Thank you for helping us move the following initiatives forward this year – we couldn’t have gotten this far without your help!

• HB986  The Department of Human Services has begun to develop a plan for increasing the foster care reimbursement rate. HB986 will remain in conference during this time,  meaning that the bill will not have to go through hearings on both sides of the legislature; it can be quickly convened and sent to the floor for approval, then onto the Governor’s desk, hopefully early in the 2014 session!  We will keep you updated as this work moves forward.

• SB1340  – now ACT 252  Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 1340 into law July 1, 2013, at the State Capitol before an audience that included politicians, policy makers and youth advocates,  young and old alike.  SB 1340, now Act 252, extends voluntary foster care to age 21 in Hawai`i.  Act 252 will take effect July 1, 2014. Governor Abercrombie said “Through SB1340, which extends the voluntary foster care age to 21, we are sending a message to former foster youth that we will continue to support their transition to adulthood, independence and self-sufficiency. Doing so lays the foundation for long-term positive outcomes for youth when they leave foster care. It will also result in substantial cost savings in future government services.”We thank the many talented people who worked to make this dream a reality!

Supporters of Senate Bill 1340

Senate Bill 1340 now Act 252

Gov. signs SB1340 into law

Questions?  Contact us at 540-2543 or jwilhoite@familyprogramshi.org.

“Families that generally want to provide this care are telling workers that they cannot afford to take on a foster child because of the amount that they themselves would have to contribute to the care.  The families are not becoming foster families for the sake of getting the money.  The issue is that the funds provided do not cover the actual costs of caring for the child.”  – Judith Clark, Executive Director of Hawai`i Youth Services Network, relating to SB59.

News Coverage of Bills:

Click here for coverage of SB1340 signing.

Click here for the April 27th story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser regarding SB1340, extending foster care to age 21 in Hawai`i.

Click here for Hawai`i News Now March 14th report on SB 1340.

Click here to listen to the HPR news report filed by political reporter Wayne Yoshioka.  Wayne interviewed Resource Caregiver Jamie McOuat, Representative Mele Carroll, Representative Sylvia Luke and FPH Family Advocate Judith Wilhoite (It Takes an ʻOhana) to highlight the bills that would increase the reimbursement rate for foster care.

Read Jade Moon’s story “A Helping Hand For Foster Families” that highlights one of Hawaii’s amazing resource (foster) families the Keola’s.

 You can click here to see a TV news report from KITV regarding both SB59 and SB1104.

Click here to read an article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin on the reimbursement rate increase.

Click here to view the February 22, 2013  F.A.P.E. Now! program that focuses on extending foster care in Hawai`i from age 18 to 21.  The panel consisted of foster care alumni Noy Worachit (HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board Member),  Delia Ulima (Statewide Initiative Coordinator, Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative, EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.), Rachel Thorburn (DHS Independent Living Program Coordinator) and Judith Wilhoite (Family Advocate for Family Programs Hawaii’s It Takes An `Ohana program).