Healthy Start is designed to encourage loving parent-child relationships and we are dedicated to support this project. An absolute highlight of the past few months in Healthy Start was distributing the Reading is Fundamental books to all 134 of our target children.

The children we serve range in age from birth to age three and we saw first-hand that our very small children are  mesmerized by  books.  These infants loved the bright colors, bold words, and fabulous illustrations.  Something magical happened when those little hands grasped their book for the first time.

We also ordered two lovely books from FEMA and coloring books from American Red Cross that we distributed to our families. Since most of our families cannot afford to purchase crayons, we requested donations from Wal-Mart and KMART. They generously supplied us with several packages of crayons, for which we and our families are most grateful.

Linkages to Learning also obtained books for the purpose of creating lending libraries.  We created lending libraries at the Central, Ka`u, Waimea, and Kohala FSSWH offices.  Our families can easily check out books from these libraries with supportive staff helping if needed.  This is a much-needed and superb resource for our families.

Our Parent Educator has also been busy creating libraries for five different sites in our community; Ka`u, Waimea, and Kohala FSSWH offices, Kealakehe Parent Center and The Neighborhood Place of Kona.  Considerable time was spent choosing a variety of books, videos, hand-out articles, and other resources available for parents residing in our West Hawaii Community in order to enhance the parenting skills of our families.

Over six years ago I was asked to consider working for Family Support Services of West Hawaii (FSSWH) primarily to raise community awareness and support for FSSWH programs and participating families.   I said “Yes”.  It’s been quite a journey with many wonderful encounters and experiences along the way with co-workers, volunteers and donors. 

When I started here with FSSWH in 1996 the budget was approximately $900,000 and there were 30 some employees.  Today the budget is $3,750,000 and there are over 70 full and part time employees.  We’ve started new and expanded existing programs from Ka’u to Kohala and Waimea.  We have taken on new challenges with passion, enthusiasm and creativity.  We have undergone an original accreditation process and are now in the process of being re-accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Families and Young Children.  I am thankful to have been a part of this growing process, this journey.

I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed my work and the personal relationships with my co-workers over the years. I am always amazed at those around me and the enthusiasm and interest they display in their work.

I am encouraged to challenge myself, and that leads me to today as I come to say “Aloha”.   July 15th I will be moving on to new challenges and opportunities while continuing my work in development with Hualalai Academy. 

I know this move will bring much opportunity to expand horizons for both myself and FSSWH, as with exposure to new people and ways, concepts and ideas will grow and change.   This is good.  I anticipate continued success for both the program I leave behind and the program I will undertake.

My friends, family and co-workers, thank you so very much for all your support in the past and throughout this period of transition in my life.  And thank you for supporting Family Support Services, without all of you I couldn’t do my job.  You each bring a component to the situation that creates success.  I want to thank all of you for your support over the years.  I look forward to this continuing as well!

Mahalo nui loa,

Barbara

I have been honored to serve on FSSWH’s board of directors for the last 5-½ years and will be finishing my term limit later this year.  Honestly, when first asked to sit on the board, I did not know much about the organization.  I was committed to child abuse prevention but was a little leery, because the work as I knew it, was difficult and emotionally draining.  The idea that caught my attention and continues to inspire me, however, is FSSWH’s commitment to support families.

While I do not know how much thought was given to the use of the word “support” in the organization’s name, its sentiment is embedded in the organization’s culture.  According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “support” means “to keep (one’s spirit for example) from failing during stress; to lend strength to.”

In many respects, our  world today is different from the world of a generation ago.  It is not uncommon for both parents to work more than one job – assuming that the family has the luxury of a two-parent household.  The job market has become more technologically based leaving many on the fringes of job markets.  The types of drugs available to parents and children alike are cheap, addictive and devastating. Finally, we also now live with daily news reports that another terrorist attack is imminent.

These realities result in a greater need for parental involvement at a time when it is less practical.  Quite simply, the need for our community to keep families’ spirits from failing during stress, or to lend strength to families is greater than ever before.

FSSWH recognizes that many of today’s families face challenges not because parents don’t care or are “bad”, but simply because they lack the necessary skills to deal with their circumstances.  I am awed by the compassion and grace by which our FSSWH employees approach their work with families.  I am also amazed by the level of commitment of my fellow volunteer board members, committee members and other volunteers.  While, like most other non-profit organizations, we struggle with how best to serve our community with the resources available to us, we do not struggle with our commitment to support families.  It is here.

My hope is that each member of our community will in some way lend support to families in need, whether with time, talent or resources.  Or if a member of our community needs support, he or she will reach out for it.

Spring break activities at Queen Liliuokalani Village Recreation included paper bunny baskets, egg blowing demonstrations by local artists, and face painting by students from the University of the Nations. Also, the youth started the mural project at the center utilizing ancient Hawaiian patterns to accentuate the architecture of the building. The mural project is a work in progress, with the upper levels of the facility to be completed first.

by Janet Crossley, Administrative Director

C  O  A

‘Twas the middle of May, 2002,

  the Management Team was half crazy,

“How will we finish on time?” we asked,

  “If we do, it will be amazing!”

So we worked day and night,

  And weekends too,

to gather all the documents

  For the COA review.

Throughout the office

  A new sound could be heard,

“COA” muttered under our breath

  like a foreign cuss word!

We looked at the Agency, long and hard,

  “How do we do what we do?”

“Is it best practices, up to COA code?”

  We wrote down the answers, all that we knew.

Phase One is finally finished,

  the evidence sent on its way.

And now the planning begins,

  For the site visit on a summer’s day.

So what was the point?

  What do we gain?

Credibility and accreditation

  To go with our name.

The Council On Accreditation (COA) accredits community support agencies throughout the United States according to the highest standards of best practices for the persons served, the employees and other stakeholders.  The COA rating allows us to seek greater resources for our Agency and ensures we operate to the best of our ability in accordance with the highest standards.

The COA evidence of self-study was due June 3, 2002, and the site visit will be in August, 2002.  Thanks go to our self-appointed COA co-coordinators Don Bebee and Andrea Lyczak who kept us on track.  A big MAHALO to the four workgroups, the supervisors, directors, and clerical staff who pulled it all together and helped to finish it on time – awesome!

Our fiscal year (July 1, 2001 – June 30, 2002) is coming to a conclusion and we need to take the time to slow down and reflect upon our accomplishments and shortcomings for the year.  Here are some random thoughts, starting with “what we’ve done”:

• Expansion services for children and families – Especially in Early Childhood Education and Healthy Start Home Visitation

• Partnering with Child Protective Services – Several program changes to meet the needs of families and a new foster/adoptive parent support program

• Youth Services – Two new drug/alcohol prevention programs geared to youth

• Collaboration – An increased number of collaborative efforts with other service organizations to increase services to families

• Community Strengthening – Involvement with several community groups to do strategic planning and problem solving

• Completing our accreditation self study

• Finished the year without debt or deficits

• And Much, Much More!

And on the “coming up short” side, there is work in progress such as:

• Community response to drugs, especially “ICE”

• Expanded services to “at risk” youth

• Making available all of our existing services throughout West Hawaii

• Stabilizing and increasing capacity at our Family Centers

• Less dependence on Governmental funding and increased funding from private donor.

All in all, we have had a very busy year, a very successful year and most importantly have had the opportunity to reach and assist hundreds of families in West Hawaii.  I also want to acknowledge our Board of Directors; they are fabulous in the way of support and giving of their time to guide FSSWH.  And of course, you are a special part of the team to make it possible to do the work that we do.  Mahalo!