The HCWEC Advisory Council is chaired by the principal investigator, Dr. Francie Julien-Chinn, and comprised of representatives from the Department of Human Services, community service providers, the Judiciary, a HCWEC Scholar representative, a former foster youth representative and a foster parent representative. The purpose of the committee is to help guide training for future child welfare social workers by providing expertise as we discuss the HCWEC curriculum and collaborating in tackling any challenges we face.

Council Chair

Dr. Francie Julien-Chinn, HCWEC Principal Investigator

The current members are:

• Cathy Betts, Deputy Director, DHS
• Elladine Olevao, Child Welfare Services Branch Administrator
• Tonia Mahi, Child Welfare Services Branch
• Daisy Hartfield, Child Welfare Services Branch
• Sonja Bigalke-Brannon, MSW Executive Director of NASW-HI
• Robin DeRego, Wrap Facilitator, EPIC Ohana (HCWEC Alumni)
• Thomas Haia, JD, Resource Caregiver
• Laurie Jicha, MSW Department of Human Services Staff Development
• Faye Kimura, Court Administrator
• Cheryl Ann Mendez, Program Administrator, Catholic Charities
• Stephen Morse, Executive Director of Blueprint for Change
• Dean Nagamine, GAL
• Rachel Thorburn, MA, MSW, Acting Program Development Administrator Child Welfare Services Branch (HCWEC Alumni)
• Sabrina Tran, Program Director Early Intervention & Family Strengthening, PACT
• Kristine Tuitama, Program Manager, Hawaiʻi Child Welfare CQI Project at UH Maui College
• Robin Arndt, University of Hawaii Thompson School of Social Work
• Aimee Chung, University of Hawaii Thompson School of Social Work
• Azure Lwin-Maluo, University of Hawaii Thompson School of Social Work (HCWEC Alumni)