• Home
  • About Us
  • Archives
  • Links
  • Events
  • Sitemap
  • Support Us
  • Contact
  • FPH
Subscribe: Posts | E-mail
  • News
  • Foster Care
    • Foster Care Issues
    • Foster Care Basics
    • Kinship, Resiliency, and Placement Issues
    • Laws Impacting Foster Care
  • Parent Resources
    • Advocacy
    • Court/Legal
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Services
    • Permanency
  • Youth Resources
  • Handouts/Facts
    • Conference Handouts
    • DHS Policies, Procedures and Reports
    • Factsheets
    • Research
  • Books
  • Newsletter
    • ITAO Newsletter
    • RAC Newsletter
    • Hi‘i Na Kupuna Newsletter
It Takes an Ohana It Takes an Ohana Hawaii's Foster & Adoption Resource

About Us


A HISTORY OF HELPING FAMILIES
Since 1971, ITAO has made a difference in the lives of thousands of children in Hawaii by offering resources and information to those in the community concerned with protecting the interests of children and youth in out-of-home care, while providing responsible advocacy.

VALUES
We believe that through education and support, foster parents will develop the skills to become credible, tenacious, excellent advocates for children and themselves.

We believe in improving the quality of foster care by empowering foster parents, adoptive parents, and legal guardians with information, skills, and support which enable them to effect change.

We are committed to providing easily accessible, accurate, and useful information, especially to prospective foster parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and legal guardians.

We are committed to working in a spirit of respect, love, and care.

ITAO MISSION
The It Takes An `Ohana mission is to offer resources and information to those in the community concerned with protecting the interests of children and youth in out-of-home care, while providing responsible advocacy.

SERVICES
Advocacy - With first hand knowledge of the challenges faced by foster and adoptive families, ITAO advocates for a quality foster care system by sponsoring legislation and contacting decision makers. On an individual level, ITAO teaches parents how to advocate for the needs of their children.

Information Services- Providing a way for foster parents to communicate their needs – and to get real-life solutions to these needs – is at the core of ITAO’s mission. In addition to the newsletter, ITAO maintains a library of books and videos, this website, and email listserve to keep foster parents in touch.

Referral Services -ITAO’s working relationships with a variety of agencies gives the association the unique ability to find the right resources for children and families in need. ITAO’s mentor services provide one-to-one support and guidance in resolving difficult situations.

Workshops & Training - A variety of workshops, with topics ranging from special needs children to advocacy, are offered throughout the year.

Read our Privacy Policy here.

Ad

Two Openings on HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board

News Youth Resources

There are currently two openings on the HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board. APPLICATION DEADLINE is January 6, 2012. This Board is made up of current and former foster youth who provide the “youth voice” for the Hawai`i Youth Opportunities Initiative (HYOI). HYOI provides foster youth with financial literacy training. After a youth has completed the training, s/he receives help in opening savings accounts as well as matching funds. The HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board helps the HYOI to identify the needs of and advocate on behalf of transition-aged foster youth. Follow link to learn more and to download application.

A Year with Foster Family ~ A Lifelong Template for Boy

News

Local foster parents Paul and Dottie Brennan welcomed the first of over 20 foster children into their Maunawili home in 1983. Follow links to read the heartwarming story of the recent reunion they had with him. We hope that this story brings joy and inspiration that helps you continue the work you do everyday to help children and youth affected by out-of-home care.

Support ITAO When You Shop
by Judith on November 14, 2011
Mentoring Connection links volunteers to teens in foster care
by Judith on November 13, 2011
`Ohana is Forever V: Our Next Steps Handouts and Links
by Judith on October 9, 2011
Changing the Legacy of Suicide
by Judith on September 2, 2011
Mental Health America-Hawaii’s “Finding Help Phone List”
by Judith on August 15, 2011
2011 Annual Child Welfare Law Update Conference Handouts
by Judith on August 12, 2011
Kapiolani Mentoring Program has Openings for Foster Youth Mentees
by Judith on August 10, 2011
Understanding Adolescent Stress and Depression
by Judith on June 6, 2011
Books

ITAO Book Club

We’ve assembled a list of some of the best books ever written about parenting, foster care and adoption and given you an easy way to read about them and purchase them online by clicking through from this website. When you do, ITAL receives a portion of the proceeds from that sale and from everything else you purchase on Amazon in that session! It’s a great way to support our work with foster and adoptive families.

Books

A Child’s Journey Through Placement

This book provides the foundation, resources, and tools to help professionals, parents, and other to support children for whom the journey through placement is part of their road to adulthood. Chapter titles include: 1) Attachment and Separation, 2) Child Development, 3) Separation and Loss, 4) Minimizing the Trauma of Moves, 5) Case Planning, and 6) Behavior Problems.

Books

Achieving Permanency for Adolescents in Foster Care: A Guide for Legal Professionals

Achieving Permanency addresses the legal, medical, psychological, economic and social issues that often pose challenges to teens seeking permanent families. This book offers guidelines that describe different case types and propose specific solutions and approaches, including step-by-step legal and casework strategies.

View The Archives
  • Tag Cloud

    • abuse adoption advocacy alcohol allegations attachement attachment child welfare college consent court DHS education enhancement FAS fetal alcohol syndrome foster foster care FPH gay hale kipa hawaiian head start kinship law legal mental health mentor newsletter ohana parenting permanency placement scholarship school sex abuse sexual abuse subsidy tax credit training transition trauma Werner youth youth services
  • Sign up for our Mail List

    * = required field
    Your Interests








    powered by MailChimp!

Shop Amazon, Benefit ITAO

When you click on the links below, you'll find great books at Amazon on Foster Care or Adoption. You'll also benefit ITAO's programs with every purchase you make during that session!
Foster Care Books
Adoption Books
Or visit ITAO's Amazon store for recommended titles.

Recent Posts

  • How & Why To Read Aloud To Keiki
  • Two Openings on HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board
  • A Year with Foster Family ~ A Lifelong Template for Boy
  • Planting the Seeds of Higher Education
  • Support ITAO When You Shop

Pages

  • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Default
  • Events
  • Links
  • Sitemap
  • Support Us
© 2012 It Takes an Ohana - Hawaii's Foster & Adoption Resource                                   Website by DPZEE
Contact us: info@ittakesanohana.org