Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 July 1991 — Abused teen needs loving foster family [ARTICLE]

Abused teen needs loving foster family

By Deborah Lee Ward Editor "Keoki" is a 14-year-old Hawaiian-Filipino boy in need of a therapeutic foster family who ean provide a loving, committed and stable home environment. Because he suffered years of unrelenting physical and emohonal abuse with his natural parents, in 1986 he eame under jurisdiction of the Child Protective Services of the state Department of Human Services and the state has had responsibility for his care since then. He has been housed at the State Hospital and was in another foster home in windward O'ahu. Caseworkers say Keoki (not his real name) has made steady progress since removal from his family, but he still needs the guidance of firm and attentive adults in a structured home and school setting. At present he is enrolled in a special education class where he receives individual attention from a personal education aide. Yet DHS Family and Adult Services Division caseworker Brian Lott says what Keoki needs most is a home and foster parents to feel like a normal boy. DHS is actively seeking a foster family now for Keoki and brought his case to public attention last month on TV4's "Wednesday's Child" program. To match Keoki's background, DHS would like to find a Polynesian family on O'ahu with a large house in the country and a yard. However, any interested family will be considered who ean provide stability and commitment, and who ean offer a stable, caring and secure environment. Keoki is one of approximately 800 children in Hawai'i who are under state institutional care for

reasons ranging from special mental or emohonal needs to unstable or abusive family situations. At present there are a half-dozen boys at the adolescent unit of the State Hospital, all Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian who also need placement with families. The unit will be closed at the end of this month and the boys are to be moved to Castle Hospital. Lott says the state's goal is to eventually return eaeh child to their natural family. But if, as in Keoki's case, family members are unwilling to make changes to provide a caring environment for the child, caseworkers will try to put the child with a relative or then in a family foster home. Some children need to be placed with families with skills in coping with their emotional needs. They may be difficult to plaee because they plaee a greater demand on the caregivers for care, tolerance, firm guidance and understanding. Keoki is one of these children. He speaks loudly, and tends to fixate on objects while ignoring normal conversation. He is self-centered, very intense, but ean also behave quite normally at other times. He needs help in redirecting types of inappropriate social behavior, such as inappropriate touching, hugs or sexual talk. Lott says Keoki needs a family who will give him consistent supervision, where he ean leam to be part of a family. He does best in a ealm, stable routine. In this environment, Lott says, Keoki blossoms. He is affectionate, very bright, grateful for help and eager to do the right thing. With consistent support Keoki is developing appropriate social skills. In an optimal home environment he will be

able to make further gains in social and emotional development. Keoki likes being outdoors and active. He does well in individual sports like jogging, fishing, water sports and boogie-boarding. He is short for his age but sturdy. He is physically fit and energetic, and loves all kinds of sports. Keoki needs a family in a stable relationship — ideally a foster father and mother who are both willing to be involved and supportive. This kind of commitment and caring ean make the difference in this young boy's life. Responsibilities of the foster family would include participation in training workshops wiih the state Departments of Health, Education and Human Services — the three agencies that have case management jurisdiction over Keoki. They will leam parenting skills, anger management, how to handle a crisis and receive other suppcrt services. The family must keep various agencies informed about his progress and attend regular conferences. The family will receive a monthly stipend of $1,400 for his food, clothing and shelter and for their time. Respite services will also be available to give them regular time off. DHS is also looking for a qualified therapeutic aide to assist Keoki's foster family after school by taking him jogging or to the beach before he returns to the foster home. Families interested in becoming foster care parents for Keoki or other children with similar needs should contact the Department of Human Services Foster Home Certification Unit, 8325105.