Question: What is the role of Child Welfare Services when it comes to homeless children? Can’t these children be taken from their parents and placed in a more stable foster-care environment until their parents get themselves some permanent housing? It is one thing for an adult to be homeless, but children are a whole different story.

Answer: Being homeless “influences every facet of a child’s life — from conception to young adulthood. The experience of homelessness inhibits the physical, emotional, cognitive, social and behavioral development of children,” according to a 2010 briefing paper by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which you can read in full at 808ne.ws/1VW43vu.

But separating children from their parents solely because they are homeless is no solution, policy experts warn. Rather, they urge housing (including through rental subsidies) and intensive educational, therapeutic and other social-service interventions for the children and their guardians.

It’s important to note, too, that the same briefing paper that describes dire outcomes for homeless children also mentions negative consequences for people who grew up in foster care.

An unfounded fear of losing custody of their children might prevent some homeless parents from seeking government help, which is one reason CWS emphasizes that law enforcement intervenes to remove children due to abuse or neglect — and that homelessness alone does not meet that standard. Child Welfare Services is a branch of the state Department of Human Services.

Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 350-1 defines child abuse or neglect as a series of actions or omissions that harm children. Lack of timely, adequate shelter is listed among the harmful circumstances, but the terms are not explicit.

“Homelessness in and of itself, or lack of conventional and/or permanent housing in and of itself, does not meet the statutory definition of child abuse or neglect. There are families who may live in tents, in their cars, or in temporary housing accommodations who are able to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, psychological care, physical care, medical care, and supervision for their children in a timely manner,” said Keopu Reelitz, a spokeswoman for DHS, enumerating some of the requirements under the law.

“Our No. 1 priority is the safety and well-being of a child. To that end, we consider many factors that may adversely impact a child, including shelter and reducing trauma to a child. We assess each situation uniquely and will prioritize keeping a child with family and/or close family friends to ensure their safety and reduce trauma. This individualized assessment allows us to provide adequate support and services to both the child and the family to resolve any issues and strengthen the family unit.”

Child Welfare Services prioritizes safely maintaining a child with his or her family because removing a child from parents can be extremely traumatic, regardless of setting, she said. When children must be placed outside the family, CWS first works to place them with relatives or family friends. “This minimizes the disruption in a child’s life,” she said. “If a child is placed outside his or her family, CWS social workers continue to engage the family in tailored services that resolve any safety or risk issues.”

Anyone who believes a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, whether homeless or not, may call the Child Welfare Services 24-hour reporting hotline at 832-5300 from Oahu or 800-494-3991 from the neighbor islands, Reelitz said. If the child is at imminent risk, call 911 for an emergency response.

Also, a note regarding process: “The public should also know that Child Welfare Services does not have authority to remove a child from her/his parents as city and state law enforcement have this authority,” Reelitz said.

Auwe

I’d like to say auwe to the people who walk their dogs and don’t pick up their droppings. They should pick them up. — A reader

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