How to Become a Foster Parent in Hawaii: Step-by-Step Guide

Most people who want to foster in Hawaii know what they want to do. What stops them is not knowing how to start — or what happens after they submit that first form. The DHS licensing process has a designed 90-day timeline, but without a clear picture of the steps, applications stall, documents go missing, and families end up waiting months longer than necessary.

Here is the full process, in the order it actually happens.

Step 1: Attend an Orientation

Every application begins with an orientation session. These are hosted either directly by the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) or through contracted agencies — primarily Hui Ho'omalu (Partners in Development Foundation) on Oahu and through Catholic Charities Hawaii statewide.

Orientation covers who the children in the system are, what the state needs from resource caregivers, and what your rights and responsibilities will look like once you are licensed. It is also your first chance to ask specific questions before committing further. You do not need to complete any paperwork before attending — just show up.

On the Neighbor Islands, orientations are less frequent and sometimes held virtually. Contact your island's CWS licensing unit directly to find the next available session.

Step 2: Submit the Formal Application

After orientation, if you decide to move forward, you submit the Resource Caregiver Application (DHS Form 1583). This officially starts your 90-day licensing clock.

Once your application is received, DHS activates your account on the Binti online portal. Binti is Hawaii's digital licensing platform — it shows you your outstanding requirements, lets you upload documents, and tracks your progress in real time. Getting comfortable with Binti early saves significant time.

Step 3: Complete Background Clearances

Background checks happen in parallel with your other requirements. Every adult in the household must submit a signed Background Check Consent Form (DHS 1623) and schedule an FBI fingerprinting appointment through Fieldprint.

This is the most common source of delay. The DHS checklist is explicit: schedule your fingerprinting within the first ten days of starting your application. Delays in the background check are the single biggest reason the 90-day window gets missed. Other clearances run simultaneously:

• Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center (HCJDC) state records check
• Child Protective Services (CPS) central registry check
• Adult Abuse Perpetrator Registry check
• Sex Offender Registry verification (state and national)

You will also need a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of income on file.

Step 4: Complete the H.A.N.A.I. Pre-Service Training

Before your home study can be completed, every applicant must finish the H.A.N.A.I. (Hawaii Assures Nurturing and Involvement) pre-service training. This is a 15-hour curriculum split between nine hours of live instruction (in-person or webinar) and six hours of self-study through online modules.

Training covers trauma-informed care, the Prudent Parenting standard, attachment theory, and the specifics of the Hawaii child welfare system. For Neighbor Island applicants, sessions are increasingly available as live webinars so you do not have to travel to Oahu.

Step 5: Get Health Clearances

All household members — adults and children — need tuberculosis (TB) clearances. Adult household members also need a completed medical questionnaire from a licensed physician confirming they are free from conditions that would pose a risk to a foster child. Do not wait to schedule these; physician availability can add unexpected weeks.

Step 6: The Professional Home Study

The home study is the final major milestone. A CWS licensing worker or contracted social worker will conduct multiple visits to your home and conduct detailed interviews with all household members.

The physical inspection checks fire safety (smoke detectors in every bedroom and on every floor, an accessible fire extinguisher), hazardous storage (medications, firearms, cleaning supplies all locked and inaccessible), sanitation, and sleeping arrangements. The psychosocial portion asks about your childhood, your motivations for fostering, your family's problem-solving approaches, and your support network.

You will also provide an autobiographical statement and contact information for two references — one relative and one non-relative.

Step 7: Final Recommendation and License Issuance

Once all documents are uploaded to Binti, clearances are back, training is complete, and the home study is done, the licensing worker submits a final recommendation to DHS. If approved, your license is issued and you are eligible to receive a placement.

What the 90-Day Checklist Looks Like

Your complete Hawaii foster parent application checklist includes:

• Orientation attendance (before application)
• DHS 1583 application submitted
• Binti portal activated
• DHS 1623 background consent for every adult
• FBI fingerprinting scheduled within first 10 days
• Government ID uploaded for all adults
• Income verification (pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit letters)
• TB clearances for all household members
• Medical questionnaire completed
• H.A.N.A.I. training completed (15 hours)
• Two references submitted (one relative, one non-relative)
• Home study visits completed
• Physical safety inspection passed

Common Delays to Avoid

The most frequent reasons applications exceed 90 days are: fingerprinting not scheduled early, TB tests delayed due to physician scheduling, and housing compliance concerns that could have been addressed in advance. If you live in a smaller home — which is common across Hawaii given housing costs — review the physical standards before your home visit rather than after.

For Neighbor Island applicants, staffing shortages within local CWS units can extend home study scheduling. The best strategy is to have all documents uploaded in Binti before your first home visit is even scheduled. That way, the only variable left is the in-person appointment.

Ready to navigate the full process with a Hawaii-specific guide? The Hawaii Foster Care Licensing Guide covers every step in detail, including island-specific contacts, the Binti portal workflow, and how to pass the home inspection in smaller homes.

First Steps Right Now

If you are ready to start, contact the licensing unit for your island:

• Oahu (Urban): 677 Queen Street, Room 400A, Honolulu — (808) 587-5266
• Oahu (Leeward): 94-275 Mokuola Street, Room 203, Waipahu — (808) 675-0470
• East Hawaii (Hilo): 1990 Kinoole Street, Suite 109 — (808) 981-7290
• West Hawaii (Kona): 75-5722 Hanama Place, Suite 1105 — (808) 327-4755
• Maui County: 270 Waiehu Beach Road, Suite 107, Wailuku — (808) 243-5866
• Kauai: 4473 Pahee Street, Suite G, Lihue — (808) 241-3660

Ask for the next available orientation session. That one conversation puts everything in motion.

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