Before you start to work with foster care agencies in Hawaii, it’s important to know what foster care adoption is and how it’s different than private domestic infant adoption.

In general, foster care adoption agencies in Hawaii provide the following services:

• Help foster parents adopt their foster children
• Work with the state to facilitate foster care adoption
• Help hopeful adoptive parents adopt foster children

Foster care adoption is slightly more complicated than domestic infant adoption. But, fostering a child and adopting a foster child are wonderful ways to grow your family.

Although American Adoptions doesn’t facilitate foster care adoption, our adoption specialists can give you information about how foster care, foster care adoption, and domestic infant adoption differ. You can contact us via our free online form or by calling 1-800-ADOPTION for more information. But, if you want to read more about foster care and foster care agencies before reaching out to an adoption specialist, continue reading.

What is Foster Care?

A foster care provider in Hawaii helps place children with foster parents. Most of these children are older and often are part of a sibling group.

Children in foster care are there because their biological parents cannot safely care for them. Most of these children have experienced:

• Trauma
• Neglect
• Emotional or physical abuse

No child is in foster care because of something they did wrong. You must be prepared to be compassionate and patient with the child you’re fostering to meet all their needs.

What Do Foster Care Agencies in Hawaii Do?

Foster care agencies in Hawaii, which are typically referred to as public adoption agencies in Hawaii, help:

• Existing foster parents adopt their foster children
• Hopeful adoptive families find foster children who are up for adoption

It’s important to understand that children in foster care are only eligible for adoption if their biological parents cannot meet a judge’s reunification plan. The main goal of every foster situation is for safe reunification with a child’s biological parents.

So, although you may be able to adopt the child you’re fostering, adoption is not a given in any fostering situation.

Foster Care Requirements in Hawaii

To become foster care parents or to work with foster care agencies in Hawaii, you must:

• Have enough space for a child
• Finish preservice training for the home study
• Pass required criminal history and child abuse registry checks
• Provide a safe, supportive, loving environment for a child
• Have enough income to meet all financial needs

Foster Care Agencies vs. Private Adoption Agencies

Below you can find some of the ways that foster care and private adoption agencies differ.

Foster Care Agencies in Hawaii

• Foster care agencies in Hawaii help existing foster care parents adopt the children in their care. Adoption only can happen if the child’s biological parent’s parental rights have been terminated.
• Public adoption agencies help hopeful adoptive parents adopt children whose parents have already had their parental rights terminated.
• Most kids in foster care are older or part of a sibling group. And many foster kids who are eligible for adoption are older.
• Hopeful adoptive parents may choose to work with fostering agencies in Hawaii if they do not have the financial means to pursue private adoption. Foster parenting is free, and adopting from foster care is much less expensive than private infant adoption.
• Prospective adoptive parents may also choose to work with local foster care agencies in Hawaii if they are unable to find other adoption opportunities with local adoption agencies.

Private Domestic Adoption Agencies

• Private domestic adoption agencies in Hawaii help place infants with hopeful adoptive families.
• Prospective birth mothers and hopeful adoptive families typically get to know each other before the birth mother delivers her baby. Private adoption agencies help facilitate these relationships and post-placement contact.
• Private domestic adoption agencies often provide many in-house adoption services and adoption counseling. Sometimes, this emotional support is available 24/7.
• A domestic adoption agency can give hopeful adoptive families more accurate adoption wait times. And although a family will have to wait until a prospective birth mother chooses them, they will get to adopt their baby at birth.
• If a hopeful adoptive family chooses to work with a national adoption agency like American Adoptions, they will have the opportunity to be promoted to prospective birth mothers across the United States.

How American Adoptions Can Help You Adopt

If you decide to pursue foster parenting with the hope of working with a foster care agency in Hawaii to adopt, know that you will be in good hands. Foster parenting is a wonderful thing, and this beautiful act can help you build your family.

But, if you think you may want to pursue private infant adoption, consider working with our agency. American Adoptions’ national reach ensures your family will:

• Receive the promotional services that allow you to reach prospective birth moms across the country
• Get 24/7 practical and emotional adoption support
• Have financial protection through our Risk-Sharing Program in the event you experience adoption disruption
• And more

If you want to find out more about our services, call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our free online form.

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