the needs of 16 Community Children's Councils across the state.

"It's not as productive as it should be. It just kind of moved away from the original intent to represent all the (community) councils' voices. It's turned into individual agendas," said Janice Jones, co-chairwoman of the Leeward Oahu Community Children's Councils.

The proposal is one of several issues that will be presented tomorrow to a court-appointed special master during a hearing in federal court.

The 1994 federal consent decree settled a lawsuit filed against the state on behalf of Jennifer Felix and other special needs children.

The lawsuit alleged that the state violated federal law by not providing appropriate services to this special class of public school students.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled last month that the state be held in civil contempt of court for failing to comply with the consent decree after six years.

The Community Children's Councils send representatives from their respective group to the state council meetings to discuss statewide issues.

The proposal also is to redirect the $60,000 state meetings budget to the 16 local community councils.

"The plaintiff's attorneys and the state have agreed that the funding to the state Children's Council is better used at the local level," said Anita Swanson, Department of Health deputy director for behavioral health administration. "I really don't know what (state council members) have accomplished."

There are other issues that attorneys for the plaintiffs and the state have reached an agreement on.

Plaintiffs' attorney Shelby Floyd said these issues include increasing attention to reading levels, continuing service testing and getting services to children.

"The area that might be significant to the public at large is the state's willingness to have the court order that it not be limited by statute and regulations," Floyd said.

For example, laws could be waived to allow the Department of Education to be able to bring back retired special education teachers without these teachers losing retirement benefits.

Floyd said there is agreement among the parties that the state Children's Council has not been effective and that support, attention and resources should be funneled to the local councils.

"My guess is that (state council) lost contact at the community level. It took on a life of its own," Floyd said.

The Star-Bulletin contacted at least one leader from 11 of the 16 community councils.

While there was no clear consensus, many felt that the state council should at the very least be reorganized and its mission refocused.

"We haven't participated much in (the state council) meetings because our needs are so much different than everybody else's," said Gina Alonzo of the Lanai Community Children's Council. "We're so remote and we feel that we have a better sense on what needs to be done on the local level."

Michael Wurtz, co-chairman of the East Honolulu Community Children's Council and professional co-chairman of the state council, said he also believes that the funding should be discontinued to the state council because it has finished the work it set out to do.

But Graham said the council has a lot of work ahead because many children aren't getting the services they need.

Some also felt that the state's intent in doing away with the state council is to isolate community councils.

"They're trying to segregate us and conquer. We're not as powerful as 16 individual councils. ... It's easier to control," said Elizabeth Bonnell of the East Hawaii Community Children's Council.

"This recommendation will disempower," said Naomi Grossman, a member of both the state council and the West Honolulu Community Children's Councils.

Jo-Ann Carreira, the Hana Community Children's Council representative to the state council, said the state council has become another layer of bureaucracy and her community council members have learned to deal with the state on their own. "We've come to be self-reliant in what we need."