Welcome to the homepage for Hawaii Youth Services Network (HYSN), a statewide coalition of youth-serving organizations and a Pacific Islands Training and Technical Assistance Center.
HYSN provides organizational capacity building via training and technical assistance to youth serving agencies in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. We help youth organizations build partnerships and collaborations that bring millions of dollars in federal funding to Hawaii. HYSN does needs assessment, planning and public policy development to ensure that youth and their families have the resources to help them grow and thrive.
HYSN is currently working in the following areas:
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Services
- Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention
- Bullying and Violence Prevention
- Improving the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems
To learn more about HYSN, please contact us at:
Phone: 489-9549
E-mail: jclark@hysn.org
FROM JUDITH'S DESK
According to a new report from the Population Institute, the United States gets a “D” grade when it comes to reproductive health. In its analysis, the Population Institute looked at four different factors of reproductive health: effectiveness, which takes into account the number of teen pregnancies and percentage of unintended pregnancies; prevention, such as education programs, access to emergency contraception, and allowing minors to have access to contraception; affordability, including access to birth control for those without insurance and low-income individuals; and access, which looks at how "burdensome" it is to seek family planning and abortion services.
Hawaii fared better with a “B-“. We received high marks for mandating comprehensive sexual health education in public schools, expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and mandating hospital emergency rooms to provide information on emergency contraception and dispense it upon request.
Yet we know that there is much work to be done before all schools are ready to implement the Board of Education policy. Teachers need training; schools need to find room in their busy schedules; and the Department of Education lacks sufficient funding to purchase curricula and other materials. And this will only happen if parents, students, and other community members make it known that they want, expect it, and are willing to work to make it a reality.
How do you mobilize a community to create effective change? In January, Hawaii Youth Services Network conducted training on community mobilization. Twenty individuals participated in a 2-day training of leaders and more than 50 people took part in a full-day training, including a simulation exercise. The training focused on ways to identify, enlist and retain community champions and change agents (See photo of Lala Fernandez and Cyd Hoffeld as they prepare to recruit members for Tenacious Change Agents.). We also worked on ways to help groups come to consensus, involve champions and change agents in meaningful ways, and select “good fit” activities for your community.
We are excited to see the ways that our trainees will use these skills to create positive change for Hawaii’s youth.
Cyd Hoffeld and Lala Fernandez display their skills in Community Mobilization
Much Mahalo To
Howard Garval, president and CEO of Child &Family Service, is retiring later this year after more than a decade leading one of Hawaii’s largest nonprofit organizations.
The 69-year-old Garval joined the social services agency, which offers programs for abuse victims, caregivers and families in crisis, in 2006. He will leave the organization on Sept. 30.
“I love Hawaii and feel blessed that I had the opportunity to come here, live and work here, and experience the beauty of the islands and its people,” Garval said in a news release. “I believe in the spirit of aloha and have witnessed it innumerable times in the years I have been here. In spite of all of the challenges that exist here and that those of us in the nonprofit sector face each day, I can honestly say it has all been worthwhile.”
Hon. Star-Advertiser, 1/26/17
RESOURCES
2017 My Hawai‘i Creative Writing Contest
The 2017 My Hawai‘i creative writing contest is open to all middle school students (6-8th grade) in the state. Students are invited to submit their best story or poem that addresses the theme, ”He Wa’a, He Moku – Malama Honua: Caring for Our Island Earth” to align with the 2017 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference theme.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contest details and this flyer are available online at: www.hawaiiconservation.org/my-hawaii Share the flyer with teachers and post it for students and parents! Questions? Contact: myhawaiistory@gmail.com
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC)
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC) has collaborated with the Hawai‘i Theatre for Youth (HTY) and T-Shirt Theatre to create Expect [respect], a one-hour theatrical performance and discussion about sexual violence prevention created for middle school aged students. The play is made up of short vignettes that focus on the importance of respecting boundaries and how students can create a safe environment for everyone. Expect [respect] is a no-cost show that can be booked to perform at your Middle School, or youth program.
Expect [respect] will have a preview night on February 8th at Tenney Theatre (see below for more details). The purpose of this preview night is to allow for students, teachers, administrators, parents, or anyone else who works or interacts with middle school aged youth, to view Expect [respect]. There will be no cost to attend the preview night, and you are welcome to bring anyone you think would be interested in viewing the performance.
We are very excited to debut our new theatrical performance. If you are able, please join us.
Date: February 8, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Tenney Theatre
229 Queen Emma Square
Honolulu, HI 96813
Parking will be available in front of Tenney Theatre for a flat charge of $3. Please use the entrance on Beretania Street and take an immediate right into the parking lot.
TRAINING
Building Competency in Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth Training Conference for Community Partners
APRIL 28, 2017
Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Fee To Be Determined
Featuring: Preview of a new documentary on Tongan Leiti by renowned film-makers, Wilson and Hamer, and overview of their film, A Place in the Middle, a Native Hawaiian approach to inclusion with Kumu Hina Wong. Presentations on LGBT basics; LGBT support in government agencies; LGBT health concerns and support; LGBT initiatives statewide; LGBT support in our schools; and family, faith, and culture.
Sponsored by the Family Court's Committee on LGBT Youth in Hawaii's Juvenile Justice System
Improving Oral Health: Using Telehealth to Create Hawai‘i’s Virtual Dental Home - Andrew Tseu, DDS and JD
February 17, 2017 Friday
Wellbeing and Resiliency: From Mental Health to Whole Health - Margaret Walkover, MPH and David Lev, PhD
March 17, 2017 Friday
Culture of Health: Framework for Improving Wellbeing - Joan Takamori, APRN
April 21, 2017 Friday
Losing Tim: Using Collaborative Processes to Strengthen the Mental Health System - Paul Gionfriddo, CEO of Mental Health America
May 19, 2017 Friday
Leadership through Collaboration: Highlights of Accomplishments - Suzanne Chun Oakland
June 16, 2017 Friday
Friday Brain Health and Preventing Dementia - Kamal Masaki, MD
July 14 , 2017
Friday Media and Messaging: Changing Images of Mental Illness and Homelessness - Trisha Kajimura, MPH
August 11, 2017
Friday Negotiation Skills: Communication Strategies to Improve Health - Elizabeth Kent, JD
September 15, 2017
Friday Health Literacy: Tools to Health Equity and Empowerment - Gloria Fernandez, PhD, RN, PHN
October 20, 2017
Thursday Quality Improvement: Success Stories from Queens Medical Center - Eleanor Huey, MPH
November 9, 2017
Friday Translating Research into Practice: Making Health Systems Work - Victoria Rayle, BS
December 15, 2017
