“We have a unique challenge ahead of us to focus on healing and building cultural voice, particularly among Native Hawaiian populations who have experienced tremendous historical trauma.”

– Tia Hartsock, Chair of the Hawaiʻi Trauma-Informed Care Task Force

On July 12 Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige signed into law Senate Bill 2482 creating the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to be housed in the Governor’s Office. The Office of Wellness and Resilience will work to improve community health and wellness and will be tasked with implementing the recommendations of the Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Trauma-Informed Care Task Force and creating a social determinants of health electronic dashboard that identifies a baseline of needs, along with several other functions outlined in the legislation. 

The Hawaiʻi state legislature allocated $894,528 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2022-2023 to establish the office and hire six full-time staff. According to Tia Hartsock, chair of the Trauma-Informed Care Task Force, “This new legislation, funding, and placement of the work in the governor’s office demonstrates a commitment to cross-agency collaboration, strengths-based strategies, and community partnerships as key aspects of the work to address and prevent additional cycles of trauma. We have a unique challenge ahead of us to focus on healing and building cultural voice, particularly among Native Hawaiian populations who have experienced tremendous historical trauma.” 

Hawaiʻi joins a growing list of states that have established offices focused on mitigating trauma and adversity and promoting healing. New Jersey’s Office of Resilience, housed in the Department of Children and Families, was created in June 2020 and aims to coordinate, support, and amplify initiatives that address adverse childhood experiences and help New Jersey families heal. Virginia’s Office of Trauma and Resilience Policy incorporates trauma-informed and healing-centered policies and practices into the culture of the Virginia Department of Social Services and engages with inter-agency partners to align efforts across systems.  

Pathways to Resilience is a national initiative that aims to promote trauma-responsive policies and programs in every state. The initiative supports and connects state and local leaders, like those in Hawaiʻi, New Jersey, and Virginia, who seek to implement trauma-responsive policies and programs. 

We are proud that Dave Ellis, former Executive Director of New Jersey’s Office of Resilience, and Laurie Crawford, Director for Virginia’s Office of Trauma and Resilience Policy have agreed to serve as members of the Pathways to Resilience Advisory Committee. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of Hawaiʻi’s new office.