Hawaii Foster Care Background Check: What Gets Checked and What Disqualifies You

The background check is the step most prospective resource caregivers dread. For some, the concern is a past mistake they worry will end their application. For others, it is uncertainty about what "background check" even means in this context — is it a basic criminal check, or something more comprehensive?

In Hawaii, it is comprehensive. Here is exactly what gets checked, what the results mean, and what options exist when something comes back.

Who Must Complete a Background Check

Every adult household member age 18 or older must undergo the full background check sequence. This includes:

• The primary applicant(s)
• Any adult spouse or partner living in the home
• Adult children of the applicant living in the home
• Any other adult regularly residing at the address

There are no exceptions for household members who are "rarely home" or who spend most of their time elsewhere. If they live there, they are checked.

Each adult must sign the Background Check Consent Form (DHS 1623) at the start of the application process.

The Five Components of Hawaii's Background Check

1. FBI National Criminal Records Check (Fingerprints)

The most time-sensitive component. Applicants are fingerprinted through Fieldprint, a contracted fingerprinting service, and the prints are submitted to the FBI for a national criminal history check. This covers criminal records from all U.S. jurisdictions.

The DHS applicant checklist states explicitly: schedule your fingerprinting appointment within the first ten days of starting your application. Delays in this step are the single most common reason the 90-day licensing window gets extended.

2. Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) Check

A state-level criminal history search that covers both conviction and non-conviction data within Hawaii. This is separate from the FBI check because not all Hawaii records are included in the national database, and the HCJDC check captures state-specific records that may not appear federally.

3. Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry Check

Hawaii's CPS Central Registry maintains records of substantiated child abuse and neglect findings. Anyone listed as a confirmed perpetrator of child abuse or neglect in this registry is disqualified.

This check is important to understand: it looks at CPS findings, not just criminal convictions. A person who was found to have abused or neglected a child in a CPS investigation — even if no criminal charges were filed — will appear in this registry.

4. Adult Abuse Perpetrator Registry Check

Similar to the CPS registry but for adult victims. This checks Adult Protective Services (APS) records for substantiated findings of abuse against vulnerable adults. It is an often-overlooked component, but it runs in parallel with the other checks.

5. Sex Offender Registry Verification

Verification against both the Hawaii state sex offender registry and national sex offender public websites. This check applies to all adult household members.

Automatic Disqualifications

Under federal Title IV-E guidelines, certain convictions result in a permanent, mandatory bar from fostering. No exceptions, no waivers, no appeals that override the disqualification:

• Conviction for child abuse or neglect
• Conviction for spousal abuse
• Any crime against a child, including child pornography
• Crimes of violence: murder, rape, sexual assault, felony assault
• Felony convictions for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense within the past five years

These are hard stops. If any adult household member has one of these convictions, the household is not eligible for licensure.

Non-Mandatory Disqualifiers: Where DHS Has Discretion

For criminal history that falls outside the mandatory disqualification list, the DHS does not automatically deny the application. Instead, it considers:

• The nature and severity of the offense
• How long ago the conviction occurred
• Evidence of rehabilitation since the conviction
• Whether the offense has any relevance to the safety of children

A decade-old misdemeanor, a resolved minor drug charge, or a non-violent offense from someone's youth does not automatically end an application. The key word is "relevant" — DHS is asking whether this history creates a risk to a child in care, not whether the applicant has ever made a mistake.

Your Right to Appeal

Applicants who are denied based on background check results have the right to a fair hearing and administrative appeal. If a denial seems inconsistent with the facts of your record — including errors in the registry data or records that should have been expunged — you can contest the finding.

Errors in background check databases do occur, particularly in the CPS registry and HCJDC. If something comes back that you believe is inaccurate, request a copy of the specific finding and address it directly with DHS and the relevant agency before accepting a denial.

How to Minimize Delays

The background check process, particularly the FBI fingerprinting component, is outside DHS's control once submitted. Processing times vary. The most effective strategies to avoid delays:

1. Schedule fingerprinting in the first week — not the first month
2. Confirm each adult household member has signed the DHS 1623 consent form before the application moves forward
3. If any household member has prior criminal history, be prepared to provide documentation of case resolution, sentencing, and any rehabilitation records proactively — do not wait to be asked

If you have concerns about specific items in your history and how they will affect eligibility, the licensing unit can provide guidance before you formally apply. That conversation costs nothing and saves significant time.

For a complete guide to the Hawaii foster care application process, including the background check timeline, Binti portal workflow, and what to expect at each stage, see the Hawaii Foster Care Licensing Guide.

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