The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has declared the end of the statewide mumps outbreak. The outbreak began in March 2017 with two clusters of cases involving nine individuals on O‘ahu, and climbed steadily to 900 cases within a year. In total, 1,009 people with mumps were identified during the statewide outbreak. “We are able to declare the outbreak over because there have been no new cases confirmed in the last 50 days, which totals two maximum incubation periods for the illness,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist. “To curb the number of people getting sick, we recommended an additional MMR vaccine dose especially for adolescents and adults. We appreciate the public and our healthcare providers heeding this recommendation and for their vigilance.” During the outbreak, DOH staff collected and tested specimens, provided technical assistance to healthcare providers, interviewed individuals with laboratory-confirmed disease, provided recommendations to schools and employers with possible exposures, developed educational materials and resources, and distributed information to healthcare providers. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases of mumps rose significantly during 2016 and 2017 nationally to more than 6,000 annually. Since January 1, 2018, other states with unusually high numbers of mumps cases include Alaska, California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Although the outbreak dose of MMR vaccine is no longer recommended, routine vaccination of all children should continue according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended schedule because mumps continues to circulate in the United States and worldwide. All adults born in 1957 and later should have documentation of at least one dose of MMR vaccine; adults at high risk of exposure to mumps—including international travelers, post-secondary school students, and healthcare workers—should receive two doses. In addition to routine vaccination, DOH recommends other prevention strategies, including staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently. For more information about mumps, visit http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/mumps/. To learn more about the recent mumps outbreak, visit http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/advisories/mumps/. #mumps #hawaiidepartmentofhealth #CDC #healthcare #USCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention #MMR #Hawaiihealth

Hawaii Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito today announced the appointment of Andrew Kurata as deputy commissioner and captive insurance administrator for the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division. He previously held the position in an acting capacity. The captive insurance administrator oversees the ongoing regulation of all captives licensed in the State under the Insurance Commissioner. This includes monitoring for regulatory compliance, reviewing filings, coordinating on-site examinations, and promoting the growth and development of the captive insurance industry. Kurata has been with the Insurance Division since 2011 as a captive insurance examiner and captive insurance program specialist. Prior to that, he worked in the audit department at KMH LLP. “Andrew has been a dedicated and important part of our experienced staff in providing a stable, committed and business-friendly environment that makes Hawaii one of the premiere domiciles in the world. The Insurance Division will benefit from his leadership and look forward to the continued success of our captive insurance industry,” said Commissioner Ito. “I’m honored to be appointed the captive insurance administrator and look forward to being a part of the continued growth and success of our domicile. The Captive Insurance Branch will continue to provide prudent regulatory oversight while forming collaborative partnerships with captive owners and service providers to achieve risk management objectives,” said Kurata. Captive insurance is a regulated form of self-insurance formed by companies or groups of companies as a form of alternative insurance to better manage their own risk. Captives are typically used for corporate lines of insurance such as property, general liability, products liability, or professional liability. The State of Hawaii received the 2018 Domicile of the Year Award (200+ Captives) at the U.S. Captive Review Awards beating out both national and international domiciles. In 2017, Hawaii matched its best year since 1986 with its formation and licensure of 30 new captive insurance companies. The State is ranked ninth in the world and fourth in the United States based on the number of active licenses. As of Dec. 31, 2017, there were 230 actively licensed captive insurance companies domiciled in Hawaii with aggregate premium writings over $7.3 billion, and more than $26.3 million in economic benefits to Hawaii through various taxes and fees, professional services, annual conferences and visitor industry businesses. About the Captive Insurance Branch: The Captive Insurance Branch was established to provide dedicated resources to assist the Insurance Commissioner with monitoring, regulating and developing captive insurance companies in Hawaii. The Hawaii Insurance Division oversees the Hawaii insurance industry; issues licenses; examines the fiscal condition of Hawaii-based companies; reviews rate and policy filings; and investigates insurance related complaints. #DepartmentofCommerceandConsumerAffairs #hawaiiinsurance #andrewkurata #CommissionerIto #Captiveinsurance

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s (DOH) annual Stop Flu at School program begins today and will continue in 177 public schools statewide through Dec. 7, 2018. The voluntary program administers free flu shots to students in kindergarten through eighth grade who are enrolled at participating schools. Approximately 30,000 students are expected to be vaccinated during the eight-week program. “Vaccination is our best defense against the flu. It can help prevent illness, but more importantly, it decreases the risk of severe illness, which can result in hospitalizations and death,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist. “Vaccinating our school-age children will help reduce the spread of flu in our communities and protect those at risk of serious illness, including infants too young to be vaccinated, adults over 65, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone ages six months and older. Last flu season, CDC reported 180 pediatric flu-related deaths in the United States. Approximately 80 percent of these deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination. Dr. Park added, “While there were no influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported in Hawai‘i during the 2017-2018 season, flu circulates year-round in Hawai‘i and is unpredictable, which is why it is crucial to get vaccinated each year.” The traditional flu season begins in early October and runs through late May. The flu vaccines this season have been updated to provide protection against circulating flu viruses expected to be most common, based on data from the past season. Since flu can cause severe illness in people of all ages, DOH encourages everyone to talk to their healthcare provider about the vaccine and consider getting vaccinated. For those unable to be vaccinated through the Stop Flu at School program, flu vaccine is available through healthcare provider offices and clinics as well as pharmacies, for those older than age 11 years. For a list of vaccinating pharmacies statewide, visit the DOH Vaccine Locator online at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/vaccines-immunizations/vaccine-locators/. DOH also recommends other flu prevention strategies, including staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently. For more information about the flu, visit http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/influenza-flu/. To learn more about the Stop Flu at School program, go to http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/about-us/programs/stop-flu-at-school / or call the Aloha United Way’s information and referral line at 2-1-1. About Stop Flu at School: Stop Flu at School, Hawai‘i’s school-located vaccination program, is an innovative partnership between the State of Hawai‘i Departments of Health and Education. This program is endorsed by the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Hawai‘i Association of Family Practitioners and is paid for by federal funds and contributions from health insurers. #hawaiidepartmentofhealth #DOH #Flu #FluVaccine #Hawaiichapteroftheamericanacademyofpediatri #Hawaiiassociationoffamilypractitioners #StopFlu #fluviris #vaccination #sarahpark #Centersfordiseasecontrolandprevention #CDC #Hawaiiflu

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige signed a fourth supplementary proclamation extending the emergency relief period for the Kaua‘i floods that occurred in April 2018. This fourth supplementary proclamation, which applies to Kaua‘i only, once again extends the authority to spend state funds as appropriated to protect the health, safety and welfare of Garden Island residents. The proclamation also supports the state’s effort to provide quick and efficient relief of suffering, damage, and losses caused by the flooding. Gov. Ige signed the initial emergency proclamation on April 15, 2018. A supplementary proclamation was issued on April 18, 2018, with a second supplementary proclamation issued on June 17, 2018. Acting Gov. Douglas Chin signed the third supplementary proclamation on Aug. 16, 2018. This fourth supplementary proclamation extends the disaster emergency relief period for Kaua‘i until Dec. 14, 2018. #kauai #governorige #dougchin #disasteremergencyrelief #supplementaryproclamation #hawaii

TURN IN YOUR UNUSED OR EXPIRED MEDICATIONS The Department of the Attorney General and Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), are coordinating a prescription drug take‐back event on Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at various collection points on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Hilo, and Kona. This will be the DEA’s 16th National Take‐Back Initiative (NTBI), now in its ninth year for the State of Hawaii. Anyone with expired or unused prescription medications is encouraged to bring their medications to the collection sites. A list of designated collection sites is attached, or you can visit www.dea.gov or www.ag.hawaii.gov to learn more. This service is free and anonymous – no questions asked. Tablets, capsules, liquids, and other forms of medication will be accepted. New or used needles and syringes will not be accepted. “The National Take-Back is a safe way to dispose of unneeded prescription medications so that they don’t cause harm to people or pollute the environment,” said Attorney General Russell Suzuki. “DEA looks forward to another National Take-Back in Hawaii on October 27th. We would like to thank our long-standing partners across the State in these important lifesaving efforts,” said John Callery, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. DEA, Honolulu District Office. “The Department of Public Safety encourages everyone to support the National Take‐Back Initiative by disposing of their unneeded medications at one of the many convenient take-back locations across the state,” said NED Administrator, Jared Redulla. In Hawaii, from September 2010 – April 2018, nearly 41,500 pounds of pharmaceuticals were safely collected and disposed of at the previous 15 take‐back events. Nationwide, the take‐backs have collected a total of 5,000 tons of pharmaceuticals since the fall of 2010. If you are not able to participate in this national take-back day, go to hawaiiopioid.org to look for a location near you where you can anonymously drop off your unused or expired medications. Unused or expired medicine should be disposed of properly when it is no longer needed for the illness for which it was prescribed. • Medicines may lose their effectiveness after the expiration date. • Improper use of prescription drugs can be as dangerous as illegal drug use. Having unused or expired medicine in your home increases the risk of accidental poisoning. • Homes where children or the elderly live are especially vulnerable to this danger. • People may mistake one type of medicine for another type; children may mistake medicine for candy. Expired medicine should not be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Proper disposal helps reduce the risk of prescription drugs entering the human water supply or potentially harming aquatic life. For more information, please visit www.dea.gov or www.ag.hawaii.gov. #StateofHawaiiDepartmentoftheAttorneyGene #DEA #DrugEnforcementAdministration #NationalTakeBack #Expiredprescriptions #JohnCallery #RussellSuzuki #JaredRedulla #NED

KAHULUI – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces the permanent opening of the outbound lanes (lanes exiting the airport) on Airport Access Road at Kahului Airport. The opening will occur at 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. The lanes that will be opening are located on Airport Access Road, adjacent to the west side of the future Consolidated Rent-A-Car (Conrac). During this time, the connector road from Aalele Street to Airport Access Road (Lanui Loop) will be closed. Signage will instruct motorists to remain on Airport Access Road to exit the airport area toward Hana Highway. The majority of Airport Access Road was opened in July 2016 and connects Hana Highway to Lanui Loop to promote the efficiency and flow of traffic. Following the opening, a portion of the outbound Airport Access Road remained closed to serve as an equipment staging area used for the construction of the Conrac. Traffic has been diverted around the closure via Keolani Place and Aalele Street to return to Airport Access Road using the connector road. The maps below show various traffic patterns entering and exiting the Kahului Airport area and the closure of the connector road from Aalele Street to Airport Access Road. The first map also shows the portion of roadway that will open on Monday. More information on the opening of Airport Access Road in 2016 can be found here. More information on the Kahului Airport Conrac project can be found here. Maps: Access to airport from car rental offices Access to airport from Haleakala Highway Access to airport from Keolani Place Exiting airport to outbound Airport Access Road Exiting airport to Dairy Road and Aalele Street #TheHawaiiDepartmentofTransportation #Kahului #Kahuluiairport #ConsolidatedRentACar #CONRAC #LanuiLoop #AirportAccessRoad #Hawaiidepartmentofdefense #hawaiiseante

Learn about new options for residential solar, energy conservation, Hawaiian Electric Company’s West Loch Solar One Project, and popular Electric Vehicles Saturday, October 13, 2018 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. ʻEwa Makai Middle School 91-6291 Kapolei Parkway ʻEwa Beach, Hawaiʻi 96706 On October 13, Senator Jon Yoshimura, Senator Mike Gabbard and Senator Glenn Wakai, will hold a West O’ahu Energy and EV Fair at ‘Ewa Makai Middle School from 10:00am – 1:00pm. The event will feature an update on new Public Utilities Commission rules for residential solar, an opportunity to learn about ways to generate your own clean energy and how to conserve it, and electric vehicle displays from BMW, Nissan, and Tesla. The state has a goal of producing 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2045. This informative session will shed light on policies that will help to achieve those goals, while giving residents the opportunity to learn about ways in which they can be part of this clean energy future. "As an advocate of a clean energy future, I am working with community and industry stakeholders to develop more clean energy alternatives that will reduce our dependence on imported oil. Hawai'i's economy, environment, and quality of life is intricately tied to our ability to produce clean and affordable energy," said Sen. Yoshimura. The event is free and the public is highly encouraged to attend. #ElectricVehicle #westoahuenergyfair #SenatorWakai #Senatorgabbard #SenatorYoshimura #jonyoshimura #mikegabbard #glennwakai #hawaiisenate

A wastewater system improvement project by the Department of Land & Natural Resources Engineering and State Park divisions is currently being conducted at the Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area. The project started October 1st and is expected to take several months with an anticipated completion in March 2019 or earlier. The contractor is RHS Lee Inc. Project cost is $186,200. A cesspool which services the residence of the park caretaker is being closed and replaced with an individual wastewater treatment system comprised of an aerobic treatment septic tank and leach field. The system will be installed in front of the residence and abutting the entry road into the park. The location of the overall improvement project is at the entrance of the park and caretaker’s residence area. Some impacts may include traffic inconvenience when the wastewater system is being installed in front of the residence as well as adjacent to the entry road into the park. Lane closures may occur as needed for excavation and installation, appropriate security and traffic signage will also be used. This project is part of a consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2016 DLNR paid a $50,000 fine and State Parks is now required to close cesspools in park systems on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawaii island. Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area is a 384-acre park located approximately 12 miles from Waikiki and is the trailhead for the 4.8-mile Aiea Loop Trail. #DEPARTMENTOFLANDANDNATURALRESOURCES #wastewater #keaiwaheiau #EPA #StateParks #hawaiisenate #DLNR

Attention, all computer programmers, software developers and tech innovators who want to improve state government: The next Hawai‘i Annual Code Challenge (HACC) kicks off Saturday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. at the East-West Center. The event is open to students, amateurs and professionals with the most outstanding solutions eligible for cash prizes and consideration for implementation by the state. At the kick-off, state departments will present day-to-day issues that could benefit from better coding solutions. Teams will then have three weeks to develop applications, which they will present Nov. 10 to a panel of judges. During the development phase, two workshops will also be held to help teams devise their solutions. The competition, conceived by Governor Ige, is coordinated by the Office of Enterprise Technology Services. To enter, visit hacc.hawaii.gov. #HawaiiAnnualCodeChallenge #EastWestCenter #GovernorIge #OfficeofEnterpriseTechnologyServices

Gov. David Ige has nominated Judge Keith K. Hiraoka, 59, to serve on the Intermediate Court Appeals. The position has been vacant since Associate Judge Lisa M. Ginoza was elevated to the position of Chief Judge on the Intermediate Court of Appeals in April 2018. Hiraoka is currently a Judge on the First Circuit Court, State of Hawai‘i. He has practiced law in Hawai‘i since 1983. In recent years, his primary areas of practice have been insurance coverage and representing attorneys, accountants, realtors, and other professionals in legal matters. Hiraoka has tried cases before juries, judges and arbitrators, participated in mediations and briefed and argued appeals before the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hiraoka is a 1980 graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law in 1983. “Keith was the most qualified applicant and the right fit for this position. He has years of experience, legal and analytical skills, and will complement the other judges on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. I’m proud to submit his name to the Senate,” said Gov. Ige. “I am honored and deeply humbled that Gov. Ige has given me the opportunity to be considered by the Senate to serve on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. My goal is to continue to serve the public to the best of my ability as a member of the Judiciary,” said Hiraoka. Hiraoka was selected from a list of six nominees provided by the Judicial Selection Commission. Gov. Ige personally interviewed the nominees and sought input and guidance from former Supreme Court Justice James Duffy and the legal community before making his selection. #davidige #keithhiraoka #judgehiraoka #lisaginoza #Hawaiisupremecourt #hawaiistatejudiciary

Volcanic Activity Summary: It has been 30 days since lava has been active at the surface of Kīlauea Volcano. HVO monitoring shows low rates of seismicity, steady, relatively low rates of deformation across the volcano, and only minor gas emission at the summit and East Rift Zone (ERZ). These observations indicate that resumption of eruption or summit collapse is unlikely in the near-term. Accordingly, HVO is lowering the Volcano Alert Level for ground based hazards from WATCH to ADVISORY. This means volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for renewed activity. The Aviation Color Code is also being lowered from ORANGE to YELLOW. HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010) Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY Previous Volcano Alert Level: WATCH Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW Previous Aviation Color Code: ORANGE Issued: Friday, October 5, 2018, 8:47 AM HST Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Notice Number: Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m) Area: Hawaii Hazards are still present in the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption area and at the Kīlauea summit. Residents and visitors near recently active fissures and lava flows should stay informed, heed Hawaii County Civil Defense warnings, and be prepared, if necessary, to self-evacuate in the unlikely event of renewed activity. Please note that Hawaii County maintains a closure of the entire flow field and the vents and prohibits access to the area unless authorized through Civil Defense. Residents are also advised of continuing hazardous conditions described below. For definitions of USGS Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes, see: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html Recent Observations: [Volcanic cloud height] only minor fume from active areas [Other volcanic cloud information] none at this time [Lava flow/dome] no active lava at this time [Lava flow] no active lava at this time Hazard Analysis: [General hazards] Continuing hazards in areas of recent activity. [Ash cloud] not a concern at this time [Ashfall] not a concern at this time [Lava flow/dome] no active lava at this time [Mud flow] NA [Other hazards] low levels of degassing, hot cracks, rugged unstable new lava surfaces [Volcanic gas] SO2 emission rate less than 300 tonnes per day for the entire volcano. [Lava flow] no active lava at this time Remarks: Background and Prognosis Kīlauea Volcano has maintained a low level of activity over the past two months. The last summit collapse was on August 2, 2018. High rates of seismicity and deflationary deformation at the summit stopped abruptly on August 4, coincident with cessation of major eruptive activity in the LERZ. Lava ceased flowing in the upper portion of the fissure 8 channel system by August 6, and ocean entries were inactive in late August. Active lava was last seen inside the fissure 8 cone on September 5. The total sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate from the summit, Puʻu ʻŌʻō, and LERZ fissure vents combined is currently less than 300 tonnes per day. Seismicity remains low across the volcano. Ground deformation continues, but at rates well below those during the period of major eruptive activity this summer. An exception is within the middle East Rift Zone where data show evidence of reinflation between Puʻu ʻŌʻō and Highway 130. One interpretation of this signal is that the rift zone is refilling with magma following withdrawal during the 2018 eruption. An increase in this refilling rate or other change could result in new eruptive vents along any portion of the East Rift Zone. While it is impossible to say with certainty what Kīlauea will do next, current monitoring data do not suggest a return to eruptive activity or summit collapse in the near term. HVO continues to closely monitor incoming geologic, seismic, deformation, and gas data for evidence of significant magma shallowing or pressurization that could mean the system was building toward renewed activity. This change in activity marks the first time since 1986 that lava has not been active at Kīlauea’s surface for a period of 30 or more days (The last long pause was 48.5 days between episodes 39 and 40 of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption.) In the past 200 years, the volcano has experienced periods of quiet ranging from months to years with no eruptive activity. However, Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and additional eruptions will occur. Residents should remain informed of the volcano’s status and learn about long-term hazards. For more information please see the HVO web site: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/geo_hist_summary.html Continuing Hazards Despite the diminished activity on Kīlauea, hazardous conditions remain in the ERZ and at the summit of the volcano. The LERZ and Puʻu ʻŌʻō lava flow fields include large areas of still-hot, rugged, extremely sharp, and unstable lava surfaces that are subject to collapse. SO2 gas emissions have greatly decreased from LERZ vents to a level below instrumental detection. However, local concentrations of SO2 or H2S may persist and are still reported in downwind areas,and residents may from time to time notice odors of these gasses. Hot cracks degassing at low levels are especially common just west of Highway 130 and HVO will continue to monitor these cracks for changes. Around fissure 8, thick accumulations of tephra (fragmental volcanic debris) hide underground hazards such as holes and cracks; winds can pick up glassy and lightweight fragments including Pele’s hair and carry them downwind. Tephra can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory systems, so prolonged exposure should be avoided. New lava fields at the coast appear relatively stable based on a helicopter overflight on 4 October, however no intensive ground survey of the new coastline has been done. Explosions near the coastline may still occur if sudden collapses expose the hot interiors of new lava flows to cold ocean water. HVO has received no reports that such collapses and/or explosions have occurred, but mariners should operate with caution around the new coastline and contact the U.S. Coast Guard with any questions. At the Kīlauea summit, rockfalls and ground cracking can still occur with no warning. Steep crater walls destabilized by months of earthquakes will be prone to collapse for weeks or months to come, even without further ground shaking. As the summit continues to adjust to recent changes, additional, and potentially damaging, earthquakes are possible. Additional aftershocks from the May 4, 2018, magnitude-6.9 earthquake are expected. Hawai’i is prone to earthquakes, so everyone should be prepared for damaging ground shaking at any time. At the summit, if significant draining of the magma reservoir resumes, more collapse events could occur. Alternatively, resupply of magma to the summit reservoir could lead to explosions or the reappearance of lava in the caldera. Contacts: askHVO@usgs.gov Next Notice: The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) continues to closely monitor Kīlauea's seismicity, deformation, and gas emissions for any sign of reactivation. As of today, HVO will discontinue daily Kīlauea updates and will issue weekly updates on Tuesdays until further notice. If volcano activity increases, we will elevate the Alert Level for Kīlauea. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi. You have received this email because you have subscribed to the USGS VNS. #usgs #Volcano #kilaueavolcano #HVO #PuʻuʻŌʻō #LERZS #SO2GAS #FISSURE8 #EASTRIFTZONE #TheHawaiianVolcanoObservatory

One way to ensure keiki have a good start in life is to ensure families have access to a wide range of resources and supports while raising their children. Having trained home visitors support new parents and families has been proven to improve the health of mothers and their children, encourage positive parenting, and promote child development and school readiness. The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) received a $3.9 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant over a two-year period to continue its proactive, voluntary, preventive home visiting program. The grant period began Oct. 1, 2018 and continues through Sept. 29, 2020. HRSA awarded a total of about $361 million to 56 states, territories, and nonprofit organizations for its Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. “Hawai‘i’s home visiting program offers pregnant women and families additional tools to help children be physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn,” said Matthew Shim, chief of the Department of Health’s Family Health Services Division. “We continue to tailor our home visiting program to meet the needs of families throughout the state.” With the new grant, the Department of Health projects that over a two-year period, it will reach more than 1,700 participants through the home visiting program, including 870 parents/guardians and 830 children in 870 households. The Hawai‘i Department of Health previously received a $3.5 million, two-year HRSA grant in 2017. According to the most recent available data, the health department used that grant to conduct nearly 11,000 home visits statewide, reaching 128 pregnant women, 712 parents/guardians and 801 children in 840 households in a year. More than half—or about 52 percent—of those home visits were on O‘ahu; Hawai‘i island was the second largest beneficiary at about 21 percent of the total home visits, followed by Maui with 10 percent. Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Kaua‘i, each ranged from 4 percent to 7 percent of total home visits. Administered by HRSA, in close partnership with the Administration for Children and Families, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services for women during pregnancy, and to parents with children up to kindergarten entry. The Program reaches those most in need, serving communities with high rates of poor birth outcomes or poverty. In the last federal fiscal year ending September 2018, almost 75 percent of families participating in the program had household incomes at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level. In Hawai‘i’s home visiting program, about 78 percent of Hawai‘i households were low income. For more information on the home visiting program or to enroll as a participant, visit the Your Ohana website at http://www.yourohana.org. #Hawaiideparmentofhealth #DOH