Foster and Adoptive Care

The Department of Human Services & its Community Partners
Honor and Support Resource and Adoptive Families

The Mission
Permanency by keeping children at home with their families safely (prevent removal), reunification, relative placement and maintaining safe and appropriate birth family connections.

2020: A Healing Journey: The Road to Reunification
2019: Hikalea Family
2018: Estrella Barnett
2016: Soares Family
2015: Ganon Family
2014: Kim Seu Family
2013: U’u Family

WARM LINE SUPPORT LINE FOR RESOURCE CAREGIVERS IS NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, 8:30AM-10:00PM.  Oahu (808)545-1130/Neighbor Islands 1-866-545-0882 (Toll-free).  WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU!

Answering the Call – You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who would love to put up with you.” To learn more about Foster Care in Hawaii visit https://www.pidf.org/projectpilina or attend a Foster Care Info Session.

STATEWIDE INFORMATION SESSION

ONLINE VIA ZOOM

Friday, November 4, 2022
12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Thursday, December 15, 2022
6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wednesday, January 4, 2023
12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Thursday, February 9, 2023
9:00 pm-10:00 pm

Thursday, March 16, 2023
6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Monday, May 1, 2023
6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wednesday, June 7, 2023
12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88365797275

Meeting ID: 883 6579 7275

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms. Founded in 2011, Zoom helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done. Zoom is a publicly traded company headquartered in San Jose, CA.

    One tap mobile

+16699006833,,85827708241# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,85827708241# US (Tacoma)

   Dial by your location

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 858 2770 8241
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbsp3Podlo

To reserve your seat, click here to submit online registration.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What process does DHS follow in approving resource families?

The approval process requires the social worker to:

    • Conduct child abuse and neglect checks and criminal history clearances on all adult household members
    • Conduct a home visit
    • Obtain references on the prospective resource caregivers
    • Obtain medical reports for the prospective resource caregivers and TB clearances for all adult household members
    • Obtain a copy of a marriage certificate, if applicable, for the prospective resource families
    • Obtain financial information and employment history for the prospective resource families

2. What criminal or child abuse history would disqualify a person from being a resource caregiver?

The Department of Human Services adheres to the Federal Law which prohibits the licensing of a resource caregiver/home if:

    • At any time, there has been a felony conviction for child abuse and neglect; spousal abuse; a crime against a child or children, including child pornography; or a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault or battery.
    • If within the last five years, there has been a felony conviction for physical assault, battery or a drug related offense.

Other situations of confirmed child abuse and neglect cases and other criminal convictions would need to be assessed if they pose a risk to children in care.

3. Do prospective resource families receive any training?

Yes, applicants are required to attend an 15-hour pre-service training, called HANAI. Catholic Charities Hawai’i is contracted by the Department to provide the training.

If you are interested in becoming a resource family, PIDF can be reached at:

Partners in Development Foundation
Project Pilina
Fostering Begins Here
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pidf.org/projectpilina

Ongoing Training Requirements & Resources for Resource Caregivers:

4.  What are the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standards for resource caregivers and child-caring institutions?

We have compiled a guide for resource caregivers and child-caring institutions that you can access here.

5.  How can resource caregivers and child-caring institutions promote normalcy and well-being in children and young people in foster care?

We created a question and answer guide for resource caregivers and child-caring institutions to better understand what measures help promote normalcy and well-being.

Resources for Resource and Adoptive Families

NEWSLETTERS: Hui Ho’omalu Statewide Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)

Family Programs Hawaii

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families National Adoption Month

Comparison of Permanency Options: Rights, Responsibilities & Benefits Regarding Adoption. Legal Guardianship and Permanent Custody

Licensed Agencies in Hawaii