Authorizes DHS to establish a youth transition care program for former foster care children and other children not younger than 18 and not older than 22; makes appropriation. Allows DHS to contract out for transitional shelters and other assistance for these former foster youths and other youth; makes appropriation.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Foster care is temporary family-based care for children who are unable to remain in their own home due to child protection concerns or exceptional circumstances. Since 1987, the number of children in foster care has doubled. Further, in 2002, it was estimated that nationwide over half a million children reside in some form of foster care.

The legislature finds that despite an increase in the number of foster care children statewide, these individuals and their foster parents remain largely "invisible" in the community and often lack the necessary resources and social services to assist these children and their caregivers. The Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition reports that between twenty to thirty per cent of foster youth in Hawaii become homeless before the age of twenty-one. Primary reasons includes insufficient income and a lack of independent living skills, such as developing critical budget and time management skills. Further, the lack of job and life training skills translates into a low employment retention rate for these youths. The Casey Family Foundation reported the findings of a national survey concerning former foster youths. According to this survey, roughly thirty-eight per cent of former foster youths, only two years removed from the foster care system, remained employed and only forty-eight per cent had ever held a full-time job. Accordingly, it is crucial that "permanency planning," which involves making proactive decisions about the future of a child in foster care, be initiated.

The legislature also finds that once foster children attain the age of eighteen, most lack adequate housing options. This situation is a microcosm of the larger homelessness problem confronting the State where it is estimated that the number of homeless persons has doubled since 1999. On any given day there are more than six thousand homeless persons in Hawaii, of which more than fourteen per cent are children under the age of eighteen. Further only twenty-two per cent of Hawaii's homeless are able to sleep in shelters. It is estimated that approximately two hundred youth up to age twenty-one are in need of transitional living services each year. This population includes one hundred youth exiting foster care and one hundred youth who have run away from home or have been thrown out of homes. As such, it is critical that short-term housing options be offered for these youths as they make the transition to adulthood.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a youth transition care program to provide critical job placement, life development skills, and other educational and employment-related programs for former foster care children and other eligible children. This Act also provide short-term housing assistance for former foster care children and other homeless children by placing them under the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii, which is experienced in handling the housing needs of transitional youth.

SECTION 2. Chapter 201G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201G-   Youth transitional shelter. The corporation may contract on behalf of former foster youths and other youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and not younger than eighteen and not older than twenty-two with a provider agency operating or managing an emergency or transitional shelter offering outreach assistance or services. In the case that the corporation itself operates and manages a transitional shelter, offering outreach assistance or services, to the corporation in such amounts and under such circumstances as provided by rule established under chapter 91.

SECTION 3. Chapter 587, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IX to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§587-   Youth transition care program. (a) The department shall establish a youth transition care program to provide continued assistance to former foster children and other youths who are not younger than eighteen and not older than twenty-two.

(b) This program may offer job placement assistance, life skills development, and other educational or employment-related coursework and programs the department deems appropriate."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $800,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the purpose of providing youth transitional shelter for former foster youths.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $800,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the purpose of establishing a youth transition care program.

SECTION 7. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 8. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.