Contact: 808.589.1829 Ext. 233
Exiting foster care can be difficult for many youth and young adults, as they may lose a valuable support system. Imua Kākou (moving forward together) is a voluntary program from the Hawaii Department of Human Services that extends the services of foster care to young adults who turned 18 while in foster care. Services are offered until age 21. Hale Kipa provides case management services for this program on O‘ahu.
Benefits may include:
• Medical and dental coverage
• Monthly living assistance payments
• Resource assistance and support from a case manager
Eligibility Criteria
Participants are eligible if they are between the ages of 18 and their 21st birthday and meet one of the following criteria:
• Turned 18 or older while in foster care in Hawai‘i and emancipated or “aged out” of the system.
• Participant was placed in legal guardianship or adopted at age 16 or older from foster care in Hawai‘i.
Participants must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Be working on completing a high school diploma, GED or equivalent, or
• Enrolled part or full-time in post-secondary education (college) or vocational school, or
• Participating in an employment program, or
• Working at least part-time, 80 hours a month, or
• Be identified as medically disabled.