HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

209

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING THE BOARD PAYMENT RATE FOR FOSTER BOARDING HOME PARENTS, GROUP HOMES, AND CHILD CARING INSTITUTIONS.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the current board payment rate for foster boarding home parents, group homes, and child caring institutions in Hawaii was last set in 1990 and has not been adjusted even as the total rate of inflation since then has risen sixty-six per cent; and

 

     WHEREAS, the current monthly board payment rate of $529 for each child regardless of age is insufficient to raise a child because costs for food, housing, utilities, clothing, and other necessities have increased; and

 

     WHEREAS, a 2007 report published by the University of Maryland's School of Social Work concluded that most states, including Hawaii, pay foster parents far less than what middle income families customarily spend to raise their children; and

 

     WHEREAS, the University of Maryland report further indicated that Hawaii's standard foster board payment rate, undifferentiated by age, is lower by nineteen per cent, thirty-six per cent, and forty-nine per cent than the minimum adequate rate for children advocated by the Foster Parent Association for children aged two, nine, and sixteen, respectively; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii continues to experience a shortage of families willing and able to provide foster care for the approximately seventeen hundred children requiring foster care in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the low standard foster board payment rate, undifferentiated by age, for providing foster care has made it difficult to attract and retain foster parents; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's reimbursement from the federal government for foster care payments under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act with regard to the Adoption Assistance Program has not been maximized and represents an underutilized resource; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that the Director of Human Services is requested to determine the feasibility of gradually increasing the board payment rate for foster boarding home parents, group homes, and child caring institutions in the State over a period of five years; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Human Services, in determining the feasibility of increasing the board payment rate, is requested to consider establishing a scaled schedule of board payment rates that take into account varying levels of difficulty in providing care to foster children of different ages within the following age ranges:

 

(1)  From birth to age five;

 

(2)  From age six to age twelve; and

 

(3)  From age thirteen to time of termination from foster care; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Human Services is also requested to determine the feasibility of linking future board payment rate increases to various inflation index measures, such as the Consumer Price Index; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Human Services is further requested to submit findings and recommendations regarding board payment rate increases, including any necessary proposed legislation, to this body no later than November 1, 2009; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Increase Foster Board Payment Rates; DHS Feasibility Study