A bill that would allow foster care youth to voluntarily remain in the system until they turn 21 made it through its final committee vote Thursday and is headed to a House-Senate conference hearing.
The measure has garnered wide support from the state and social service advocates, and is modeled after "best practice" legislation now adopted by or under consideration in at least 16 other states.
In emotional testimony to the House Finance Committee on Thursday, former foster youth described the major obstacles they faced after "aging out" of the system at 18.
Tiffany Tuilata, 24, said she turned 18 "while on the run" and found herself homeless with no support and no idea how to take care of herself.
"This bill touches me so deeply," she told lawmakers, adding that when she was 18 she thought she could take over the world. "Unfortunately, it didn’t play out so well. It (this bill) gives youth the opportunity to explore. If they do not succeed, they can come back into voluntary foster care."
About 100 to 120 foster care children in Hawaii age out of the system every year, though that figure is expected to reach as high as 175 in 2018.
The state has estimated that offering the voluntary foster care program until 21 would initially cost taxpayers about $1 million a year.
Under the bill, youth would be able to remain in foster care if they are seeking post-secondary education, working at least 80 hours a month or participating in a workforce development program. Eligibility requirements would be waived for those unable to work or go to school because of a medical condition.
Also, youth who choose to leave foster care after their 18th birthday would be able to return.
In addition to continued foster care payments, funds for the program would go to case management aimed at helping youth make goals for the future — and come up with a plan for achieving them.
Delia Ulima, statewide coordinator for the Hawai‘i Youth Opportunities Initiative, a program of nonprofit EPIC ‘Ohana Inc., said before Thursday’s hearing that extending foster care beyond 18 makes sense for the well-being of foster youth and for society as a whole.
She said giving foster youth continued support could decrease the number who end up homeless, in the justice system or dependent on drugs.
"They are our children. They are literally wards of the state, and they’re not ready at 18 to be on their own," Ulima said.
National data show foster youth have far poorer outcomes than their peers: They are more likely to lack a high school diploma, struggle financially and engage in risky behaviors.
A survey of 349 "out of care" youth who were helped by the Hawai‘i Youth Opportunities Initiative in 2012 found that nearly half did not have access to safe, stable housing.
Noy Worachit, 20, aged out of the foster care system at 18 but counts herself lucky: Her former foster parents allowed her to stay.
"They were such a great support to me," she said.
At the time she was raising a 2-year-old daughter.
Worachit now also has a son, is working and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work.
She entered the foster care system briefly at 3, then permanently at 12. Without a supportive home, she said, she wouldn’t have gotten far.
"If this bill passes, it gives young people the opportunity to have support even beyond 18," Worachit said before the hearing.
Gernani Yutob Jr., 22, entered foster care at 14 and aged out four years later.
But like Worachit, he had supportive foster care parents. "They took me under their wings and basically acted as actual parents and gave me a stable, affordable home," he told the Star-Advertiser.
Yutob is a senior at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and plans to go to law school.
He said many foster care youth struggle as adults because they don’t have anywhere to turn to for help.
He asked lawmakers at the hearing Thursday, "What would you do for your own children? When your own child turns 18, would you expect them to go out on their own without any support?"
