Hawaii State Adoption Assistance Program

Hawaii Department of Human Resources has no general adoption information link.

Hawaii state-specific medical assistance:
https://medquest.hawaii.gov/Opens in a new tab
Hawaii Revised Statutes 346-301 through 346-305:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0346/HRS_0346-.htm
Opens in a new tab

Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 17 Chapter 1620, Adoption Assistance and Reimbursement of Non-Recurring Adoption Expenses for Children with Special Needs:
https://casetext.com/regulation/hawaii-administrative-rules/title-17-department-of-human-services/department-of-human-services/chapter-1620-adoption-assistance-and-reimbursement-of-nonrecurring-adoption-expenses-for-children-with-special-needsOpens in a new tab

In Hawaii a child with special needs is defined as a child that has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to adoption without financial assistance:

• Four years old or older at date of adoptive placement
• Race or ethnic background
• Member of a sibling group of two or more children adopted by the same family or to join a sibling that has already been adopted
• Chronic or severe medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition, or behavioral disorder
• High risk of developing a medical, physical, mental, or emotional condition, or behavioral disorder as documented by a professional

Basic rate:

The difficulty of care rate is up to $570 per month in addition to the basic rate. The rate is available if the child requires additional supervision and care because of physical or mental health conditions or emotional, psychological or behavioral problems.

Adoption assistance typically continues until the child reaches the age of 18. Assistance can extend to the child’s 21st birthday if the child has been determined by the Department to have a mental, emotional, or physical disability that warrants continued assistance. The child’s physical or mental disability must require ongoing medical supervision or treatment, or be a barrier to achieving and maintaining the goal of self-sufficiency according to documentation received from the child’s physician or other professional service provider.

For state adoption assistance, can continue until 20th birthday if youth is still in enrolled in high school.

Hawaii offers a subsidize guardianship program.  Relatives and non-relatives may receive the same amount as foster parents.  For information about the differences between subsidized guardianship and adoption assistance, visit http://humanservices.hawaii.gov/ssd/files/2014/02/Permanency-Options-0207.pdf.