High-Need Foster Kids Now Have An Alternative To Staying In State Offices

The Department of Human Services has introduced a new residential program called Keiki Now to provide temporary housing and rehabilitation for high-need foster children who have no placement. This innovative approach aims to end the long-standing issue of children sleeping in government offices or hotels, a problem that has been ongoing for years.

The Keiki Now program is set to launch an 18-bed facility on Oʻahu, staffed 24/7 with behavioral health professionals and clinicians from Pacific Health Alliance, a healthcare nonprofit based in Hawaiʻi. The pilot program is expected to cost around $3.2 million in its first year, with some expenses potentially covered by medical insurance.

The new facility will primarily cater to the most challenging-to-place youth, including those with behavioral issues, developmental disabilities, and trauma. Since the creation of an internal task force last year, the department has been grappling with how to address this persistent issue. Despite a slight decrease in the overall number of youth in foster care, the department has struggled to find enough foster families for children with the highest needs.

Between 2023 and 2025, more than 30 children slept in department offices or state-funded hotel rooms for varying lengths of time, ranging from one night to two months. These children were often placed there because their foster families were not equipped to handle their specific needs or were removed from their families due to abuse or neglect. Prior to the Keiki Now program, there were few alternatives for these children, leaving them in potentially unsafe and unsuitable environments.

Experts from Pacific Health Alliance, which partnered with the department on this initiative, believe that the children will benefit greatly from the therapeutic supports provided by the trained staff. In 2023, 14 Hawaiʻi children spent time in department offices or hotels, a concerning increase from previous years. State Rep. Daisy Hartsfield, who led a task force on the matter, also highlighted instances of staff being assaulted or having their cars damaged while caring for children in offices.

This highlights the urgent need for a more suitable and supportive living arrangement for these vulnerable youth.