Hawai‘i’s Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care program- IMUA KĀKOU

1. Hawai‘i’sYoung Adult Voluntary Foster Care program-IMUA KĀKOU

2. Eligibility Criteria • Former foster youth who are/were under the foster or permanent custody of the Department at age 18 and are younger than 21 years. • Youth placed in guardianship or adopted at age 16 or older. • Former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 21 years who never entered the program or whose case has been closed may enter/re-enter the program.

3. Eligibility Criteria Cont. The young adult must be: • Enrolled in high school or a program leading to a high school equivalent (e.g. GED) or a vocational or post high school educational program; • Participating in a program to promote or remove barriers to employment; • Employed at least 80 hours/month; or • Have a medical condition that makes the young adult incapable of doing the above activities.

4. What will the ImuaKākou Program Do? • Provides transitional and other support as young adults move toward independent living. • Allow more time for the young adult to attain educational and employment goals. • Collaborative program where the young adult’s input is a vital part of their individualized case plan. • As the young adult moves toward independent living, connections with supportive adults will be fostered. • Focus on the young adult’s well-being. • Conduct court reviews every six months.

5. Imua Kākou Cont. • The young adult will develop a case plan with the case manager, which includes monthly face-to-face visits. • The program will be youth-driven and allow for easy entry and re-entry. • The focus will be on the young adult’s unique needs.

6. Hawai‘i’s Model Values • The new program will be driven by the young adult. • It will build on the successful Youth Circles program. • Assistance provided for entry and re-entry process. • It will support young adults as they transition and focus on their unique needs. • It will be culturally appropriate. • It is VOLUNTARY.

7. Benefits • Continued independent living services. • Assistance with placement/living options. • May directly receive foster board payments. • Assistance with applying for school and financial aid, finding employment, job/vocational training. • Enhanced social capital.

8. Supporting Adult Role Remember … the foster youth is now a YOUNG ADULT and must be treated as so. This means… Allowing the young adult to take on more responsibility and to hold them accountable, while balancing our first instinct to act in their best interest.

9. Supporting Adult Role (Cont.) • Engage and collaborate. • Listen to the young adult. • Enhance the young adult’s social capital needs. • Assess how to provide developmentally appropriate help.

10. Court Process – Statewide • Each circuit will facilitate their own periodic reviews and other hearings. • Findings at periodic reviews and other hearings shall be made by the judge. • Young adults in the program and the DHS will be able to request a hearing at any time. • The review will be informally conducted to encourage meaningful dialogue.

11. Court Process – StatewideEntering the Program • Young adults shall enter care through a voluntary placement agreement. • The DHS must file a petition within 30 days of the young adult signing the agreement. • At the hearing on the petition, the court will determine if voluntary care is in the young adult’s best interest. This hearing must be held within 15 days of the petition being filed.

12. Court Process – StatewideCourt Reports • The DHS must submit a report to the court seven days before the scheduled hearing. • This report must be developed in collaboration with the young adult. • The court report must include: • The young adult’s progress towards achieving case plan goals; • Proposed revisions to any goals and reasons for such revisions; and • Proposed revisions to the methods for achieving goals and reasons for such revisions.

13. Court Process – StatewidePeriodic Reviews • The first Periodic Review must be held within six months after the young adult signs the voluntary care agreement. • Later reviews are held every six months thereafter. • The following findings must be made at the reviews: • Whether the young adult continues to meet eligibility requirements; • Whether the young adult continues to comply with the case plan and the appropriateness of the plan; and • Whether the young adult is making progress towards achieving independence.

14. Court Process – StatewideOther Court Hearings Discharge Hearing: shall be conducted when the young adult is no longer eligible for the program or chooses to terminate the program. • The court and the young adult will discuss the young adult’s options and how the young adult may prepare for transitioning out of the program or re-establish eligibility (if applicable). • A young adult may request court appointed counsel at any time and the judge will decide if appointment of counsel is in the young adult’s best interest.

15. Court Process – O‘ahu

16. Court Process – O‘ahuTransitioning Foster Youth • If the foster youth is interested in the program, jurisdiction in the 587A case will be extended to at least one month past the foster youth’s 18th birthday • Last 587A hearing/hearing on the petition: • 587A case will be closed; • Young adult will sign the voluntary care agreement; and • The petition and the agreement will be filed in open court. • Dates for all subsequent reviews and for the Closing hearing will be set at this time. This will satisfy formal notice requirements.

17. Court Process – O‘ahuHearings • Periodic Review hearings and other hearings will follow the state/federal requirements discussed in the statewide slides. • Hearings will be conducted in an informal manner, with a focus, not only on the case plan and case progress, but on engaging the young adult and on their well-being.