HONOLULU (February 7, 2017)āHawaii International Child announces its 2016 – 2017 Board of Directors, which includes four new members: Laulima Real Estate Group Real Estate Advisor Jewell K. Tuitele; community volunteer and child welfare advocate Barbara J. Service; CACI Field Investigations Section Lead for Hawaii and Guam Holly T.M.L. Toguchi; Dr. Jeffrey Okamoto owner of Development- Behavioral Pediatrics who is also a University of Hawaii Medical School Professor and Medical Director of State of Hawaiiās Developmental Disability Division.
The board includes Rann Watumull as Chair, Roger Forness as Vice Chair, Gigi Davidson as Treasurer and Jane Miyake as Secretary. Other members are as follows: Howard Garval, MSW; Steven T. George; Deobrah Leoni-Yep, MSW; David J. Mozdren; Clifford Okumoto, MD; Mark Platte; Fred Rodi; and Dean Y. Yamamoto.
For more than 40 years, Hawaii International Child has served as a nonprofit family services provider, committed to children who are urgently in need of families including teens in foster care and children who may be harder to place. Its services include helping prospective parents find their chosen children, support for those who are pregnant and considering the option of adoption. It is a local nonprofit and is not affiliated with or funded by any national organization.
HIC is the only Hawaii-based adoption agency accredited by the Council of Accreditation, the national entity authorized by the U.S. Department of State that has implemented safeguards to ensure intercountry adoptions take place ethically and in the best interest of children. HIC meets the standards founded in the Hague Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act and the Universal Accreditation Act.
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