What is the Mālama 'Ohana working group?
On June 14, 2023, Mālama ‘Ohana was signed into law by Governor Green signifying the State's commitment to uplift the voices of 'ohana and keiki affected by the Child Welfare System. Through the Hawaiʻi Office of Wellness and Resilience the Mālama ‘Ohana Working Group will hold listening sessions throughout the state and bring community partners together to improve and transform the child welfare system. Uplifting the voices of parents and youth with lived experience, building collaboration between community and state and deep listening are critical components for authentic transformation in our approach to support some of our most vulnerable families and children.
Special Mahalo to community support from: the Keiki Caucus, the Hawai‘i Childrens Action Network, the Early Childhood Action Strategy group, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kamehameha Schools and the more than 75 individuals and organizations that testified in support of Mālama ‘Ohana.
Who is involved in Child Welfare Services (SFY2021)?
CWS received 5,280 child abuse and neglect reports. 759 families were accepted for investigation and there was a determination of abuse/neglect. 1,331 children who were confirmed as victims of at least one abuse type.
44.5% of confirmed victims were ages 0 -5; 29.4%, ages 6 – 11; 25.1%, ages 12-17.
During SFY2021, a total of 2,566 children were in foster care, with an average of 1,555 in care each month.
Of the children in care, 44.6% were Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian; 19.4% were White; 9.7% were Pacific Islander (Samoan, Micronesian, Other, Marshallese, Tongan); 9.0% were mixed; and 5.7% were Filipino.
1,192 children exited foster care during the year to reunification (51.6%), adoption (20.8%), guardianship (19.3%), and emancipation (7.4%).
https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DHS-Databook-20212.pdf
Why a working group?
We all need to hear the voices of the community and understand the urgent need for all of us to work collaboratively to protect the children in and out of the child welfare system. There is frequent criticism of Child Welfare Services and we know there is a lack of accountability and transparency. We also know that we can only find solutions with COLLABORATION. Community members with lived experience and from community-based organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of children in Hawai‘i will lead the working group.
Why is it important to incorporate lived experience?
“Lived experience refers to an individual’s experiences in and with the child welfare system that, when engaged, add to the understanding of systemic challenges and can facilitate system change efforts in child welfare. People with lived experience or lived experts in child welfare are individuals impacted by the child welfare system who can bring the resulting insights to inform and enhance systems, research, policies, practices and programs that address child welfare challenges.” 2022 ASPE Research Brief, Skelton-Wilson, et al.
Why the Office of Wellness and Resilience?
The issues of trauma and being trauma effective are at the core of the issues faced by the families and children in the child welfare system, and also by many workers in the system. The newly formed Office of Wellness and Resilience has been discussing the models needed to promote wellness and resilience, and this office is charged with finding public and private collaborations to promote wellness and resilience in the state of Hawai‘i. We presented the Mālama ‘Ohana proposal to the Task Force at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 29, 2022.
What is Nā Kama a Hāloa?
Nā Kama a Hāloa is a community-based network that first came together in September 2018. Our efforts improve outcomes for Native Hawaiian children and families involved in the child welfare system. We work to weave Native Hawaiian wisdom and perspective into the Hawai‘i foster care system. We strive to share power among participants who include people from institutions and organizations that work in child welfare, serve the Native Hawaiian population, and have lived experience in child welfare.
Current partners include Child Welfare Services (DHS); Lili‘uokalani Trust; Kamehameha Schools; EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.; Partners in Development Foundation, Project Pilina; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Family Court CASA program; Catholic Charities Hawai‘I; Family Programs Hawai‘I; Hale Kipa; Neighborhood Place of Wai‘anae; Pū‘ā Foundation; Friends of the Children’s Justice Center Maui; Ho‘oikaika Partnership; Geist Foundation; Hawai‘i Community Foundation; Young people who experienced foster care; Birth parents who experienced child welfare involvement; Resource caregivers (foster parents); Annie E Casey Foundation; Casey Family Programs.
What has been the impact of Nā Kama a Hāloa?
Four years of efforts by the Nā Kama a Hāloa network demonstrate the effectiveness of building collaboration between people with lived experience, community agencies and the state.
Parents with previous child welfare involvement are creating an advisory council to improve child welfare. Six parent partners are now available as peer support to parents currently in the system and pregnant women experiencing substance use disorder.
Child Welfare Services has incorporated into its new hire training a Native Hawaiian history and cultural training module developed by Nā Kama members.
CWS and partners are making practice changes to better support sibling connections for children in foster care.
A video and other efforts including a pilot project to connect birth parents and resource caregivers early in a case are helping to create stronger shared parenting.
Where does the idea for Mālama ‘Ohana come from?
In the April 2022 Nā Kama network session, we listened to the community criticism of child welfare and considered expanding our scope of work. We presented the idea to the legislature at the end of the session. It was incorporated into HB2424, which was vetoed by Governor Ige. The veto was not related to the Mālama ‘Ohana proposal. We asked Mālama ‘Ohana be resubmitted this year, along with an appropriation for facilitation, administration and report writing.
Parent Resources: https://www.epicohana.org/parentpartners
Resource Caregiver Resources: http://rcg.hawaii.gov
Foster Youth and Young Adult Resources: https://www.epicohana.org/youth-circle
Nā Kama a Hāloa: https://www.epicohana.org/nakama