The tragedy of Erwin Viado Celes’ suicide is felt by his family and all who were privileged to know Erwin.

His death makes visible our shortcomings as a society to address the unique needs of young people who age out of foster care, and it has the potential to make visible what we as a community can do to create a more compassionate bridge to adulthood for the children we have taken the responsibility to parent.

By the age of 22, 54 percent of foster youth who have aged out of foster care do not have high school diplomas; 25 percent have been homeless and 80 percent are not able to support themselves financially. These outcomes are unacceptable for any parent in our community.

Nearly 150 young people age out of foster care each year in our state. The state Department of Human Services/Child Welfare Services (DHS/CWS), Hawaii foundations and local service providers have made a concerted effort in recent years to address the needs of these transitioning youth.

In 2010, through the leadership and substantial funding from the Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation — and additional commitments from the Atherton Family Foundation, the Hawaii Community Foundation and the McInerny Foundation — Hawaii became a co-investment site with the national Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative. Known as the Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative, it began on Oahu in 2010 and will expand statewide in 2011. It is one of 11 such sites in the nation, and its sole work is to address the issues and challenges of transitioning foster youths. It brings together community resources so the youths can find housing, gain employment, pursue education, stay physically and mentally healthy and develop positive relationships with peers and adults.

One of the key elements of the initiative is the HI HOPES (Hawaii Helping Our People Envision Success) youth leadership board. This board consists of 10 young people between the ages of 14 and 24 who are, or have been, in foster care. They identify their needs and work with a community partnership board to plan, implement and evaluate the progress of the initiative.

Th community board includes leaders from child welfare, Family Court, the Hawaiian community, the university and community college system, business, housing, health care and communications.

EPIC Ohana, a nonprofit organization that has worked closely with DHS/CWS for over 16 years to serve families, children and youth involved with foster care, is the lead agency of the initiative.

The challenges these young people face cannot be the sole responsibility of the child welfare agency. Federal and state laws govern basic support and medical care for foster children aging out of care. Educational, employment and housing opportunities are possible because individuals, organizations and state government in our communities are aware of the issues and respond with compassion.

The suicide of Erwin Viado Celes is a tragic and powerful way to call people together to do more than pay for his funeral. We have an opportunity to work together in our communities to integrate and support vulnerable young people into successful adulthood and assure that the death of Erwin Viado Celes was not in vain.

Arlynna Howell Livingston is executive director of Epic Ohana, lead agency for the Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative, which supports youths aging out of the foster care system.