§352D-4 Establishment; purpose. There is established within the department of human services for administrative purposes only the office of youth services. The office of youth services is established to provide services and programs for youth at risk under one umbrella agency in order to facilitate optimum service delivery, to prevent delinquency, and to reduce the incidence of recidivism among juveniles through the provision of prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment services. The office shall also be responsible for program planning and development, intake/assessment, oversight, as well as consultation, technical assistance, and staff training relating to the delivery of services.
The office shall provide a continuum of services as follows:
(1) An integrated intake/assessment and case management system;
(2) The necessary educational, vocational, social counseling and mental health services; provided that the department of education shall be the only provider of standards-based education services for all youth at risk and young adults identified with special education needs or actively receiving special education services, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and all applicable federal and state educational requirements;
(3) Community-based shelter and residential facilities;
(4) Oversight of youth services; and
(5) Other programs that encourage the development of positive self-images and useful skills in youth.
The executive director of the office of youth services shall submit annual reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, reporting the services or programs funded pursuant to this section, the number of youth served by each service or program, and the results of the services or programs funded.
To this end, on July 1, 1991, this office shall assume the responsibilities for juvenile corrections functions, which were temporarily placed in the department of corrections pursuant to Act 338, Session Laws of Hawaii 1987. These functions shall include but not be limited to all responsibilities, under chapter 352, for the Hawaii youth correctional facilities. [L 1989, c 375, pt of §1; am L 2014, c 201, §5; am L 2018, c 208, §5; am L 2019, c 111, §14]
Note
The 2014 amendment applies to delinquent behavior committed on or after July 1, 2014. L 2014, c 201, §21.