Children in foster care are some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Early investment to ensure that they receive adequate care and treatment can help to avoid a lifetime of problems that carry severe human costs for the foster children as they grow, and great financial costs for our state.

However, the state was effectively decreasing its investment in foster children by failing to increase the amount paid for their care. Not only was this a moral failure to counter the eroding effect of nearly a quarter century of inflation, it was also a legal failure in violation of federal law.

Year after year the state rejected the requests of foster families and foster care support organizations to adjust the foster care payments for the cost of living. If inflation adjustments had been made, the monthly payments to foster families would have nearly doubled.

Finally, in 2013, LEJ and its partners—Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing—filed suit seeking an increase in the payments. After years of intensive litigation, LEJ negotiated a settlement under which the amount paid for the care of over 6,000 children involved with the foster care system in Hawaiʻi would be increased.

During the 2017 legislative session, the payments for the settlement were approved and the rates began to increase in July of 2018. Foster families in the state would receive over $8 million annually in additional resources for the care of foster children.

Ah Chong v. McManama

• May 3, 2018: Motion for final approval of amended class action settlement