URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE, TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

HR94

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

94

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Urging the Department of Education, Department of Health,
and Office of Wellness and Resilience to establish a statewide peer counselor
program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection in Hawaii's
schools
.

����
WHEREAS, Hawaii's
youth are experiencing increasing levels of loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection,
all intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted prolonged disruptions
to in-person schooling and a growing reliance on digital communication
platforms; and

����
WHEREAS, national
and state research demonstrates that loneliness is a significant risk factor
for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation among
adolescents and young adults; and

����
WHEREAS, within
the State, youth mental health indicators have worsened in recent years, with
rising anxiety, depression, and unmet emotional support needs among public
school students, particularly among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth;
and

����
WHEREAS, studies
have emphasized that the well-being of Native Hawaiians and other local
communities is deeply relational and grounded in connection to peers,
community, and place, and that disconnection from these relationships can
negatively impact health and resilience; and

����
WHEREAS, the
State Office of Wellness and Resilience was established pursuant to Act 291,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to advance trauma-informed and healing-centered
approaches across state systems through coordination, prevention, and

community-based strategies; and

����
WHEREAS, students
are often more likely to seek help or support from trusted peers than from
adults, particularly when experiencing loneliness, stress, or early signs of
emotional distress; and

����
WHEREAS, peer
counselor and peer-support models have been proven to reduce stigma, strengthen
belonging, promote early intervention, and improve school climate when
implemented with appropriate training, supervision, and referral protocols; and

����
WHEREAS, Hawaii's
unified statewide public education system and complex area structure provide a
unique opportunity to implement peer-led programs that are locally responsive
while maintaining centralized responsibility and consistency across the State;
now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education, in
collaboration with the Department of Health and Office of Wellness and
Resilience, is urged to develop and implement a statewide peer counselor
program for high school students; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is urged to design the peer counselor
program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection by prioritizing
face-to-face peer relationships, trust building exercises, and culturally
responsive approaches to improving and maintaining well-being; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that, as part of the program, the Department of Education is urged to provide
standardized training for participating student peer counselors, including training
in active listening, ethical boundaries, trauma-informed and healing-centered
practices, cultural responsiveness, and clear referral pathways to licensed
mental health professionals; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that student peer counselors are urged to serve as trained points of
connection within their school communities, promoting belonging, normalizing
conversations about well-being, and supporting the early identification of
students experiencing isolation or distress; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Office of Wellness and Resilience is urged to support
coordination among state agencies, provide guidance aligned with
trauma-informed and healing-centered principles, and elevate youth voices and
lived experiences in the design and evaluation of the program; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Youth Commission is urged to participate in the
development, implementation, and evaluation of the statewide peer counselor
program, including representing youth interests, gathering student input from
across the State, and advising the Department of Education on the program's
effectiveness, equity, and cultural responsiveness; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Education,
Superintendent of Education, Director of Health, Director of Human Services,
Director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience, and Chairperson of the
Hawaii State Youth Commission.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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BOE; DOE;
DOH; Office of Wellness and Resilience; Hawaii State Youth Commission;
Statewide Peer Counselor Program; Schools; Loneliness; Youth; Students