There has been a tremendous amount of aloha for the infant recently reported abandoned at Sandy Beach.

The image of a crying, scared, newborn alone on a beach, tugs at all of our heartstrings, and rightly so.

However, everyone should be aware that on any given day, there are approximately 1,200 children across the state in foster care.

Families — called Resource Families — are needed to provide foster care statewide, especially for teens, who are scared and alone, just like this infant was.

The ultimate goal is to reunify children with their parents or place them with relatives — but until that is possible, these children need stable, loving and supportive temporary families.

Hui Ho’omalu, a program of Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF), has received many inquires about fostering or adopting the "Sandy Beach infant." Although that incident has brought into focus the needs of our state’s foster children, PIDF works to remind the public that this need is ever-present.

There is an especially urgent need for families able to accept older children, teens and large sibling groups.

May is National Foster Care Month, a time when the nation’s leading child welfare organizations come together to raise the visibility of foster care issues and encourage more people to get involved as the "Change a Lifetime" campaign is launched.

The campaign’s premise: All children — including the 380,000 American children and youth under 18 in foster care — deserve a safe, happy life. Young people in foster care especially need nurturing adults on their side because their own families are in crisis and unable to care for them. Mahalo to the selfless individuals and families across the state who have devoted their lives to caring for our keiki in need of foster care.

For statewide information on events honoring National Foster Care Month, see our website, www.pidf.org.

If you or someone you know is willing to foster a child in your community, contact Hui Ho’omalu for more information on how to become a Resource Family.

The basic requirements are:

>> Space in your home for an additional child. Generally, a foster child may not share a room with an adult, but may share a room with other children of the same gender.

>> Income to cover usual household expenses. A household must be able to show that taking in an additional child will not place undue strain on the household’s financial situation. Resource Families receive a room and board reimbursement of $529 per month per child.

>> Completion of a criminal and child abuse and neglect background check. All adult household members must be able to show a recent/credible history of safe behavior.

>> The desire and ability to accept a foster child into your home based on the reunification plan made by the state. Foster care is temporary and a resource home needs to be a safe and nurturing environment for the foster child while a permanent plan is made.

Even if you don’t have the capacity to care for a child, but want to spread awareness and contribute to the cause, Hui Ho’omalu can suggest ways to help.

———

On vacation: "On Politics" columnist Richard Borreca is on vacation.