Thank you for considering providing a foster or adoptive home for a child in foster care. We are happy to assist you in your journey to become a foster and/or adoptive parent.
Please feel free to contact us at (808) 441-1117 or toll free 1-888-879-8970 for more information regarding foster care and adoption in Hawai`i.
Contact Information
Hui Ho`omalu, a program of Partners in Development Foundation
Doris Taitague
(808) 441-1134 or Toll Free: 1-888-879-8970
dtaitague@pidfoundation.org
Para información en español, contacte:
Rhea Olsen, MSW
(808) 441-1123 or Toll Free: 1-888-879-8970
rolsen@pidfoundation.org
Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption
The minimum qualifications for foster and adoptive parents are:
- Have sufficient income to cover your financial needs.
- Ability to provide a safe, loving, supportive environment for foster and/or adoptive children.
- Must pass required FBI background clearance, State Criminal History clearance (for all states resided in for the past 5 years), and Child Abuse and Neglect registry check.
- Successfully complete the pre-service training and the homestudy process.
- Must have sufficient space in your home and meet all other licensing criteria, according to state law.
- To download and print full licensing requirements go to http://www.hawaii.gov/dhs/main/har/har_current/AdminRules/document_view. Under the heading for Child Welfare Services, click the link next to “Adoption Services” (17-805) and “Certification of Foster Family Board Homes for Children” (17-890).
Foster families nurture children’s development by supporting birth family connections. This may include:
- Supporting reunification with birth parents.
- Facilitating permanent placement with relatives.
- Providing transportation for, and supervision of, visits with birth parents or relatives.
The role of adoptive families includes supporting children’s overall health and well-being by collaborating with the team responsible for addressing children’s needs, including:
- Providing transportation to activities and appointments.
- Being involved in education planning.
- Supporting children’s connection to their ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage.
Visit the Hawaii Department of Human Services website for more information about becoming a foster or adoptive family in Hawai`i.
Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?
Normally, fostering or adopting is almost free.
Exception: If a family completes the general licensing requirements to be a Department of Human Services (DHS) foster or adoptive family AND does not provide foster care services AND requests a release of the DHS home study to a private agency, DHS will require a payment of $1,000 prior to releasing the homestudy. The payment is to partially reimburse DHS for the costs of the training, clearances and the homestudy assessment.
Parent Support Groups
Foster Youth Support
Agency Contact and Orientation Information
To become a General Licensed foster or adoptive family in the state of Hawai`i, contact:
For foster family licensing with support specific to Hawaiian values, contact:
To provide foster care or an adoptive home for a specific child, contact the child’s Social Worker at:
To adopt a child from the Department of Human Services, with support specific to faith-based values, contact:
Information on Children
Many children in foster care are part of a sibling group. All are from a diversity of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. There are 2,766 children in foster care in Hawaii; 878 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.
Upcoming Events
For the next informational meeting in your area on becoming a foster or adoptive family, call or email:
O`ahu: (808) 441-1117
Maui: (808) 268-5122
Kaua`i: (808) 346-8184
East Hawai`i: (808) 987-5988
West Hawai`i: (808) 896-3829
Toll Free: 888-879-8970
hui@pidfoundation.org
For other events contact:
Family Programs Hawai`i
www.familyprogramshawaii.org
680 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 200
Honolulu, HI 96813
Statewide Warm Line: (808) 545-1130
Toll Free: (866) 545-0882
Main: (808) 521-9531
Fax: (808) 533-1018
It Takes an Ohana
www.ittakesanohana.org
(808) 522-1016
info@ittakesanohana.org