Child, Family Services Top Meeting Agenda

“We want to do all we can to support foster children, their biological families and foster families, as well as the social service agencies that work closely with us,” Lt. Governor Aiona said.

His remarks were a reference to the support from an estimated 250 people who gathered recently at the Dole Cannery for the “Countdown to the 2009 Hawai`i Child And Family Services Review,” an event organized by the state Department of Human Services. The purpose of the event was to celebrate statewide achievements in child welfare services and brainstorm ways to build on that momentum.

Lt. Governor Aiona said the Administration’s commitment to the state’s child-welfare system is reflected in a bill signed into law to allow foster parents to participate in family-court proceedings. It is also reflected in a decision to grant administrative leave to state employees who want to attend family-court hearings with their foster children. In addition, it was demonstrated last month at a gathering to recognize foster children who recently graduated from high school.

“Clearly, we have made significant progress over the past five years in improving the child-welfare system,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “Now it’s time to build on that momentum so we can do even more for at-risk children and their families.”