This spring break twenty-one youth from our after school
programs in Ka’u, Kona, Waimea and youth from our RHY (runaway and
homeless youth) programs, along with staff embarked on a three day
adventure around the Big Island. The excursion has been branded the
“Piko Expedition”. Piko is the Hawaiian word for bellybutton. It is the
connection to one’s family, past, present and future. It has multiple
meanings besides bellybutton. It means the summit, the center, the
umbilical cord and the place where the stem of a plant is attached to
the leaf. This trip has been graciously funded through the John M. Ross
Foundation and is providing an opportunity for 11-18 year old youth to
connect with the ‘aina, with peers and staff and to learn first hand of
the history of our Big Island.
The purpose of this excursion is to deepen the
understanding of our cultural heritage, identify potential educational
and career opportunities, and strengthen the development of leadership
skills. The Piko Expedition made stops at Flumin’ da Ditch in Kohala,
Laupahoehoe Train Museum, University of Hawaii’s Community College in
Hilo, Volcano National Park, Kula Kai Caverns in Ocean View, and various
other exciting places. We spent one night at Kalopa State Park and the
next night at Kea Kealani Outdoor Education Center in Volcano. With
continued funding, we hope to offer this opportunity annually. If you
are interested in making a difference in the lives of our youth, please
call 334-4159.
LET IT SNOW
Pam Naumann, Youth Development
Youth Development Specialists, Jeff Gourley
and Roxanne Benson, recently gave the youth in their program an awesome
treat. Jeff brought snow from Mauna Kea to the after-school program for the
youth to experience. When neighborhood youth saw the snow, they came and
joined in the fun. Many of the youth had never seen or touched snow. They
were thrilled! We received the following email from one of the youth’s
parents and would like to share it:
Carter got home and was bursting with excitement! He told me his shorts and
t-shirt was wet and said "guess what this is?" I said "You didn't pee your
pants did you?" He said "No!" Gave me a hint..."What comes at Christmas
time...begins with the letter S and ends with the letter W?" Snow! He went
on and on about how much fun it was, how the snow felt. Please tell Jeff how
much he impacted these children's lives by his gesture. My heart is
touched. I asked Carter if anyone took pictures and he said yes, Aunty
Roxanne did. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
First Column
Teresa Alderdyce
Joann Bishop Freed
Jan Marrack
Shannon Ramirez
Thelma Tayamen
Second Column
Debbie Bertelmann
Sandy Kondo
Karin Pearson
Charlene Taketa
Huellyn Whitford
As Interim Director, I have been consistently
reminded that a non-profit organization’s greatest asset is its staff. As I
have now been involved with FSSWH for over twenty years, I have had the
opportunity to participate in the growth and maturation of the organization
over that time. One factor of stability of an organization is longevity of
key staff. We recently celebrated the 17th anniversary of Theresa Alderdyce
(1989), our Ka’u Family Center and Youth Activities Coordinator and of Sandy
Kondo (1989), our Healthy Start (HS) Family Support Specialist who works in
partnership with the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Jan Marrack (1990)—our
HS Clinical Specialist has been with the agency for more than fifteen years,
and those who have been with us for more than ten years include: Debbie
Bertlemann (1992), our HS Family Support Specialist in Ka’u; Shannon Ramirez
(1994), Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Program
Manager; Karin Pearson (1995) our intrepid Bookkeeper and our energetic
Thelma Tayamen (1995), Youth Outreach. I would also like to recognize
Charlene Taketa, HS Child Development Specialist who began with us in 1990,
took leave to help the Malama A Ho’opili Pono Project—one of our community
partners—get started and Huellyn Whitford, Youth Development (YD) Director,
who began with the agency in 1993, left to complete her Master’s of Social
Work and returned to us. We appreciate their dedication and continued
commitment to the children and families in our West Hawaii communities.
Another sign of organizational maturity and respect is the extent to which
our staff members are called upon to share their expertise at the local,
state, national and even international level. Michael Kramer, Coordinator of
the Fatherhood Initiative, has been appointed by Governor Linda Lingle to
sit on the Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood. Kauila Ho, Larry Ursua and
Michael were recent presenters at the 2nd Annual Celebration of Fatherhood
as well as the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children (HAEYC)
Conferences. Stone Wolfsong, the HS Director and Douglass Bartlett, HS
Clinical Specialist made presentations at the Celebration of Fatherhood
Conference as well.
Pam Naumann, YD Program Manager provided training to the Office of Social
Ministries on the best practices for youth outreach programs such as those
at FSSWH. Stacie Mandaguit of HIPPY has been appointed by Hawaii County
Mayor Kim to sit on the County’s West Hawaii Community Planning Process’
Steering Committee—along with Board of Directors member, JoAnn Farnsworth.
Shannon Ramirez, the HIPPY Program Manager and I presented a workshop on
Emotional Intelligence to HIPPY staff from around the country at HIPPY’s
National Training Conference in Washington, D.C. Nohea Leleiwi, HIPPYCorps
Program Assistant, was invited by the HIPPY USA Board of Directors to
participate in their Strategic Planning process in D.C. as a parent
representative, and she also met with Hawaii legislators to share her
experience as a HIPPY Parent and Home Visitor.
Norma Smith and Krista Olson were chosen by the EHS Policy Council to attend
the Head Start Hispanic Institute in Denver, Colorado. Ellen O’Kelly, the
EHS Director and President of the Hawaii Head Start Association recently
provided training to Head Start Programs in American Samoa. As a member of a
panel of speech therapists interested in providing language supports in
natural environments, Roma Johnson, Speech Language Pathologist for the
North Hawaii Child Development Program (NHCDP) presented a workshop to early
childhood educators at the HAEYC Big Island Conference. Martha White, Early
Interventionist and Susan Entz, Developmental Specialist for NHCDP also
presented a workshop at the conference focused on supporting children with
challenging behavior in the early childhood classroom.” Sue has also been
chosen to provide training to the Department of Education’s Preschool
Special Education staff on the administration of the Brigance Assessment
Tool in order to meet the new outcomes reporting requirements of the Office
of Special Education.
It is a great pleasure to be working alongside the individuals at FSSWH who
not only provide direct services and support, but who reach out to other
community organizations and collaborators in the effort to make every
community a safer, more nurturing place for children and their families.
2nd Annual West Hawaii Fatherhood Initiative Conference
The conference featured speakers, workshops, and information on effective fathering practices and strategies for providers to design father-friendly services. Featured speakers included County Councilman Angel Pilago and Billy Kenoi from the Mayor’s office, both of whom emphasized the importance of reaching out to Native Hawaiian fathers given their current challenges with substances, criminal behavior, and violence. “If we can help just one brother,” said Mr. Kenoi, “imagine how that’ll impact dozens of people in his ‘ohana.”
The conference highlighted the unique qualities, issues, and needs of fathers and coalesced energy to support them as they step up to the most important and challenging phase of their lives as parents.
Wally Lau, Executive Director of Neighborhood Place of Kona, shared insights on ho`opono and how Hawaii cultural values are used to focus fathers on their role as their child’s first teacher and the important responsibility they have in role modeling proper values and behaviors. Participants were introduced to a series of values that act as a guide for every day living.
Former FSSWH Board Member and Judge John Olson facilitated a workshop addressing some of the major legal issues facing fathers, such as child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic violence. He stressed the importance of men voluntarily seeking help before it is required of them by the courts and shared resources available to fathers on these issues.
Douglass Bartlett, Healthy Start Clinical Specialist, discussed ways to provide nurture and structure at the same time so that our teens stay safe and never fall into the traps from which they might never escape. Douglass is a respected facilitator of the Kona Assertive Parenting Association classes for parents of strong-willed pre-teens and teenagers in West Hawai`i.
Duke Giron, long-time participant in the West Hawaii Fatherhood Initiative discussed his efforts with Malama I Na Keiki, the program he created to help children and youth make good choices when they are exposed to drugs, especially when they are sexually active and may become parents.
Sidney Aoki, who operates weekly support groups for addicts in recovery, shared his experience, hardships and revelations in his six years in substance abuse recovery and discussed the tools that fathers with addiction can use to help strengthen their commitment to being involved fathers.
Healthy Start Director Stone Wolfsong discussed how dads play a special and unique role in each stage of their child's growth. In looking at children’s developmental milestones, she addressed how fathers can meet children's needs at each age and understand why it is sometimes hard to be the father they want to be.
Larry Ursua and Kauila Ho, Father Coaches of FSSWH’s West Hawaii Fatherhood Initiative, presented a workshop on how they reach out to, recruit, and serve fathers through one-on-one support, weekly evening classes and teen sessions at the high schools and other public awareness activities.
Navigator Chad Babayan shared inspiring stories of the history of the renewal of polynesian voyaging and how men have traditionally passed this knowledge through the generations for centuries. He spoke of his mentors and the vital role they played in his life and in the preservation of the techniques of navigation without instrumentation.
David Saindon, Program Manager at Turning Points for Families, discussed the relationship between moms and dads, examined the roles that men and women can play, and discussed how we can all deal with those frustrating moments which arise in relationships. The session explored the link between anger, violence, abuse, and the impact this has on children as they develop, and techniques for successfully managing one’s harmful impulses.
Kaleo Pilago, Coordinator of the Kaho`okane Project at Hui Malama Ola Na `Oiwi in Hilo, facilitated a moving panel of adult men who have completed, or are in the stages of completing a substance abuse treatment program. Through a culturally-based program that includes seamanship training on canoes, partnerships with existing health-care agencies, and traditional case management, this program is helping men take control of their lives, learn more about who they are, and help them embrace their role and responsibilities as fathers.
At the end of the day, conference participants spoke eloquently about the wisdom they gained from this event and how they would apply what they learned in their own lives. Many spoke of the value of receiving support, of being inspired by powerful male role model and of learning more about child development and effective parenting strategies.
The conference, free for fathers, was also sponsored by the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund and the Neighborhood Place of Kona. Many mahalos to FSSWH volunteers Charlene Taketa and Kathy Hanlon from Healthy Start and Thelma Tayamen from Youth Development for their help all day at the event.
Anyone interested in becoming involved in the West Hawaii Fatherhood Initiative can call Coordinator Michael Kramer for more information at 334-4154.
Hello friends of FSSWH!! When I heard that this newsletter was getting
put together, I thought that it would be an excellent opportunity to
share some kind words that were spoken to me by a family that I have had
the honor of working with through the Early Head Start Program. This
family, who I have been visiting weekly for the last 10 months, recently
informed me that I have been a true blessing in their life. I was
profoundly touched by their words and also acutely aware of the irony in
their acknowledgement. The irony, of course, is that it is they who have
truly been a blessing in my life. The skills which I have helped them
become aware are small potatoes compared to the extraordinary glimpses I
have been given into their amazing family life. While I have provided
them with education on the various aspects of parenting and child
development, they have provided me with a model of unending love that
only a family could bring. As I have helped them to explore ways to
reach their family and individual goals, they have successfully strived
to overcome the numerous language and cultural barriers that had
originally isolated them. Through my ongoing work and relationship with
this family, I have beheld magnificent strength in the face of adversity
and glimpsed an unending love and compassion that could overcome any
fears, shame, or doubt. It is for these reasons that a small smile
crossed my lips when the family said that I have been a blessing in
their life. Clearly, the feeling is mutual…
HISPANIC PRENATAL INITIATIVE
The March of Dimes Chapter has awarded a grant to Family Support Services of West Hawaii to support a Hispanic Prenatal Initiative that will serve the rapidly growing number of Hispanic mothers in West Hawaii who do not speak enough English to navigate the medical and social services needed for a healthy pregnancy. The program will use March of Dimes funds to provide bilingual prenatal classes, provide transportation and translation services for medical and other relevant appointments, assure MedQuest enrollment when appropriate, and assist with immigration, housing and other services in collaboration with our Healthy Start and Early Head Start Home Visiting programs. Additionally, this funding from March of Dimes will provide training for FSSWH staff, and staff from other West Hawaii programs and agencies in Hispanic cultural awareness.
By helping these families, Family Support Services anticipates healthier birth outcomes, reduced family stress levels, and increased social support for Hispanic Families. Spanish speaking staff at Family Support Services, Krista Olson and Marianna Taranto, who are trained Doulas, will provide prenatal education as well as share their knowledge of Hispanic culture. Norma Smith, an Early Head Start Family Advocate , will work closely with pregnant Hispanic families to reduce barriers they face in obtaining early prenatal care and information.
This initiative addresses the growing need for services among the Hispanic population in West Hawaii, many of whom are new arrivals to the country and West Hawaii. Estimates are that approximately 1500 Hispanic families reside in the Kona and South Kona districts, many of whom lack English proficiency and adequate financial resources. Few social service and health care providers in the region speak Spanish, so pregnant Hispanic women face challenges in obtaining prenatal care and may opt to enter care late or give birth at home. A lack of prenatal care contributes to high-risk pregnancies. The staff at Family Support Services, whose mission is to support families and communities in providing love and care for our children, is honored to receive this community grant award to help us better meet the needs of this population.
The miracles that can occur when a team
supports a family are heart warming and at times, miraculous. This is a
story of true team effort beginning with our initial interview of a new
mother at Kona Community Hospital.
Healthy Start interviews every new mother in West Hawaii. Charlene, our
hospital worker that day, spoke to Leina at Kona Community Hospital. Leina
is a young woman from mauka Kona who led a very sheltered life caring for
her auntie after she graduated from high school. When her auntie died, Leina,
now homeless, found a room to rent in town. She kept house for the owner in
lieu of rent and worked odd cashiering jobs for living expenses. During the
interview with Charlene, Leina shared that she did not know she was
pregnant. She was shocked and scared when she unexpectedly gave birth – and
was rushed to the hospital by a neighbor with the umbilical cord still
attached. Charlene also learned that Leina knew nothing about infants or how
to care for them. Leina was now a single mother, with very low income, and
no knowledge of child development. In addition, Charlene learned that Leina
had been abandoned by her own mother when she was very young and raised by
her auntie. Leina definitely needed Healthy Start.
The nurses and social worker at the hospital were very concerned about
Leina’s ability to parent. Charlene shared their concern. The baby was
placed in a foster home and immediately assigned a Healthy Start Family
Support Worker (FSW) who visited the new mother at home during visits with
the baby and alone. Kathy helped Leina learn how to feed, bath and talk to
the baby. She talked to Leina about how babies develop and admired the way
Leina naturally provided warm and loving care. The nurses and social workers
believed that Leina was developmentally delayed and perhaps could never
provide care for her child. The Family Support Worker disagreed. She
believed Leina was very smart and was hampered in expressing what she knew
by a speech and possibly a hearing defect.
Our Fatherhood Specialist, who also has a hearing problem, met with Leina.
Our clinical specialist completed a psychosocial evaluation and began
counseling as the FSW made weekly visits. All three believed Leina was
capable of caring for her child and had been misdiagnosed as disabled. Since
Leina was involved with CPS, she was able to get her hearing tested at no
cost. She did indeed have a hearing problem which was corrected with the
help of a hearing aid. She blossomed as a mother and gained confidence. She
hungrily read everything the FSW gave her. Baby was reunited with mom in a
few short weeks.
In the meantime, our Fatherhood Specialist began meeting with Don, a close
male friend of Leina’s, who was the male role model for the baby and wanted
to be involved in the baby’s life. As Leina’s confidence grew, so did her
relationship with Don. Don has begun participating in the Father Support
Group facilitated by FSSWH’s Fatherhood Initiative.
Don and Leina are now engaged. Don is going to adopt her son. Don is
learning how to be a better father and meets with our Fatherhood Specialist
regularly. Leina never misses a home visit with the FSW. This small family
is stable and thriving due to a supportive team effort between Healthy
Start, the hospital nurses, Child Welfare Services, and the Fatherhood
Initiative.
THIS WORLD OF DEW, IS ONLY A WORLD OF DEW AND YET . . .
In this, my last column for the FSSWH
newsletter as its Executive Director, I am sharing with you my favorite
haiku by the Japanese poet Issa. I have always felt that it contains a great
wisdom about and for our lives. Though it sometimes seems that things never
change, in truth things are in constant flux. People and circumstances are
here and gone, passing into memory as quickly as the morning dew lying upon
the grass when touched by the day’s sunshine. Constant change can inspire us
to action, or we can become complacent, indifferent, or, worse yet, cynical
or despairing. “It’s hopeless! Why bother? Nothing matters!”… and yet...
Our purpose is forged at the intersection of capitulation and “and yet…”. We
choose our destiny and thereby the destiny of our community at these
crossroads. We can nurture that part deep within us that acknowledges the
challenges and says “and yet”. Child abuse and neglect is an enormous,
complicated affliction, and yet we can do our part to alleviate it through
our programming decisions. Lack of quality center-based care for kids is
rampant, and so expensive and complicated to address, and yet we can accept
these difficulties while rolling up our sleeves. The financial challenges of
the nonprofit world are enormous, even boggling at times, and yet the value
of the work is so high that we accept the funding frustrations and find a
way to make it all come together.
It has been a wonderful honor to lead FSSWH over the last several years. The
work this agency does is truly remarkable. The staff who do this work are
outstanding. FSSWH is making a powerfully positive impact upon the lives of
those we touch. I urge all of us in the community to continue to support the
mission of FSSWH. Together, we all decide what kind of world we will live
in.