HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210706MO3DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: July 6, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
SARAH K. BLANE, CHIEF OF STAFF
(808) 241-4900
Mayor Kawakami issues statement on the Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center
LĪHU‘E – Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami has issued the following statement on the Adolescent
Treatment and Healing Center.
“Many have asked about the future of our Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center here on
Kaua‘i. We are pleased to update the public on the county’s efforts toward our shared pursuit of
healing.
”As with the rest of the world, we had to pivot and adjust to address the immediate health and
safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of that adjustment was temporarily utilizing our
recently completed Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center as an isolation facility for adults and
children that contracted COVID-19. The State Department of Health utilized clinical and non-clinical
personnel to monitor these individuals, ensure that their physical health improved and that they had a
safe place to stay during the duration of their infectious period. The ATHC's use as an isolation facility
has helped to control disease spread and protect our entire community over past year and a half. As
vaccination rates continue to increase statewide, the Department of Health is working on plans to
demobilize the isolation facility.
“Identifying a permanent operator for the treatment center has had its challenges, but in
partnership with the state, namely Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) and its non-profit
partner Kaua‘i Adolescent Treatment Center for Healing (KATCH).
“At the end of last month, the County of Kaua‘i formally offered direct title transfer of the
Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center to HHSC. We are presently in the process of formalizing and
finalizing the necessary legal agreements.
“We all have the passion to provide drug treatment programs to help those struggling in our
community, and we are confident that HHSC and KATCH’s expertise are the right addition to the
islandwide partnership bringing the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste’s vision of this healing center to life. We
look forward to this continued positive collaboration in putting our kids first.”
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