FROM JUDITH’S DESK
This month I want to share some of Hawaii Youth Services Network’s plans for the coming year.
HYSN has just been awarded a federal Competitive Abstinence Education grant to address the high risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander, and Filipino youth in Hawaii. We will convene a multi-sector work group to identify risk and protective factors, cultural norms and values that impact teen pregnancy in this population as well as strategies to address them. We want to increase the number of these youth who complete an evidence-based teen pregnancy curriculum and to educate adults on how to discuss sexual health with children.
Some people think that sustainability equals funding. And it’s true that funding is one of the 8 key factors needed to sustain your programs – but funding is only part of the puzzle. Want to find out what else is needed? HYSN is creating a workshop titled Building Sustainable Programs that we plan to offer on multiple islands in 2015. It will include an opportunity for you to do a self-assessment to identify the areas where you need to focus. The workshop is based on the sustainability framework and resource guide created by the federal Office of Adolescent Health.
I will try out a mini-version of the workshop in November at the National Runaway and Homeless Youth Conference and Federal Grant Meeting in Phoenix, and hold the first Hawaii workshop in Hawaii shortly after the new year begins.
On November 6th, we are partnering with the Department of Health’s Project Laulima to offer a free full-day training that will also serve as our fall membership and networking meeting. You’ll be able to attend a 3-hour session in the morning on mental health and psychotropic medications, share a networking lunch with your peers, and participate in training on developmental disabilities in the afternoon. Thanks to DOH co-sponsorship, there is no charge for the day unless you decide to attend only the luncheon.
Also in November, we are a co-sponsor of the annual Harm Reduction Conference.
ETR Associates will be coming to Hawaii in February 2015 to conduct training on Fostering Youth Resiliency. We’ve had outstanding evaluations on their past trainings, most recently Savvy Solutions for Facilitating Adult Learning.
And finally, please encourage youth to register for the Children and Youth Summit on October 10th at the State Capitol Building. Youth are part of our communities and deserve to be involved in decisions that affect their lives. The Children and Youth Summit enables our young people to share their ideas about what Hawaii needs with our state legislators. Last year, they spoke out for marriage equality, safe places for youth network, tobacco prevention, childhood obesity, and the need to manufacture and grow more local products.
As always, thank you for all that each and every one of you do to improve the lives of Hawaii’s youth and their families.
RESOURCES
YOUTH 360 PHOTO CONTEST
How and where we live, learn, and play matters … it affects every one of us. Elements such as family, friends, education and employment opportunities, geographic location, acess to health care, recreational options, the media … and so much more … shape our long-term health and well-being.
The Healthy Teen Network frames this concept as Youth 360, and they want to see youths’ take on this idea by having youth share a photo that illustrates to him or her that how and where we live, learn, and play matters.
Contest Prizes:
- Youth and Young Adult Entrants: Samsung Galaxy 7″ Tablet ($179 value)
- Adult Professional Entrants: Free Registration to Healthy Teen Network’s 2015 Conference ($550 value)
Deadline & Details: For full contest details and guidelines, go to:
All entries must be received by October 10, 2014 at 11:59pm EST.
LEEWARD DISCOVERY FAIR
Saturday, November 1
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Free Admission and Parking
Leeward Community Colleges’ Discovery Fair will feature Weed & Seed Hawai’i with Keiki & Kapuna ID, Fraud Awareness, Disaster Preparedness and Drug Take Back. Fun for the entire family! Interactive Exploration for Children.
FROLIC HAWAII
Frolic Hawaii (http://www.frolichawaii.com) soon will be launching a new ation about events and organizations that support the community.
For those unfamiliar with the site, Frolic Hawaii section on the site called “Do Good” that will feature nonprofits and include a calendar of nonprofit events in Hawaii. “Do Good” was created because we saw the value of sharing information is a local entertainment and lifestyle website that covers dining, events, nightlife, style, films and other fun things happening in Hawaii. The readership includes socially active people who enjoy getting out. With their help, there is a strong social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and have more than 40,000 unique visitors per month.
If you have upcoming nonprofit events that you would like to include in our new Do Good calendar, which will launch later this month, please send us the information through the link below:
Event submission form http://form.jotform.us/form/42118332386149
If you prefer, you can just send an email to dogood@frolichawaii.com with the press release about the event, flyer and photos attached. All of the calendar submissions require some type of art work (photo, flyer, logo, etc.).
If you have any questions, please email dogood@frolichawaii.com
WE VOTE HAWAII PRACTICE VOTING
Students K-12 in public, private, charter and home schools can log on to www.wevotehawii.org and Practice Voting for candidates and student issues. To Practice Vote, the students will need their precinct and district numbers and grade level, but they will not need their individual Student Password.
October 20-November 4, the WeVoteHawaii General Election will be held online, and individual Student Passwords will be needed…one- student-one-vote. Students are encouraged to ask their teachers for a Student Password. They will vote for candidates in their district and age-specific student issues. At 6 PM November 4th, the WVH ballot results will be posted online. Hawaii will know how the next generation of voters perceived the candidates and decided on the age appropriate student issues.
In the 2012 online election (then called Kids Voting Hawaii) 120,000 students logged on to vote. The older students asked for the new name and selected the new logo for 2014 and beyond. The opportunity to experience democracy first hand and engage in dialogue with their peers and parents makes WeVoteHawaii a meaningful portal to civic education!
Contact: Linda Coble, WVH Board Chair 284-2000 lindacoble@mac.com
HOST A FINANCIAL COACH WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION
It’s no secret that having a trusted, well-informed advisor or financial coach can increase your odds of financial success. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) knows that some people who are transitioning, perhaps from military service, being unemployed, or another tough financial situation, might especially benefit from this one-on-one service focused on their financial and life goals.
The CFPB announced an initiative last year to place trained financial coaches in organizations to provide coaching to consumers, including veterans and those who are low-income or economically vulnerable. Following a full and open competitive procurement process, in April 2014 the CFPB contracted with the Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB), to run this initiative. The financial coaches will work in organizations that are already providing other services, including job training, education, social, and housing services.
Here’s how you or your organization can help
AFSC is looking for 20 organizations, in geographically diverse locations across the country that serve economically vulnerable consumers, to host financial coaches. To be clear, this is not an opportunity for a grant, contract, sub-contract, or funding – just to have a financial coach placed on-site at an existing service delivery location. Check out the criteria and see if your organization or one in your community might be the right fit to host a financial coach. If you think it is, send a submission by October 15, 2014.
TRAINING
NASW HAWAII’I CHAPTER ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Hawai`i Chapter Annual Conference, will be held on Monday October 6, 2014 from 8:30am – 4:30pm at the Manoa Grand Ballrooms (Japanese Cultural Center). This year the conference will focus on the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) and provide valuable information and insights into the key elements of ACA and its impact social work practice and social services. Participants can earn 6 CE for attending the conference.
The conference will also be a great opportunity to connect with other professionals to share information and resources. To register for the conference and to download the conference flyer, please visit: www.naswhi2014.eventbrite.com.
If you have any questions about the conference, please contact info@naswhi.org or 808-521-1787.
BEST PRACTICES FOR DETERMINING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Speaker: Steven L.F. Ho, Esq. and Cathy Keaulani, SPHR, CCP, GRP
What laws affect the compensation of nonprofit executives?
What procedure should the board follow in determining executive compensation?
What type of documentation is necessary?
What are the practical considerations when creating a compensation program?
Presented by Hawaii Employers Council
October 23, 2014
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
HEC Kahili Meeting Room
Download brochure / registration form
CREATING AN “ALOHA RESPONSE” TO HELPING HAWAI’I'S YOUTH AND FAMILIES
Tuesday October 28, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM HST
Registration opens at 8:00 AM
Hale Koa Hotel – Derussy Hall
2055 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
$20.00 Includes continental breakfast and buffet lunch
Deadline to Register Friday, October 17, 2014
CEU 5.5 hours approved by ADAD (pending)
Parking $5.00 with validation at training
Every organization invited to this training has a vision to contribute to caring for Hawaii’s children. Is it possible to navigate through our personal and organizational identities to a collective effort toward expanding opportunities and resources to help our youth and families? Join us in learning about and creating an “aloha response” to meet the challenge of developing meaningful systems and wraparound care.
Pono Shim will share about the “aloha response” and how this way of living and working can help connect and strengthen the system of care for our youth and families. Mel Horikami will share about optimizing opportunities and resources toward transformational results. Scenarios and situations will be discussed to demonstrate how to find the “aloha responses” to problems, issues, and opportunities and apply them as we work with youth, families, co-workers, and other organizations.
This training will allow participants to:
- Begin finding and applying new skills that enrich our work and everyday life.
- Understand how to solve problems with a new perspective.
- Share and learn about issues that present challenges and how to seek solutions.
- Become part of a collective effort to connect youth to caring support systems.
Target Audience: Youth and family service providers, judiciary, probation officers, law enforcement, educators, and State agencies who work with children and youth.
DARE TO PREPARE
October 21 or 23
6:00 – 8:15 pm
Manoa Grand Ballroonm
2454 South Beretania St.
October 22
6:00 -8:15 pm
Hawaii Okinawa Center
94-687 Uke’e Street
Waipahu
AAA Hawaii is committed to improving education and safety among teen drivers and parents. Traffic crashes are still the leading cause of death and serious injury for teens, AAA Hawaii has developed a free interactive community program which includes games, activities and fun videos to teach parents and teens about the danger, responsibility and process of driving. During the workshop we will have giveaways, prizes and goody bags with free local resources. The program is designed for teens 13 through 16 years old and their parents.
Free Parking and Free reSource bag.
Reservations required at http://aaa.com/safety4teens
For additional information:808-529-5027
MARITIME CAREERS EXPLORATION
October 20 – November 21, Monday through Friday
8:00 am – 3:00 pm
FREE
A hands-on training program that gives Native Hawaiian men and women an opportunity to explore and train for work in the maritime field – jobs that can offer life-time employmnet and high wages right here in Hawai’i.
This is learning-by-doing. Participants will be introduced to a wide variety of shore and ship-based job opportunities. Participants will learn and practice basic maritime skills. During the final week, participants will serve as crew on a voyage around the Hawaiian Islands aboard Marimed’s tall-ship, SSV Makani Olu.
Classes are held in Kaneohe; field trips throughout Oahu.
For application go to http://www. Marimed.org
For additional information contact Jodie.Yim@Marimed.org
Supported by Alu Like, Inc.
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT THROUGH STORYTELLING: HOW YOUR STORIES BUILD CONNECTION AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
October 30, 2014, Thursday
8:30-4:00pm
Queen’s Conference Center Auditorium
510 S. Beretania St., Honolulu
Free
Presenter: Jay Golden, Storyteller Trainer and Co-founder of Wakingstar
A full day training about community enrichment through techniques of storytelling. Local work force members will share one of their “stories” as models of how we can develop our own stories to enrich our work and our communities through developed connection and direction.
For further information contact Camille Cristobal at cuc@hawaii.edu or 627-5246.
To register: https://training30oct2014.eventbrite.com
THE TRUTH ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND VIOLENCE
A Brown Bag Seminar presneted by Mental Health America of Hawaii
October 28
Registration at 11:00 am
11:30 – 1:00 pm
Cenral Union Church
1660 S. Beretania St
Parking entrance on Punahou St.
$15 – $30 Donation Requested
Panel: Michael Christopher, PsyD, PhD; KAthleen Rhoads Merriam, MSW; James Westphal, M.D.
From the headlines, it seems like most of the people committing mass murders these past few years have been mentally ill, primarily with schizophrenia … giving the impression to the general public that people with mental illness are much more violent than people without mental illness. What is the truth?
For more details, call 521-1846 or info@mentalhealth-hi.org
INSIDE HYSN
HYSN’S FALL INTERN, LENA PHOMSOUVANH
Lena Phomsouvanh is a senior studying Family Resources and Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She has an interest in working at a higher level to advocate because she believes we are able to make an even greater impact in our communities through public policy. From her HYSN internship she hopes to gain first-hand experience in working within a nonprofit and she would like to understand the process of public policy and advocacy. She is thankful for the opportunity to be working with HYSN because it is experienced and well-informed and hopes to learn a lot!
Editor’s Note: Lena hit the deck running in September by assisting in a number of tasks for which we are most grateful.