Public Policy

Aloha United Way announces 2008 policy agenda

Aloha United Way, the United Way agency for Oahu, announced a public policy agenda for 2009 that was largely developed by community impact councils as the advocacy component of each council’s strategy. The full strategy for each Council will soon be available on the AUW website, according to Norm Baker, AUW vice president for community building. The agenda includes:

  • Financial Stability and Independence: AUW will provide supportive leadership to establish a refundable state earned income tax credit. It will be visibly involved in enacting the State Auditor’s recommendations on predatory lending practices, participate in the Asset Building Task Force and advocate for removal of barriers to asset building, establishing children’s savings accounts and enhancing financial literacy training.
  • Early Childhood Development: AUW will be visibly involved in continuing support for the Early Learning Council, which is charged with implementation of the Keiki First Steps universally available pre-school program. It will provide supportive leadership and advocate for a state funded universal developmental screening program for three and four year olds. It will be visibly involved in advocating through United Way of America for re-authorization and increased funding for SCHIP,- the national children’s health insurance program and applying for a Congressional “earmark” to support the Raising Readers program.
  • Emergency and Crisis Services: AUW will be visibly involved advocating for increased federal funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
  • Clearinghouse Services – 211, Volunteer Hawaii and Gifts-in-Kind: AUW will be visibly involved in supporting the federal “Calling for 211” bill, which provides federal support for the operation of 211 services and a Congressional “earmark” to support 211.

Additionally, AUW staff members are participating in community conversations that could lead to or be perceived as policy advocacy:

  • Baker is a member and temporary trustee of the Hawaii Long-term Care Financing Program which may be revised through AARP.
  • Members of the community building staff are on the three working committees of an Asset Building Task Force, formed following last year’s legislative session. The task force is working on three issues: children’s savings accounts, financial literacy training, and removing or reducing asset limits on welfare benefits.
  • AUW CEO Susan Doyle and Baker have participated in discussions between the administration and health and human service agencies concerning the status of funding in the upcoming state budget.