Last year, the count of children in foster care in Hawai?i reached its lowest point in 20 years, marking a positive turn for the state’s beleaguered Child Welfare Services Branch (CWSB). The agency, in a recently published report, indicated uncertainty in pinpointing the reasons behind this decline but speculated that it reflects a “shift in mindset among staff” as the department advances with both federal and local reform efforts.
While the CWSB expressed relief over the reduction in foster care numbers, officials remain cautious, stating they do not have assurance that this trend will continue. This sentiment was captured in the latest CWS Annual Progress and Services Report. Despite a growing total of nearly 2,000 children in foster care as of the end of fiscal year 2023, the agency dismissed the notion that a decrease in cases could be due to staffing shortages. However, the report outlined a significant rise in vacancy rates within the department, particularly among staff members tasked with assessing children and families in distress.
The decline in the foster care population has been evident over the past four years, culminating with 1,959 children in care by June 30, 2023, a stark reduction from the 5,207 children in the system two decades ago. Although there was a slight improvement noted from previous years, 37% of caseworker positions remained unfilled as of February, while the essential roles of assessment workers faced a much graver situation with a 46% vacancy rate.
In an effort to attract and retain critical caseworkers, CWS is actively pursuing additional funding from state lawmakers to provide salary increases. This ambitious plan forms part of the wider strategy to evaluate multiple facets of Hawai?i’s child welfare structure as the Department of Human Services strives to implement components of the federally funded Family First Hawai?i initiative.
Moreover, the recent scrutiny faced by CWS has sharpened public focus, particularly following instances of child fatalities related to ongoing CWS cases. The Malama Ohana initiative seeks input on improving the system from individuals with firsthand experience, including foster children, biological parents, social workers, and foster guardians.
Elladine Olevao, the branch administrator for the CWSB, attributes the decline in foster care to initiatives like Family First Hawai?i, emphasizing a commitment to keeping children within their family homes wherever possible. This aligns with the Family First Prevention Services Act established by Congress in 2018. Its main objective is to leave children with their families rather than removing them, offering support such as substance abuse treatment and mental health services.
Additionally, the Department has made strides in integrating perspectives from individuals who have experienced the child welfare system into its policies and training, enhancing approaches with a focus on trauma-aware practices for staff. Both Olevao and Daisy Hartsfield from the Social Services Division affirm that the current reductions in foster care numbers cannot be linked solely to staffing shortages, crediting dedicated workers for the ongoing assessments conducted effectively despite the challenges.
However, the ongoing high caseload among social workers and the significant vacancy rate remain pressing issues. Reports indicate that average caseload sizes in child welfare exceed national benchmarks, with CWS workers carrying an average of 34 cases, and in some areas, such as Maui County, an alarming 51 cases per worker.
For assessment workers, the situation is even more critical, with an average caseload of 53 statewide, and reports from Maui showing numbers as high as 80 cases. These excessive caseloads, attributed to high vacancy rates and challenges in closing inactive cases, raise serious concerns about the sustainability of current workloads. Hartsfield stresses the necessity for more staff to manage these demanding levels effectively, which has led the department to seek $3 million in additional funding this year to enhance salaries for social workers and support staff to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts.
The current workforce is described as capable of maintaining children’s safety, according to Hartsfield, but emphasizes that a more stable and reinforced workforce would enable the CWS to provide additional resources and support to families.
