Investigation urged Two state lawmakers want a special investigator appointed to look into the death of a 1-year-old Nanakuli boy who was under foster care.
in foster-care death
A 1-year-old boy with asthma
died Friday as his mother
challenged the state's custodyBy Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.com
House Human Services and Housing Committee Chairman Michael Kahikina and House Health Committee Chairman Dennis Arakaki are asking the Lingle administration to name an independent investigator to examine the circumstances of the infant's death Friday.
They also are calling for an investigation into the state Child Protective Services' handling of the boy's custody case.
The child's death "raised deep concerns as the methods used by CPS case workers in this tragic situation," said Kahikina (D, Nanakuli). "We have a responsibility to the families of our community to find out what happened to cause this boy's death."
State CPS officials could not be reached for immediate comment. In the past, they have declined comment on individual cases, saying they involved confidential matters.
The boy, who had a history of asthma, lost consciousness Friday and was transported to St. Francis Medical Center West, where he was pronounced dead, according to a police report.
Police said there were no signs of foul play, but noted that an investigation was pending.
At the time, the boy was in the care of foster parents in Nanakuli, who are related to the boy's father.
Shanda Keahi, the boy's mother, said yesterday that she had asked state social workers last November to remove her son from the foster home after he came down with bronchitis. She alleged that CPS workers negligently handed her child to people ill-equipped to serve as foster parents.
According to Keahi, the CPS took temporary custody of her youngest son in June when he was three months old after she began serving a 15-day jail term for spouse abuse. She said state social workers were attempting to revoke permanent custody of the boy and his siblings when the infant died.
"This could have been avoided," Keahi said. "Right now, I want my kids away from the foster parents."
The call for an investigation comes as Kahikina and Arakaki (D, Kamehameha Heights) are spearheading an effort to audit the state's CPS system.
During a two-hour hearing on the House resolution last month, the health and human services committees heard testimony from dozens of parents who said state CPS workers trampled on their due-process rights in attempting to revoke custody of their children.
Department of Human Services