Foster Care Package
Each year, the Children’s Justice Center of Oahu interviews between 600 and 1,200 children for alleged sexual abuse. At these interviews the safety of the children is evaluated and a decision is made that will affect the child for many years to come. For the children who can not go home because their home is unsafe, they are immediately and abruptly put into the custody of Child Protective Services who then finds an appropriate foster care placement. Often times the children will be placed into a temporary Emergency Foster Home and then, at a later date, taken to a regular foster home with the hopes of a longer term and successful placement. The children are taken to their new living environment with nothing more than the clothes on their back, leaving behind all of their possessions, clothes, toys school supplies and the life they once had.

According to the Special Services Unit of the State of Hawaii Department of Human Service, there are approximately 100 to 130 children placed into foster care each year due to sexual abuse.

The decision to come forward and disclose that one has been sexually abused is of truly great significance. It is a decision with enormous consequence and requires bravery. Many children decide not to disclose and continue to be victims because they fear the possibility of how their life can be changed or made worse.

The Foster Care Package was created to help during this time of crisis and to make the transition into foster care a little bit easier, and ensure that the child has the basic necessities and an item or two of comfort. It is a gesture of support in response to their crisis; giving them something to call their own and take along with them on their journey. It will let them know that there are people who care and support them in their struggle to deal with their new challenging life situation.

The package will include a rolling duffel bag filled with three day’s of new clothing, new underwear, slippers, a blanket and pillow, new toiletry items, a new back pack and school supplies, an age appropriate gift, a journal, and a plastic manila file envelope to keep important documents.

The Children’s Alliance of Hawaii would like to thank the following donors for their generosity and support of this project:

The Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation
Trader’s for Charity
Costco
Wal-Mart Pearl City
Wal-Mart Town Center of Mililani
iKon Designs
Individual Donors