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From Deb Marois, Ho'oikaika Partnership's New Coordinator
Mahalo to all for the warm welcome as I’ve transitioned into this role. Since the conference, I’ve been meeting with partners to learn more about your interests, challenges, and priorities for implementing activities in our strategic plan. Please contact me to schedule a Zoom to talk story and share your mana'o. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you all a healthy, happy and safe holiday season!
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December Meeting Goals
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Share community resources and information
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Build group understanding of Ho’oikaika Partnership activities
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Discuss Maui County Needs Assessment and collect input to inform the process
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Reflect on 2021 and celebrate our collective successes
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Partner Updates
Welcome to new/returning partners! David "Kawika" Mattos (Kane Connections, MFSS), Kaleo Puana and Trish Okawa (Kamehameha Schools), Ka`iulani Galon (Dept of Health FHSD Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Health Integration Prenatal to Three Program) Kristin Mills (Maui District Health Office and Co-chair Suicide Prevention Task Force) and Mai Hall (HCAN).
Kristin shared that the pandemic is an ACE (Adverse Childhood Event) and it is hitting the Native Hawaiian community particularly hard. The extra stress is fueling a growing vaping epidemic. Please contact her to help with outreach and sharing short health messages.
Kawika shared that MFSS recently received a Federal grant that has enabled MFSS to expand their Fatherhood support program services and have hired three FTE staff who have lived experience with the system. Wonderful news for Maui County!
HCAN is coordinating our bulk pinwheel order for Child Abuse Prevention month in April. Pinwheels can be used as give-aways throughout the year to remind people of the importance of keeping children safe. If your agency would like pinwheels, please email Deb by December 31, 2021. We'll notify you when they arrive so you can arrange pick up from the MFSS offices in Wailuku..
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Maui County Safety Net Assessment
The Ho’oikaika Partnership Strategic Plan’s first goal is to "Create a seamless safety net of services to support children and their caregivers." One step toward achieving this is to identify needs and gaps in the provider network and system of supports available for Maui children and families (p 5). We want to understand what the current system looks like (who offers what services to who) and where the gaps are, especially changes since the pandemic and the last assessment in 2016.
To help us understand our current reality, the Stellar Group (same firm that facilitated our strategic plan) will conduct an analysis of existing data and reports over the last 5 years. Partners participated in a quick brainstorm to provide input into our research questions, which we finalized a few days later. Phase 1 of this analysis will explore the following:
- What risk and protective factors for child maltreatment are most prevalent for children and families in Maui County? (Who is most at risk? How does this compare to statewide/national risk and protective factors?)
- What services are available to support children and families in Maui County and specifically to prevent child maltreatment? (What are the needs or gaps in the system of services and supports? Do families and providers have the same perceptions? What is known about the provider workforce and the challenges and opportunities it faces?)
Additionally, the analysis will emphasize these themes:
- Impact of COVID-19 on families and services
- Perceptions about CWS (family and providers)
- Equity (access, cultural relevance)
It’s important to understand that we will not conduct new research during Phase 1. Instead, this stage of information gathering will synthesize existing data, to help make meaning out of all the reports already done over the last five years. What we learn will help us prioritize our next steps, including a possible Phase 2 that engages families and providers more directly.
The target date for completing the analysis is March, in advance of child abuse prevention month. We hope the findings will help us shape our education and advocacy activities in April and beyond. Please contact Ho’oikaika Partnership Coordinator Deb Marois if you have data that might be included in the analysis.
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Supporting Families: Ho‘oikaika Navigator’s Report & Group Discussion
Heidi Allencastre, Ho‘oikaika Navigator, reported on her recent activities to provide direct services to eligible families including system navigation, parenting and life skills coaching, access to concrete supports, and aftercare coaching to meet CAN victims’ needs and help them heal from trauma. Partners discussed some of the challenges of facilitating trust between families and agencies, the benefits of a "warm hand-off" and suggested ways to strengthen relationships between social services, healthcare and preschool providers.
Partners were also reminded to add or update their agency info at AUW 211 so we can ensure Maui County resources are included in this searchable database.
Heidi is conducting outreach at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center Kokua Korner monthly on 3rd Fridays from 10 am - 2 pm. Please contact her if you'd like her to share flyers or other information from your organization. She also is available to come to your agency for a staff in-service, to meet with clients, or for special events or fairs.
View the navigator report.
To make a referral, contact Heidi in whatever way is easiest for you!
heidi@mfss.org
808-242-0900 ext.245
Online Referral form
Downloadable PDF form
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Ho'oikaika Community Engagement Committee Update
Emily-Joy Daoang, Child Family Services and Genevieve DeRego (Imua Family Services) shared the "who, what, where, why" of a new video the committee is producing. The goal is offer a new resource for all partner agencies that can help families feel more comfortable receiving support services and reduce stigma associated with seeking help.
The video will feature a local Maui family sharing their journey of interactions with the "system" and how they were empowered through the process to be resilient and to gain the skills and resources to build their family. The intention is for the video to be shown in agency offices (e.g., waiting rooms, intake), during home visits, and for professional development/training.
The video will be ready in time for April Child Abuse Prevention month. We plan to do a viewing at our partner meeting, and are exploring using it as a PSA for a family movie night event. Stay tuned, more to come!
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Weathering the Storm Together
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
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Partner Reflections on 2021
What is one success or proud moment that stands out from this year’s work together?
- Our Partnership continues to grow 10+ years.
- Collaborative partnerships. We stayed connected and maintained physical distance.
- Successfully transitioned from in-person meetings to Zoom with continued professionalism and consistency on our team, valuing our collective goals.
- Our strategic plan – what we’re going to do and where we’ll go to move forward.
- We're each passionate and committed to supporting our people.
- We worked together to support each other's efforts on providing food, protective gear and financial supports to ʻohana and keiki.
- We all have a common goal to help our Keiki grow.
- We put on a successful Annual Conference to provide our service provider with meaningful workshops.
- The shared spaces and all the information and resources we have gathered to share with ohana.
One of the major strengths of the Ho’oikaika Partnership is the relationships among the partners. Whether you’re brand new or been involved since the beginning, we’re grateful you’re here and contributing! No one person or agency can accomplish our goals alone – we need the collective and appreciate each of you!
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Meeting Highlights: One thing you're grateful for and/or key take-away.
- Everyone's warmth and welcoming nature! Thanks for having me today :)
- Always grateful for time together!
- Heidi's presentation and all that she has done in such a short period of time!!!
- I am grateful for this space to stay connected and updated on our services.
- Mahalo to every one of you and the work you all do!!!!
- The balance of revisiting the committees’ updates of what we are doing collectively, also Heidi updates to get comfortable in using her services more, and the personal touch of having time to connect with the new participants.
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2022 Legislative Session Calendar
- The 2022 Hawai'i Legislative Session calendar is now released. The Session will begin on Wednesday, January 19th, 2022, and end on Thursday, May 5th, 2022 for a full 60 day session
- Click here for more information and here to download the calendar.
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Certification Training: Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support
Tuesday, January 4th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, and Wednesday, January 5th from 9:00 - 1:00 pm. Click Here to Register
This two half-day certification training is designed for all management and direct service staff, as well as for funders and details how the Standards can enhance work with families. Whether you are program staff setting up a new program or strengthening an existing one, or a funder developing or monitoring programs, the Standards provide a blueprint for implementing best practice. In follow-up surveys at 3 months and 9 months after the Certification Training, more than 91% of respondents indicated that the Standards enhanced their Program's work with families.
The nationally-adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support are used across the country by public departments, foundations, networks, community-based organizations, and families as a tool for planning, providing, and assessing quality practice.
Based on the Principles of Family Support Practice and the Strengthening Families Framework and its research-based evidence-informed 5 Protective Factors, the Standards have created a common language across different kinds of Family Strengthening and Family Support programs such as Family Resource Centers, home visiting programs, and child development programs.
Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate from the National Family Support Network, valid for two years.
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