Under the directive, which takes effect immediately, state employees will be granted administrative leave so they can attend Family Court hearings involving their foster children. This new leave program acknowledges the invaluable contributions of foster parents and encourages other state workers to consider opening their homes to foster children.

"Foster parents make tremendous sacrifices and dedicate valuable time and unwavering love to care for foster children, and this directive is one way we can support state employees who are licensed foster parents," Lingle said in a news release.

"My administration will continue to work with foster parent organizations, the Family Court system and community groups to support and recruit foster parents and ensure that every child in Hawai'i has a safe and loving home."

State Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Lillian Koller said, "on any given day, we have about 2,100 children in state care."

She added, "Our foster parents are often involved in making critical life decisions for these children, so it is important that they are able to attend Family Court hearings and offer their insights and recommendations to the judge. Governor Lingle's administrative directive enables state employees to appear in court and perform a vital role in the legal proceedings."

Lingle said she also stepped up support for foster parents when she signed Act 192 following the 2006 legislative session. That bill, which was proposed by the Lingle-Aiona administration and approved by the House and Senate, authorizes foster parents to attend and participate in Child Protective Act proceedings in Family Court involving their foster children.

The new administrative directive signed by Lingle is also expected to help DHS recruit additional foster parents among the ranks of state employees, according to Koller. She pointed out that the need for Native Hawaiian foster parents is particularly great, given that more than half the children in state foster care are of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry.

Accordingly, DHS works with numerous community groups to recruit and train foster parents and also to locate adoptive families when the rights of biological parents are terminated by the Family Court. Community groups helping in this effort include Partners In Development Foundation, Catholic Charities of Hawai'i, Heart Gallery Hawai'i, HOPE INC., Foster Family Programs of Hawai'i, Kokua 'Ohana and EPIC 'Ohana Conferencing.