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It Takes an 'Ohana

Hawaii's Foster Care Resource

It Takes an ‘Ohana is a program of Family Programs Hawaii. We provide the latest news in foster care and updates to Hawaii’s child welfare laws. For more information on foster care and strengthening families in Hawaii, visit our main website by clicking the button below.

Family Programs Hawaii

Foster Care Rate Increase in Hawai`i

Foster Care Benefits We are pleased to share details of the new and improved foster care rate with you.  This information comes to us from the Director of DHS, Pat McManaman.  The new foster care board payment is determined by the age of the child like so:

  • 0-5 years      $576
  • 6-11 years    $650
  • 12 years and older  $676

The increase will take effect July 1, 2014.  The increase will be seen in Foster Board check received in August (Reminder:  Foster Board payment is for care provided in the prior month.)  The increase will be prorated according to the child’s birth date.

For details on more supports for foster children and resource families, click on this link:

Foster Care Benefits Foster Care Benefits

Chaminade University Scholarship for Former Foster Youth

Chaminade University is offering a full-tuition scholarship to a young person who has aged out of foster care or who was placed in legal guardianship or adoption through Child Welfare Services. This award is a full-tuition scholarship that is $ 19,960 for the academic year 2014-2015 and is renewable for three additional years as long as the student remains in good standing.

To be eligible, the applicant must:

  • Be a resident of Hawaii.
  • Be a new college student who has never attended another college or university.
  • Be in foster care, aged out of care, or have been placed in legal guardianship or adoption through Child Welfare Services.
  • Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Have graduated with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.2 or better
  • Have earned a combined math and critical reading S.A.T. score of 920 or better or ACT composite of 20 or better.

To apply for the scholarship, email the following information to ltochiki@epicohana.org with the subject line “Scholarship”  OR mail the information to

           

   Scholarship

            EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.

            1130 Nimitz Highway, Suite C-210

            Honolulu, HI 96817

  Provide your name, mailing address, date of birth, telephone number, email address, and the name of the high school that you graduated from.

  Provide a copy of your high school transcript.

  Provide a copy of your FAFSA Expected Family Contribution.

  Provide a copy of your SAT or ACT scores.

  Provide a one-page essay that explains why you would like to attend Chaminade University.

More information about Chaminade University is available at www.chaminade.edu.         

SUBMIT THESE MATERIALS BY JUNE 1, 2014

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP.

 

For additional information about this scholarship, please contact Laurie Tochiki by email at ltochiki@epicohana.org.

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2012 Annual Child Welfare Law Update Conference

Follow this link to see the latest information available regarding child welfare laws and policy in Hawai`i. There you will find the handouts and program from the 2012 Law Update Conference held August 24, 2012 at Ko`olau Ballrooms in Kaneohe.

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A new book has just come out that can help explain adoption to children who have been taken from biological parents due to neglect or harm!

Hootah’s Baby is a story about a mother owl whose life-style choices have made it impossible to be an effective mother. The community steps in to ensure the baby’s safety. It is not about whether or not the mother loves her baby. It is all about mothering skills and the child’s need to be safe. Follow link to learn more.

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