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It Takes an 'Ohana

Hawaii's Foster Care Resource

Nation’s Foster Children Deserve Stable Families

Elijah Sanchez, in his description of his time in foster care in Hawaii, talks of living with people who didn’t care about him. With so many foster parents in our state who care deeply about the children they care for, even when these children are exhibiting normal 2-year-old temper tantrums or teenage “attitude,” it is sad to hear about those families who didn’t understand the importance of something as simple as celebrating that child’s birthday.

There are many foster parents in Hawaii who understand the commitment they make when they decide to provide a home for children who temporarily need to be in foster care. These families nurture the children; celebrate their birthdays, including some of the child’s family when feasible; ensure that Santa comes for them just as for their birth children; spend time working with them on homework; and sign them up for extra-curricular activities such as sports teams, art classes, dance, or other activities of interest to the child. These families, whether an auntie, a grandmother, or a non-related foster parent, also understand the common wish of children in foster care that they be able to live with their parents in a safe environment. Therefore, they honor those parents as being important to the child, even if those same parents had horribly abused the child.

High standards in the selection process of foster parents and quality services by the social workers to the families will help ensure that children are in safe, nurturing homes where they can stay until reunification, adoption, or guardianship. We applaud the national efforts underway to assure children are raised in a permanent, safe, and loving home.

Click here to read Elijah Sanchez’s article in the Honolulu Advertiser, April 8, 2007 in Island Voices.

“Kids Are Waiting: Fix Foster Care Now” is a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, as part of its campaign calling for reform of the federal financing system for foster care.

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