How to Become a Foster Parent in Hawaii

Foster family holding a silhouette of a house

Hawaii is a paradise for many people, but it can feel anything but idyllic to foster children displaced from their homes.

These kids are put in new environments and must learn to adapt quickly, often losing out on their childhood years. And for those that don't find a loving foster home, it can be even harder to adjust.

You have a chance to help these children and teens when you learn how to become a foster parent in Hawaii. As a licensed foster home, you take these youth in and teach them essential life skills that assist their development.

Here's what you need to know about raising foster children, including state foster parent requirements and essential FAQs.

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in Hawaii

Palm trees in Hawaii

Close to 400,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system, and the numbers are on the rise. Yet, the path to becoming a foster parent in Hawaii can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Hawaii agency to simplify becoming a foster parent.

HOW TO FOSTER: A SIX-STEP GLANCE

There are six steps to complete before you can bring a child into your home as a licensed foster parent in Hawaii:

  1. Request Information About Fostering – 
    FosterUSKids put the Hawaii foster care and adoption agencies at your fingertips.
  2. Attend an Orientation Meeting for Foster Parenting –
    Learn more about the foster parent journey: how to become a foster parent, the characteristics of kids in foster care, and state foster care rules and regulations.
     
  3. Submit a Foster Parent Application –
    Your agency’s social workers will help you with the required documentation, background checks, personal references, and state-specific criteria.
     
  4. Attend Pre-Service Training –
    Around 30 hours of formal parent training cover essential topics from what to expect to trauma-informed foster care.
     
  5. Complete an Assessment and Home Study
    This vital process includes a home visit and interviews with social workers to ensure you are a good fit and ready to be matched with a foster child.
     
  6. Receive Your Foster License –
    The typical 3 to 6-month process results in getting your foster family license and then welcoming a foster child into your home!

Parenting is a rewarding journey marked by commitment and growth. For foster children in Hawaii, the search is not for a perfect parent but someone they can count on for love, care, and a stable home – a foundation that will make a life-altering difference.

We at FosterUSKids are grateful you are on the path to learning more. For detailed guidance through every step, contact a Hawaii child-placing agency now.

Requirements to Foster in Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Human Services and its partners strive to support resource families. You can find many educational resources on the DHS website. Plus, foster parents can use the Warm Line support number for information, referrals, and general support.

The Warm Line for resource families is Oahu (808) 545-1130 and Neighbor Islands 1-866-545-0882.

Your local licensed foster care agency is there for you as well. Many child placement agencies in the state are working hard to recruit foster parents and provide support in every way they can.

If you have questions or concerns about the process or meeting the needs of a child in your care, you can always call or message them.

There are also online resources available, such as blog posts, to help you deal with obstacles and learn more about the impact of fostering.

Remember, you're never alone! Use the support groups and resources out there, and it will make your parenting journey much easier.

Foster FAQs for Hawaii

Many resources and support groups are available to help parents learn to foster. You can contact the DHS or your caseworker if you have questions.

That said, here are a few of the most common questions we receive and answers to each.

What Is Respite Care?

Respite foster care is when one family temporarily watches the foster child of another. Families must be licensed to perform respite care. The goal is to provide temporary relief or cover for a parent if they need to tend to an emergency, leave the state, etc.

What Training Is Required in Hawaii?

Adults interested in fostering must first complete a 15-hour pre-service training course. This training helps people to learn more about the foster care system and how to properly provide care. It covers important topics that will ensure you become a better caregiver.

How Can I Provide Better Care for a Foster Child or Teen?

Aside from meeting the basic requirements and attending your training, you should always continue to learn. For instance, Hawaii's Department of Human Services created the "Don't Say No Until You Know" guide. It's an educational resource that helps caregivers promote a child's well-being.

Care for a Child in Need

There's a lot to learn about how to become a foster parent in Hawaii, but starting here is an excellent first step. Next, you can contact your local DHS or licensed foster care agency to learn more and get started.

Foster agencies in Hawaii

Select My Foster Agency in Hawaii

General Statistics About Foster Care

  • 1418

    Children in Hawaii foster care in 2021

  • 8

    Average age of a child in foster care in Hawaii

  • 244

    Hawaii children waiting to be adopted in 2021

  • 6%

    Of foster children will stay in care for 3 to 4 years

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding foster care in the United States. It's important to dispel these rumors and reveal the truth. Raising awareness is the first step to helping our country's many foster care children.

Here are some of the latest statistics for Hawaii, based on 2021 data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System:

  • Hawaii has 1,418 kids in foster care
  • 1,037 entered the system in 2021 alone
  • 244 were waiting for adoption as of September 30th, 2021
  • 235 children had parental rights terminated
  • The median age of foster youth is eight years old
  • 38% of kids live with a non-relative in a licensed foster home
  • The vast majority (78%) of case plan goals are to reunite children with their parents
  • 10% of case plan goals are to find the child a forever home through adoption
  • 23% of foster youth spend between 6-11 months in care
  • 6% spend 3-4 years in foster care

So, what kinds of children need a home the most? Like much of the United States, Hawaii is desperately looking for parents willing to take sibling groups and teenagers. An estimated 9% of children in foster care are 17, a pivotal time in their lives.

Many people believe all kids in foster care are troubled or have behavioral issues. This is a harmful idea that keeps many people from raising foster children.

Those in foster care have experienced trauma, which can result in them developing depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Some may require extra attention or special care, but you're taught how to provide this in your parent training sessions.

Foster youth are just regular kids that need love and patience, like any other child.

Support Services for Foster Parents in Hawaii

Adults must meet some eligibility criteria to become licensed foster parents. Those include the following:

  • You must be 21 years old or older to foster
  • Live in a safe and comfortable living environment
  • Provide enough space for the child
  • Complete pre-service training for foster parents
  • Adults must receive a physical from a medical professional
  • There can be no more than five foster children in a home
  • Pass a criminal and CPS background check
  • Remain financially stable
  • Provide character references
  • Each child needs a bed
  • Provide proof of residence
  • Pass the inspection and complete the home study

Parents may be single, married, divorced, or widowed. State statutes, agency policies, or regulations cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity, so same-sex couples can also foster.

Each child needs their own bed, although bunk beds work fine. Beds must be at least three feet apart.

Although parenting experience is an asset, it isn't required. Your orientation and parent training will help you to prepare and provide for a foster child.

Parents can also work inside or outside the home, as long as it doesn't interfere with care.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, contact the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) Social Services or an approved child-placing agency. After the initial meeting, you'll attend an informational orientation and learn the next steps.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Hawaii

Every day in Hawaii, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Hawaii kid needs a soft place to land and a place to call home. Whether you can offer temporary care or become a forever family, your interest could mean a brighter, more secure future for a child in Hawaii.

Still undecided? A Hawaii child-placing agency is here to guide you, providing answers about stipends, coaching, therapy resources, and foster parent training.

Take the next step: Begin your parenting journey by fostering a Hawaiian child today.

Select My Foster Agency

Find a foster or adoption agency near you using our state directory for Hawaii. If you represent an agency and would like to claim your listing, please contact us.

Agency Locality Agency Type
Honolulu
Traditional Foster Care, Adoption
Koloa
Adoption, Other
Honolulu
Traditional Foster Care, Adoption
Honolulu
Other