Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 8, 1 August 1998 — PLEASE HELP [ARTICLE]

PLEASE HELP

We are the adopted family of a 1 2 year old Hawaiian child. When he was placed with us in 1994, we were told that he had some problems, but that a loving family and stability would make it all better. Five years later, all the love in the world has not helped. We have lived a nightmare of abuse at the hands of this child who is now in a psychiatric hospital. Our CHAMPUS insurance will no longer pay for his stay and we must plaee him in a group home, whieh his psychiatrist and therapist recommend, or bring him home. We cannot subject our other four children to more abuse, but group homes cost $5,000 a month and we do not have that kind of money. Virginia social services could not help us since the adoption was from Hawai'i. Hawai 'i social services said that since the child has been adopted, they ean no longer help. Our only recourse is to relinquish custody to Virginia. We love our son, even if he does not love us, and we want to give him the help he so desperately needs. Can you offer any suggestions or help? Bonnie Polewski RPolewski@aol. eom

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Ka Leo Kaiaulu