It Takes an 'Ohana

Empowering Foster Families, Resource Caregivers

 

It Takes an ‘Ohana (ITAO) works to improve the quality of foster care by empowering resource families through advocacy and by providing vital information and resources in Hawaii. This enables families to improve the outcomes for the children and youth in their home and effect positive change in the child welfare community.

Resources

Helped raise the age foster youth can remain in care

Adult supporters trained on the needs of foster youth

Foster youth provided with the resources they need

It Takes an ‘Ohana

It Takes An ‘Ohana is committed to providing 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. It is centered on providing better outcomes for children and youth in out-of-home care by enhancing collaboration between all parties in the child welfare community in Hawaii.

Services

• Informing stakeholders of available services and resources
• Advocating for resource families as well as current and former foster youth at the Legislature, Executive and Judicial branches
• Working with stakeholders to help resolve complex issues that arise in Hawaii’s child welfare community
• Maintaining a board of community advocates to bring about positive change for children in out-of-home care
• Representing the voice of resource families in the community

Eligibility

Hawaii, Statewide

Resource families, adoptive families, legal guardians, kinship caregivers, social workers, current and former foster youth, service providers and professionals in the child welfare system in Hawaii.

2022 Annual Child Welfare Law Update

For resource caregivers, adoptive parents, legal guardians, permanent custodians, therapeutic homes, service providers involved with CWS

Voices from our Families

“My husband and I have appreciated all the support given to us by everyone at It Takes an ‘Ohana as we were fostering and adopting our five children from the foster care system. It truly ‘takes a village’ to raise a child.”

Mahalo,
Randalynne and Ohana

Mahalo to Our Funders & Changemakers

Hawaii Court Improvement Program