Plenny keiki in Hawaii’s foster system stay losing da kala dey no even know is deirs cuz one controversial practice dat stay getting moa heat. ? Unda da policy, HNN Investigates wen show ’bout one year ago, da state stay taking Social Security benefits meant fo’ disabled an’ orphaned kids. ?
Da state Department of Human Services (DHS) wen say recently dey stopped taking da money, but HNN wen find out dat claim no stay true. Now, get moa push fo’ change da policy, like how odda states wen do already. ?
In foster care, da keiki get two kine groups: da ones who pay fo’ deir care an’ da ones who no pay. Out of da 2,000+ keiki in Hawaii’s foster system, da state say 97% no pay any kine. Da state cover all da costs. But fo’ da keiki who get Social Security benefits, no stay da same kine. ?
DHS wen confirm dey stay taking kala from 55 keiki an’ using ‘um fo’ pay deir foster parents. It’s one little-known practice dat da peeps who stick up fo’ foster keiki say is real unfair. ?
Da Children’s Advocacy Institute National Policy Director, Amy Harfeld, wen say, “DHS stay claiming dat if dey no take dis kala from da keiki, da state gotta cover da whole cost fo’ deir foster care. Well, dat’s exactly da kuleana dey get wen dey take one keiki into care.” ??
Ova da past couple years, dis issue wen make lawmakers come up wit plenny resolutions fo’ ask DHS fo’ stop taking da keiki’s benefits. Den in March, DHS wen submit testimony to da state saying dey wen make changes. ?
In one two-page document from March 16, da officials wen say: “DHS wen stop taking Social Security payments” last year afta one similar resolution wen come up. Dey wen ask lawmakers fo’ half-million dollahs fo’ make up fo’ da kala dey no take from da keiki anymore. ?
But HNN wen find out dose statements no stay right. Da wrong info still stay on da state Legislature’s website. Harfeld wen wonder how da mistake wen come out. ?
DHS officials wen say “da testimony submitted was da wrong version an’ da mistake neva get caught ’til afta.” ?
Da mistake wen come to da lawmakers’ attention at one hearing on March 17. Social Services Division Administrator Daisy Hartsfield wen add: “Wat actually wen happen is dat we wen start talking story right away fo’ see how we can stop taking Social Security payments fo’ foster board reimbursements.” ?️
In lata testimony, da department wen tell lawmakers, “Dey like stop using Social Security benefits.” But fo’ make up da difference, da agency need extra $500,000 a year added to deir budget. ?
Hartsfield wen tell lawmakers, “We hope wit dat we can make plenny progress fo’ no depend on Social Security benefits fo’ foster board reimbursements.” ?
In one statement, DHS wen explain moa: “While DHS wen change deir position cuz last year’s resolution wen ask, da Legislature gotta give general funds to DHS fo’ replace da federal Social Security benefits fo’ da keiki’s care an will no can get federal reimbursement fo’ foster care costs cuz da State stay deciding not fo’ spend da Social Security benefits fo’ dis purpose.” ?️
If dat happens, Hawaii goin’ be one of da few states fo’ stop da controversial practice. ?
“Seems like da agency stay optimistic an’ little bit ahead of demselves,” Harfeld wen say. “At dis point, I tink we should hold deir feet to da fire fo’ make da policy change happen.” ?
On Thursday morning, da Legislature’s latest resolution fo’ ask DHS fo’ stop taking da Social Security benefits wen pass tru da Human Services committee. ?
Da peeps who stick up fo’ da youth say da Social Security benefits should go in one account, so da keiki get some savings fo’ maybe go school, buy one car, an’ pay rent wen dey grow up an’ no moa in da foster system. ???
NOW IN ENGLISH
State Wants to Stop Taking Foster Kids’ Money ?, But Needs Funding to Fill the Gap
Dozens of children in Hawaii’s foster system are losing money they may not even know is theirs due to a controversial practice that’s facing new criticism. ? Under the policy, which HNN Investigates exposed about a year ago, the state takes Social Security benefits meant for disabled and orphaned youth. ?
The state Department of Human Services (DHS) recently said it stopped taking the money, but HNN confirmed that claim was not true. Now, there’s a renewed push to change the policy ― like other states have already done. ?
In foster care, children fall into two categories: The ones who pay for their care and the ones who don’t. Of the more than 2,000 children currently in Hawaii’s foster system, the state says 97% don’t pay anything. The costs are all covered by the state. But for children entitled to Social Security benefits, it’s not the same. ?
DHS confirms it’s currently taking money from 55 kids and using it to pay their foster parents. It’s a little-known practice that advocates for foster youth say is extremely unfair. ?
Amy Harfeld, Children’s Advocacy Institute National Policy Director, said, “DHS is claiming that if they don’t take this money from kids, the state would have to assume the full cost of paying for their foster care. Well, that’s exactly the responsibility they have when they take a child into care.” ??
Over the past couple of years, this issue has prompted lawmakers to propose multiple resolutions asking DHS to stop taking children’s benefits. Then in March, DHS filed testimony with the state claiming changes had been made. ?
In a two-page document dated March 16, officials said: “DHS immediately ceased intercepting Social Security payments” last year following the introduction of a similar resolution. It went on to ask lawmakers for half a million dollars to make up for the money it’s losing from no longer taking children’s money. ?
But HNN confirmed those statements were not accurate. The false information is still posted on the state Legislature’s website. Harfeld questions how the erroneous information was made public. ?
DHS officials said “the testimony submitted was the incorrect version and the error was not caught until after.” ?
The mistake was brought to the attention of lawmakers at a hearing on March 17. Social Services Division Administrator Daisy Hartsfield added: “What actually occurred is that we immediately began discussions to consider how we can cease Social Security payments for use of foster board reimbursements.” ?️
In later testimony, the department told lawmakers, “it’s willing to forego the use of Social Security benefits.” But to make up the difference, the agency needs an additional $500,000 a year added to its budget. ?
Hartsfield told lawmakers, “We hope with that we’ll be able to make significant progress in terms of not relying on Social Security benefits for foster board reimbursements.” ?
In a statement, DHS further explained its position: “While DHS changed its position as requested by last year’s resolution, the Legislature will need to appropriate general funds to DHS to replace the federal Social Security benefits available for the child’s care and will forego the ability to seek federal reimbursement for foster care expenditures as the State is deciding not to spend the Social Security benefits available for this purpose.” ?️
If that happens, Hawaii would become one of a handful of states to do away with the controversial policy. ?
“It would appear that the agency is optimistic and a little bit ahead of themselves,”
