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Committee approves resolution asking Office of Wellness and Resilience to study developmental needs of children born during COVID-19
Summary
HR133/HCR139 asks the Office of Wellness and Resilience to prepare a report on developmental needs of children born during the COVID‑19 pandemic; supporters emphasized trauma impacts on infants and young children and requested an extended timeline to the end of 2026 for findings and recommendations.
The House Committee on Health & Homelessness advanced HR133/HCR139, requesting the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a report addressing developmental needs of children born during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Daintree Bartosz (Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities) testified in strong support and highlighted concerns about trauma among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and young children. Trina Urimoto from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, representing the Office of the Governor, told the committee the office would “stand on our written testimony in strong support” and requested an extended timeline to the end of 2026 to partner with local researchers on evidence‑based, community‑informed recommendations.
Justina Acevedo Cross of the Hawaii Community Foundation described prior work under the Promising Minds initiative and said early childhood behavioral health providers are reporting increases in behavioral issues among infants and toddlers that may reflect pandemic‑era trauma.
The committee recommended changing the report’s deadline to the end of 2026 and advanced the resolution with those amendments; the action was adopted in decision-making.
