What's Being Discussed

Approval of meeting minutes from the September 22, 2026 meeting.
Monthly updates from local mental health and substance abuse agencies, including:

Hawaii Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) / Family Guidance Center
Hawaii Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD) / Community Mental Health Center
Hilo Benioff Medical Center
State Council on Mental Health — summary from October 2026

New board member onboarding covering the board's legal responsibilities, Hawaii's open meetings law (Sunshine Law), and ADA compliance requirements.
Review and update of the Service Area Plan, which guides mental health and substance abuse services in Hawaiʻi County.
Community input — members of the public may comment on any agenda item or raise other community concerns.

Decisions Expected

A vote to approve the September 2026 meeting minutes is expected.
Ongoing discussion on updating the Service Area Plan may result in direction or next steps for revisions.

Who Should Pay Attention

Hawaiʻi Island residents who use or care about mental health and substance abuse services.
Families and caregivers of children or adults receiving behavioral health services in the county.
Community organizations and providers working in mental health or substance abuse on Hawaiʻi Island.
Anyone who wants to share public testimony on local mental health needs — oral comments are limited to 3 minutes per person.

For questions or to submit testimony, contact Maria Pagala at mariajemma.pagala@doh.hawaii.gov or (808) 933-0487.