Article Too many children who enter
foster care experience “foster care drift”—numerous placements
that last days or months, but never long enough for a deep
attachment to occur. This often results in serious consequences
for the children’s brain development, self-esteem and social
relationships. (See Judge Douglas F. Johnson’s excellent
article, “Babies Cry for Judicial Leadership: Reasonable Efforts
for Infants and Toddlers in Foster Care” in
The Judges’ Page newsletter, October 2007.)
In Hawaii, EPIC, Inc. `Ohana Conferencing, in partnership with
the Department of Human Services, the family courts and
community agencies, is reducing foster care drift by sustaining
family connections for children in the foster care system. EPIC
offers a variety of programs that encourage family connections.
The Keiki Placement Project is one such effort. “Keiki” is the
Hawaiian word for child, and the goal of the project is to find
the extended family of children age 0-3 as soon as they enter
the foster care system.
This project is new but is having positive results. Isaiah’s
story is one such example. Isaiah, a newborn, was the child of a
young, homeless mom who was doing drugs and getting in fights
with her boyfriend. Child protective services became involved
and partnered with EPIC on the case. EPIC staff began searching
for family, but the young mom refused to give any family
information because her family had disowned her.
EPIC staff was able to locate Isaiah’s maternal grandparents.
They hadn’t disowned their daughter; they just didn’t want any
contact with her boyfriend. Ultimately, the entire extended
family was contacted and an `Ohana Conference—a family group
decision making process that brings family and social service
providers together—was held. As a result of the conference, the
grandparents took custody of Isaiah. His mother subsequently
entered a drug treatment program and visits Isaiah when she can.
While maintaining focus on the keiki, EPIC works with foster
youth of all ages to help strengthen their family ties and
enhance their stability. Two specific programs are available to
foster teenagers and young adults.
The first program, `Ohana Connections, is funded by DHS and has
a similar goal to the Keiki Placement Project. `Ohana,” means
“family,” and with older youth permanency, more than placement,
is the driving force. Forming enduring family connections for
youth at this stage often requires intensive support services.
Kalena entered foster care when she was eight years old and only
maintained contact with one sister who was adopted and living on
the mainland. A depressed and angry foster child, Kalena
harbored fantasies about her family and lived on threads of
rumor and information. She’d heard her maternal grandmother had
died and her mother and brother were using drugs. Despite that
dismal news, she longed for contact. EPIC staff made many
internet searches and phone calls to locate Kalena’s relatives,
including her grandmother.
Further meetings included aunts, siblings, cousins and her
mother. A total of 42 relatives were located for Kalena. She no
longer feels so angry and depressed: she’s on track to graduate,
has been accepted into college and is excited about her future.
As she describes it, the pieces of her life are falling into
place thanks to the knowledge she’s gained about her past and
the renewed family ties that are now woven into her safety net.
The second program, E Makua Ana Youth Circles, funded by DHS and
the Geist Foundation, is a youth-driven process that empowers
youth to clarify their goals and identify supportive people and
resources.
Adrian, now age 20, has experienced five Youth Circles. When he
runs into a hurdle he can’t get over, he calls EPIC and requests
another circle. He likens it to having a coach who helps
navigate a difficult playing field that has constantly changing
conditions. While Adrian’s choices and actions are his
responsibility, he no longer feels alone on his journey into
adulthood.
In Hawaii, the child welfare system, family courts and community
family service agencies are exerting a concerted and cooperative
effort to reduce the pattern of family separation and
disconnection that has existed in the foster care system for
years. An attitude of respect for the inherent wisdom, love and
care that exists in nearly every family is creating a
collaborative atmosphere between service providers and the
families of foster youth. Helping foster children stay anchored
in their families, while using additional supportive services,
has proven to reduce foster care drift and improve the youth’s
prospects for leading happy and productive lives.
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| Editor’s Note: Serving
a population of approximately 900,000 people on the island of
Oahu, the Family Court of the First Circuit has been in place
for 40 years. The Honolulu Model Court has been part of the
Victim’s Act Model Courts Project in the Permanency Planning for
Children Department of NCJFC since 1997.
One of the major programs developed by the Model Court is the
‘Ohana Family Conference program. Initially established in 1996,
it was expanded throughout the island of Oahu in 1998. Statewide
expansion took place in 1999. The ‘Ohana conference model is
based on the goal of reaching an agreement between families and
social services to keep a child safe with as little trauma to
the child as possible. It blends alternative dispute resolution
techniques with sensitivity to the cultural mores of Polynesian
families. As of 2002, 98% of the families that participated in
‘Ohana did not generate new reports of harm, nor did they
require subsequent court intervention within one year of their
conference. |
