On the eve of Valentine’s Day the FSSWH Auxiliary, a small (and growing) group of ladies dedicated to the FSSWH mission “to support families and communities in providing love and care for our children”, went all out to provide an Italian dinner for some 45 adults and 75 children. After officially joining together as an auxiliary in January, the ladies took on the task as their first accomplishment as an auxiliary. They planned for and made a dinner composed of lasagna, meatloaf, salads, rice, cake and juice for participants of the Linkages to Learning program. Everyone loved it!
While the Linkages to Learning program staff completed their monthly “lesson plan” with the groups of parents, the children participated in creative dance and movement with Maryna Allen of Heartplay or in open play with Sherri Cox. Valentine’s goodies and balloons provided by the auxiliary were offered to the families as party favors.
Big Mahalos go to the ladies of the auxiliary for the wonderful ono grinds and extra goodies in support of the holiday. A very special mahalo to Maryna Allen for providing the children with such a creative opportunity.
Dedicated volunteers from Kaiser Permanente, Kona Clinic, donated two Saturday mornings, January 19th and 26th, to help renovate Family Support Services of West Hawaii Youth Center located at the Queen Liliuokalani Village Recreation Center in Kona. Under the leadership of Skip White and Sari Lassiter, Kaiser volunteers sanded and painted weather beaten benches and tables, assembled a toddlers swing set, and repaired miscellaneous equipment. Along with Kaiser volunteers, William and Barbara Lawrence helped to assemble a swing set donated by The Queen Liliuokalani Village Home Owners Association.
Each Saturday about twenty-five volunteers showed up, adults and children, eagerly waiting to be assigned their tasks. We started at 8:00 a.m., however the work was cut short the first Saturday due to rain. The second Saturday the weather cooperated, and all the tasks were completed by 1:00. Snacks, drinks and lunch were provided for the volunteers by FSSWH staff members Michelle Obregon and Huellyn Whitford.
What is my role as a home visitor? I believe my ultimate role as a home visitor is “Touching people, changing lives”. It is unconditionally laying down my life for someone and not expecting anything in return. My role as a home visitor is going the extra mile and paying the price to make a difference in lives of families. My reward is not a pat on the back or recognition but knowing that I played a tiny part in touching someone’s life. My fulfillment is lifting my parents spirits when their heads are down, to wipe tears from a child’s eyes when they are hurting, to make someone smile when they are in despair. Title and position is irrelevant when you want to reach someone’s heart. People are not interested in how much you know but interested in how much you care.
When working with the families, I always see them as successful leaders. I share with them that they are valuable and important to my life. I believe that each individual has a “golden nugget” stored up within him or her to offer to our program. It’s a matter of bringing it forth. And that’s my role, to bring out the gifts and talents that are dormant so that my families can fulfill their purpose and destiny for their lives.
I clearly remember my first day of work in June of 1997 when our Early Childhood Director, JoAnn B. Freed, greeted me warmly with a “hug”. I thought for a moment, “Is this lady real’’? After almost 5 years of being part of the FSSWH family, I can testify that this lady is “REAL”. This special person does not know the depth of how much she has “touched my life” and made a significant difference personally and professionally. It really meant a lot to me when she asked how my asthmatic baby was doing and put him first before my stats or when she called me at home after this same baby who was now in first grade broke his arm in school. She is my mentor and role model of “Touching People, Changing Lives”. I am just one of the many “kiddos” she has impacted and changed forever. My Early Head Start families are producing life-changing results because I reciprocate the same love and care JoAnn has always showed me.
On behalf of my parents of the Early Head Start program, Policy Council Chair, Candace Watson, Parent Committee Chair, Rhonda Jackson and the many kiddos that you have touched, we warmly “Thank you” for unselfishly laying down your life for children and families of the Early Head Start Program. I personally want to “thank you” again and again JoAnn for touching my heart and for being a significant part of my life.
Love,
One of Your Many Kiddos
In early June 2001, one of the families participating in the FSSWH Healthy Start program joined the community at the Catholic Charities Transitional Housing facility in Kawaihae. Prior to obtaining housing at the Kawaihae facility, the father of the child participating in the Healthy Start program, was living on the streets of Kailua-Kona. The mom was living temporarily with her parents, who were planning a move to the mainland. It looked like this young mother and her child would soon be homeless, along with the dad. Through the diligent work of our Healthy Start family support worker and Clinical Specialist, the family eagerly engaged in the Healthy Start program, strengthening their independent living skills and increasing their knowledge of their baby’s development and subsequent developmental needs. The family came to see the need for their son to have a stable environment, and they successfully applied to and were accepted into the Kawaihae housing facility.
The couple and their young son embarked on their new life in the community at Kawaihae, offering their many talents, as well as their positive attitude and enthusiasm for life. They quickly made friends, and joined in the many activities and services offered at the facility. The dad is an excellent gardener, and began right away beautifying the little cottage with a garden right in front of the house. He planted herbs, orchids, and other ornamental plants.
The planting of a garden served to inspire the residents of the housing facility, and the children can often be found observing this energetic dad as he works magic with his plants. There are plans to start a garden for the children as well, and he has been asked to contribute the gift of his green thumb to other areas in the housing facility that need beautification.
This young family has participated and embraced in the Healthy Start program with enthusiasm, cooperation, and interest. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us at the FSSWH Healthy Start program, and the Kawaihae housing facility, to observe how this family has utilized resources to contribute something to the community, to beautify the grounds, and offer the residents a model of self-sufficiency through working the soil.
The family has had an opportunity to work on an organic farm on the Hamakua Coast, actualizing a dream of working the land for a living. What’s in store for the future? The family is considering moving back to the mainland, where they will take their skills acquired through engagement in Healthy Start, and working the organic farm, to create a meaningful lifestyle wherever they settle. This young couple, by approaching adversity with energy and a positive outlook, has been able to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time. Our applause goes out to this most special family and their success!
This family reflects the success of FSSWH in meeting its mission “to support families and communities in providing love and care for our children.” We are proud to be a part of a support system helping to strengthen families and to make healthier communities in West Hawaii.
Remember when your best friend was Curious George? I do. I loved reading about his adventures, to travel along with him on his journeys. On January 30th Family Support Services of West Hawaii, coordinated by the Linkages to Learning program, helped bring “Curious George” to many of today’s children. We celebrated “Curious George’s 60th Anniversary” at Na Kamali’i Playground at Old Airport. Besides sharing a cake, FSSWH provided “Curious George” storybooks to over 75 children in attendance. Books were made available to FSSWH through a generous donation from the Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company facilited by RIF. For more information on the Linkages to Learning Program at FSSWH, call Shannon at 326-7778 ext 111.
We think the Healthy Start staff may have had more fun than our 16 Healthy Start families and children who attended our lively day-before-Valentine’s Day Parent Support Group at Waiohinu Park on February 13th. We started with an icebreaker where each mom introduced herself, and using the first letter of her first name, picked an animal she liked that also started with the same initial. Some moms got off easy, R-rabbit, D-dog, C-cat, and so forth. However, some of the more difficult letters like “V” and “I” stumped some and caused a lot of laughter, bonding the group immediately.
Sharing is an integral part of our groups. Today, a mom shared that she had just completed a self-improvement class and spoke about a questionnaire she had completed in the class that identified “the kind of love we are in with our partners.” This was helpful information for this mom and some of our other moms as well. She also read some sweet and inspiring poems. What a great day this was. Love was surely the theme in our day-before-Valentine’s Day group.
Charlene Taketa, our Child Development Specialist gave a presentation on Cause and Effect and spoke about the Teaching Loop and how important it was in making learning fun and successful. Our craft for the day was making paper pinwheels that soared - blowing in the wind as the children ran through the park. The children were delighted with their new treasure and, who knows, perhaps an aeronautical engineering career was launched that day.
Last of all, because the Healthy Start program loves their participants and their true support of the program, they all made sweet smelling potpourri for Valentine’s Day, from ingredients we provided. We hope everyone had a HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
The aim of the Family Support Services of West Hawaii Youth Center, located at the Queen Liliuokalani Village Recreational Center, is to provide neighborhood youth with a safe and nurturing environment that offers something for everyone. Some of the after school programs at the Youth Center are gardening, hula, computer lab, and arts and crafts. The gardening program is taught by Cara Fancesconi, who is creating a fruit and vegetable garden with the youth. The Hula and Culture program is taught by Iris Thompson and Erin Felez, instructing girls age 5-17 on Wednesdays. Both the gardening and hula programs are taught by volunteers, individuals in the community with talents to share. Volunteers are always welcome at the Youth Center. Arts and crafts activities include drawing, painting, cartooning, candle making, crocheting, printing, airbrushing, ceramics and crafts from different cultures. In addition to the scheduled programs, recreational activities such as ping-pong, darts, basketball and jump rope will be ongoing. Students are also encouraged to bring their homework to the center for assistance.
The Animal Lovers Program was be launched in February with a field trip scheduled to the Humane Society. Jump Rope For Heart, sponsored by the American Heart Association, will be visiting the center in March, to demonstrate jump rope techniques and to emphasize a healthy diet and exercise. Also, the center hopes to include music lessons in the near future and a community murals program. The center is open to youth five through seventeen, Monday through Thursday, 3:00-5:30 pm. Monthly calendars are available at the entrance gate of the Youth Center, located at the QLV Recreational Center. For further information, please contact Michelle Obregon, FSSWH youth development worker at 326-7778, ext 175.
About 2 years ago Family Support Services of West Hawaii joined in a partnership with the County of Hawaii Parks and Recreation and the Waimea Community in developing programs for youth and adults at the Waimea Community Center. It’s been a labor of love for everyone involved. Family Support Services and the community have helped raise monies to buy a stage, to develop a computer lab, to provide games and activities for the kids, a part time staff position, and a ton of volunteer efforts.
John Ramoa, an involved community center volunteer, LaValle Ramos-Dias, FSSWH Youth Development Worker, and Dean Goya, P & R Waimea Recreational Director, would like more people to come out and take advantage of what the center has to offer. Everyone is involved in creating the programs. The center welcomes anyone that would like to volunteer their time to do a craft or activity. Dias says, “The youth are involved through a teen advisory group, such as in planning the monthly teen dance, a drug and alcohol free activity for 5th to 12th graders.” Table tennis, foosball, ping pong, Tahitian drumming, recreational activities, and English tutoring are also available at the center.
Both Ramoa and Dias have several goals for the center, including a full computer lab open to youth and adults, a wood floor for dance productions, a complete sound system, a projector and screen for movie nights, an air hockey table, as well as supplies and materials for arts and crafts, recreational games and activities, and for supporting a dance halau. Volunteers are needed also, to help keep the center open longer hours and to provide more activities. For more information call LaVelle at 885-0086 ext. 20.
Don Bebee, Executive Director of Family Support Services of West Hawaii (FSSWH) announced that Janet Crossley has joined FSSWH as Administrative Director.
Ms. Crossley is part of the seven member Management Team of FSSWH; she oversees the fiscal, human resources, and management information system arenas. Janet comes from a strong background in accounting, having served as Assistant to Controller for Kamehameha Investment Corporation since 1996, and with Keauhou Kona Resort Company since 1992.
Janet graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1978 and moved to Kona in 1979. Janet and her husband Skip Warren were married in Captain Cook in 1981 and currently live in South Kona. Janet is enrolled in the Neighbor Island MBA Program offered from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has a 4.0 GPA that puts her at the top of her class of 50 students; she is scheduled to graduate in December 2002. Janet is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for collegiate schools of business. She is also a member of the Kona Chapter of American Association of University Women.
Janet lived in Mexico as a summer high school exchange student and spent five months living and working in Europe during college. She enjoys learning about different peoples’ cultures and lifestyles. She has also voyaged through the Panama Canal, traveled around South America passing through the Straits of Magellan, and has crossed the International Date Line in the South Pacific.
The staff of FSSWH welcomes Janet aboard and looks forward to a long journey together.
Linkages to Learning Program Manger, Shannon Ramirez was selected for the “One Person Can Make A Difference” annual recognition awarded by the Big Island Chapter of the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children Spring Conference which was held on Saturday, March 2, 2002. She was recognized as an individual who has made a substantial and positive impact on the lives of young children or their families here in West Hawaii. She was nominated by fellow members of HAEYC, including some of her co-workers at FSSWH. Shannon is seen as a motivator, and one who energizes the staff and parents to become the strong and vital links to a child’s early education.
Shannon has been with the Family Support Services of West Hawaii since 1994 and has been the Linkages to Learning Program Manager since 1999. Shannon is a mother of two girls, a one year old and a ten year old. She is currently working on finishing her AA degree in Liberal Arts at Hawaii Community College and plans to pursue a BA in Psychology. Shannon truly believes education can make a difference in peoples lives.
We at Family Support Services would like to congratulate Shannon for this award recognition from her peers.
Job well done, Shannon!
Boy, have we been busy around here! So much going on – just lots of neat family support services, some new and renewed collaborations with other service groups have been formed plus several wonderful partnerships at the community level in West Hawaii are happening. And, lots of wonderful support from our donors which makes all of the above possible!
Since September 11th, we have seen an increase in needs with our families. In so many cases, we have been able to be that constant support in homes that are caught in the aftermath of that tragic event. Economic times are hard for most of our families and we are now being told that possible cuts in governmental funding for our programs should be expected. FSSWH has trouble accepting this and will do all we can to find ways to keep all of our family services going. And yes, we will need your help whether that be donations, in-kind services or volunteer efforts. Where there is a will there is a way! This work is just too important and there is too much at stake for our communities. Come join our family support effort!
On a very positive note, I want to share that West Hawaii has truly been wonderful in coming together to rally around one issue or another that leads to strengthening families and making for healthier communities. FSSWH feels blessed to be in West Hawaii and a part of a solid movement of reaching out to our neighbors in times of need. How fortunate we all are to be in a position to lend that “helping hand”.