MĀLAMA ‘OHANA WORKING GROUP Report to the Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i:

Findings and recommendations of the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, created by SB 295 SD2 HD2 CD1, enacted as Act 86 on June 14, 2023. Submitted in December 2024  (excerpt)

C. System Assessment: What We Learned

Our statewide listening sessions focused on understanding the child welfare system through the experiences of those it touches—from families and children to workers and community partners. We sought to uncover both strengths and challenges by exploring three fundamental questions:

• What are the strengths of the child welfare system?

• What are the needs of the families and children in the child welfare system?

• What is your vision or hope for the child welfare system?

There are good people doing difficult work throughout the system, but altogether, the system is failing.

The system's strengths lie in individuals within CWS, community-based organizations, churches, schools, and families who provide help and hope. However, as a system, few strengths were articulated. People inside and outside of CWS describe an uncoordinated system that works in silos and lacks proper resources and accountability. In short, they described a system that hurts instead of helps. Everywhere we went, we heard stories of children being harmed by the very system meant to protect them. We found deep mistrust within the child welfare system, alienated relationships, and strained partnerships.

Community members and those with lived experience want accessible, trauma-responsive, specialized supports when families struggle. When CWS responds, affected children and families want a system that is respectful, responsive, transparent, efficient, and effective. They desire a well-funded, well-staffed system with services and procedures that meet high operational standards.

What we found is that this desired system does not exist. While individuals with big hearts and valiant warriors exist, the problems loom large and formidable. People throughout the state are frustrated. We heard countless stories of anguish. Many were harmed by CWS caseworkers’ inadequate training and knowledge. A common theme was the complexity of understanding family dynamics when child abuse and neglect intersect with domestic violence. The dynamics of power and control can lead decision-makers to make grave, even fatal, errors. Another recurring issue was the cascading impact of poverty and the need for concrete supports to prevent CWS involvement.

The CWS workforce itself is struggling. Some units face chronic vacancies due to constant staff turnover. Many workers lack the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to do their jobs effectively. While pay differentials and overtime help, and new programs and innovations are beneficial, the infrastructure of CWS and supporting agencies—such as the Departments of the Attorney General, Accounting and General Services, and Human Resources Development—makes implementation painfully slow.

Some recent system changes show promise. For example, the number of children removed from their families dropped significantly in 2023–24. However, we found no evidence that effective and sufficient services were provided to those families diverted from CWS…

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KHON: New report reveals Hawaii's child welfare system is failing