FROM JUDITH'S DESK
My office sits in the middle of the Kakaako tent city. I walk past the tents daily, averting my eyes to give my homeless neighbors some visual privacy. Some of the camp sites are immaculate, all belongings neatly stowed. Others look like trash dumps, with discarded paper, bottles, and broken strollers or bicycles strewn on the sidewalk and streets. I worry about the toddlers, some wearing only a diaper, who could dash into the streets in front of cars.
And I remember what it was like when I was much younger and trying to avoid becoming homeless myself. I had few job skills and little work experience to offer to employers then. My husband took temp jobs and repaired furniture for our landlord in exchange for a month's rent. Then they ran out of furniture to repair and I lost my home.
I was one of the lucky ones, homeless for only a few weeks, until we found new jobs and an affordable apartment. But I will always remember the fear, hunger, and despair that I felt.
Forty percent of Hawaii's population is no more than 2 paychecks away from homelessness according to a study from several years ago. Many of us are living paycheck to paycheck and small things, like an unexpected hospital bill, can tip families over the edge.
Our runaway and homeless youth - minors who are living on their own without support from parents and family - are the most vulnerable of our homeless population. But little attention is paid to these youth by the state and county homeless programs.
Governor Ige has just established a new leadership team to address homelessness and Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland has been tasked with briefing the members. This is your opportunity to share information about homelessness among the youth, families, and communities you serve. Senator Chun Oakland requests:
"I need your help to do ONE PARAGRAPH write ups of what is being done currently, what has already been accomplished and what is being planned to address homelessness in different parts of the State. These are the continuum of homeless and housing options, supportive programs, and other initiatives at the federal, state, county, and community levels.
I am putting together a consolidated report of all these efforts in a logically organized plan.
Please send any write up on homeless and housing efforts that is contributing to the homeless problem. With its multi-faceted nature, you are all contributing to the overall goal of having people in safe, comfortable, and stable homes across the State."
Send your statements to: senchunoakland@captiol.hawaii.gov
Mahalo.
RESOURCES
NEW STI VIDEO FROM HYSN: LANI'S CHOICE
Lani's Choice is a new sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention video produced by Hawaii Youth Services Network in cooperation with Hawaii Student Television. Designed for Hawaii and Pacific Islander youth, the video helps youth consider the consequences of their choices about sexual behavior.
Lani finds out that she has gonorrhea after having unprotected sex with a boy she meets at a party. Lani and her boyfriend, Randy, struggle to decide whether they should abstain from sex or use condoms to protect themselves.
A limited number of free copies of Lani's Choice are available to youth-serving organizations upon request. Please contact Maricel Lumagui at maricel@hysn.org or call 531-2198 ext. 2 to request the video. To reduce our costs, we would appreciate it if Oahu organizations would pick up the video at the HYSN office. We are happy to mail copies to our Neighbor Island or mainland colleagues.
NEW ONLINE VIDEO TO HELP EDUCATE ABOUT CHILDREN OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
"Family Secrets: When Violence Hits Home," is an Emmy-nominated children's program created collaboratively by Children of Domestic Violence (CDV) and Nick News, hosted by Linda Ellerbee. This special segment was created to help communicate directly with young people who are either growing up with domestic violence or know someone who is.
Growing up with this type of violence, a child often feels completely alone and helpless. This video, the first children's television program focused on this issue, dispels the LIE that they are ALONE, as it features other children speaking candidly and poignantly about their experience. This video can be a very helpful tool for schools, child welfare programs, domestic violence programs, and parents to share with their own children.
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY - AUGUST 12
Declines in sex among teens has leveled off in recent years, according to new data released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. In the period 2011-2013, 44% of teen girls and 47% of teen boys report having had sex. Other findings from the report include:
- The percentage of teens who have had sex has declined dramatically over the past 25 years; down 14% for girls and 22% for guys.
- 79% of teen girls and 84% of teen boys say they used contraception the first time they had sex.
- Young women who did not use a method of contraception the first time they had sex were twice as likely to become teen mothers as those who used a method.
ANIMAL-ASSISTED HEALTH & HEALING PROGRM FOR YOUTH
Hale Kipa’s newest program for youth—Animal-Assisted Health & Healing (A2H2)—helps youth learn the principles and practices of a healthy lifestyle in a unique and motivating way. Housed in a full-service dog daycare in Kaneohe called Paws for a Cause, A2H2 combines interactive classroom learning with “lab” work in the dog daycare to help students learn the Five Pillars of Wellness (nutrition, fitness, hydration, sleep and community connectedness). As a part of the lab work, students learn how to apply these principles in caring for dogs. They also learn how to accurately observe dog behavior and some basic training tips. In addition, participants increase their social and interpersonal skills with both humans and dogs.
Hale Kipa’s next program occurs over four sessions Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons: August 4, 6, 11, and 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. each day. For more information about registration, please contact Stacy Evensen at sevensen@halekipa.org. Enrollment is limited so please contact us soon if interested.
TRAINING
OUR WHOLE LIVES SEX ED TRAINING
The First Unitarian Church is offering Facilitator Training for the Middle School and High School Our Whole Lives Sex Ed programs, September 18 - 20.
The information on the training and application form are at http://www.unitariansofhi.org/sexualityeducation. See: Skills Training for Sexuality Educators.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
August 14
Queen's Conference Center and video conferencing sites ro webinar
12 noon - 1:30 pm
Danelia Newman, B.A., Dip. Ed
Newman Consulting Services
Mental Health first is the ability to help people who are developing a mental illness or in a crisis. Evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps to build mental health literacy, help identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness.
For additional information contact Camille Cristobal cuc@hawaii.edu.
To register for QCC, all video conferencing sites or webinar go to: http://www.training14AUG2015.eventbrite.com
2015 HAWAII PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE: HEALTH IS EVERYONE'S KULEANA
October 9
Hawaii Convention Center
This year's conference will be held at the Hawaii Convention Center on Friday, October 9, 2015, and will focus on some of the most challenging and cutting edge issues in public health today, including discussions with some new, non-typical and thought-provoking panelists on Health and the Built Environment, as well as on Addressing Health Disparities within a Health-in-All-Policies Framework.
In addition, we will hear from our dynamic incoming American Public Health Association (APHA) President-Elect, Dr. Camara Jones, who will provide us with a national perspective on how a Health-in-All-Policies approach will support positive public health change.
CLICK HERE for more information on the conference
CLICK HERE for preliminary conference agenda
Register Now
Any email inquiries or contact at register@pacificrimconcepts.com Phone 808-864-9812
Where: Hawai‘i Convention Center at 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 (on O‘ahu)
When: Friday October 9, 2015 8:00-6:15pm
Cost: Early Bird is $90.00 HPHA member/$100.00 non-members until August 15, 2015 (register now)
INSIDE HYSN
HIGH TECH YOUTH NETWORK JOINS HYSN AS A NEW MEMBER
The High Tech Youth Network (HTYN) is a 501(C)(3) Not-for-Profit corporation, with reach across the Oceanic region. HTYN’s strategic intent is connecting young people together to support 21st century learning development, digital collaboration, and nurturing higher learning opportunities, careers, and cyber enterprising pathways for youth & ohana.
Targeting young people aged 8-25 years old, the objectives of the High Tech Youth Network are:
- To empower young people in under served communities to become more capable, creative, and confident life long learners.
- To foster the growth of a 21st century learning community, through the sharing of ideas and support.
- To encourage in young people the development of a positive identity and belief in their potential, through linking cultural knowledge and values with technology.
- To champion, support, manage, research and implement services and projects that will further the above objectives.
For more information http://www.hightechyouth.org