Your announcements, accomplishments, up-coming events or trainings are most welcome. Sorry, we do not publish fund raising events. Email to alex@hysn.org by the 25th of the month prior to publication.
FROM JUDITH’S DESK
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? is a wonderful children’s book that I learned about through Na Lei Aloha’s Bridge of Friendship event last fall.
Everyone in the world carries around an invisible bucket. When you do or say nice things to someone, it fills their bucket – and it fills yours too. But if you are mean and say or do bad things to someone, it empties their bucket. and makes them feel sad or angry.. That’s called being a bucket dipper. Often bucket dippers are people whose buckets are empty. They think they can fill their own bucket by emptying someone else’s bucket. But that never works.
The book suggests ways to fill people’s buckets and encourages each of us to be a bucket filler.
I was so impressed with the book that I have bought copies and shared them with others. And the word is spreading. One person with whom I shared the book read it to her daughter’s kindergarten class. She says that her daughter now comes up to her and says, “I love you Mommy,” while holding up an invisible bucket.
I’m trying to be a bucket filler today and every day. I hope that you are too.
RESOURCES
THE HARD WAY: PACIFIC REGION
Hawaii Youth Services Network and Hawaii Student Television have completed the production of The Hard Way: Pacific Region. This culturally relevant HIV prevention video is designed for use with youth in Hawaii and other Pacific Islands.
It is the story of Nick and Kalani, two best friends. Kalani has many girlfriends; Nick is totally faithful to his girlfriend, Kayla. Both boys are at risk for HIV. Will one of them test positive????
HYSN is able to offer free copies of the DVD to Hawaii organizations. We are currently working on a discussion guide to accompany the video.
If you would like a copy of The Hard Way: Pacific Region, please contact Maricel Lumagui at maricel@hysn.org or phone 531-2198 ext. 6.
ONE STRONG ‘OHANA TOOLKIT AVAILABLE
The Hawai’i Children’s Trust Fund, in partnership with Joyful Heart Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the One Strong `Ohana Partner Toolkit. This toolkit was created to allow organizations to utilize the OSO message to educate the community about child abuse and neglect prevention. The OSO Partner toolkit is an online toolkit that includes information related to branding, downloadable materials, digit and social media resources and so much more. To access the toolkit, please click on the link below.
Please help us to continue to spread awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention by opting in and utilizing the toolkit.
2014 – THE YEAR OF THE GIRL
The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women has dedicated 2014 (the Commission’s 50th anniversary) as “Year of the Girl”. In celebrating Year of the Girl, the Commission seeks to honor and uplift the contributions and resiliency of Hawaii’s girls and young women. We have collaborated with various community organizations and advocates to create an exciting year long calendar of events and activities for girls and young women. Please visit: http://www.yearofthegirl.org for more information.
TECHNOLOGY, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, AND BULLYING
New report available from the Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center on the use of technology in teen dating violence and abuse and bullying. To obtain a copy, go to https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243296.pdf
DHS 2013 DATABOOK AVAILABLE
The Hawai‘i State Department of Human Services (DHS) recently released its 2013 Databook. The Databook contains a wealth of data and information related to the department’s self-sufficiency programs (e.g., financial assistance, services to the homeless), child and adult protection services, and med-quest division services. The report also provides data from the Hawai‘i Youth Correctional Facility and Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority, which are administratively attached to DHS. Some of the child-related data available in the report include the following:
- Well over a third (40%) of the recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are under the age of 18.
- The number of children in foster care has decreased by nearly 60% since 2004, with 2,180 children in foster care in 2013.
- Seventy percent (70%) of children who exited foster care were reunified with their families, compared to 15% who were adopted in 2013.
- Over one hundred youth were admitted to the Hawai‘i Youth Correctional Facility in 2011. O‘ahu had the highest proportion of admissions of all counties with 45%, followed by Maui (27%), Hawai‘i Island (19%), and Kaua‘i (9%).
To download the latest Databook, go to the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services website: http://humanservices.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DHS-Databook_Jan2014_FINAL.pdf.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BAROMETER: HAWAI’I
Behavioral Health Barometer: Hawai‘i is part of a series of State and national reports from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that provides a snapshot of behavioral health in the U.S. The report presents an array of youth and adult substance use and mental health-related data, including rates of serious mental illness, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, underage drinking, and behavioral health treatment clients. National and state-level trend data presented in the Barometer are drawn from various federal surveys. The Barometer provides analyses by gender, age group and race/ethnicity, where possible, to help decision makers at all levels track and address behavioral health disparities. National findings report that fewer teens are smoking, the percentage of youth using illicit drugs did not change, and more teens received treatment for a major depressive episode. Here is a sample of the data presented in the Hawai‘i Barometer:
- Among 12- to 17-year-olds in Hawai‘i, the mean age of first cigarette use was 12.7 years and the mean age of first marijuana use was 13.6 years.
- In Hawai‘i, 8.8% of youth ages 12 or older in 2008-2012 were dependent on or abused alcohol. Hawai‘i’s rate of alcohol dependence or abuse among youth ages 12 or older was similar to the national average in 2011-2012.
- In 2006-2012, 31.2% of all youth ages 12-17 with at least one major depressive episode received treatment for their depression.
More data in the Hawai‘i Barometer can be accessed at: http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA13-4796/SMA13-4796HI.pdf
THE SIGNS
The Signs is a short film created and written by Long Island teenagers for teenagers about teen dating violence that goes beyond the “bruises and black eyes.”
The short is the product of a grant from The Allstate Foundation to the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Adelphi University, produced by the Ghetto Film School and guided by representatives from local domestic violence agencies.
The video is available at: http://vimeo.com/85676862
TRAINING
HELPING MICRONESIAN/MARSHALLESE YOUTH
Friday, March 14, 2014, 12 pm to 1:30 pm
Video Teleconference (VTC) sites are FREE
TO REGISTER for QCC, all video conferencing sites or webinar GO TO: http://www.regonline.com/training14March2014
Queen’s Conference Center
510 S Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96813
12 Noon – 1:30 PM
BRING YOUR LUNCH
Facilitator: Ann Dugdale Hansen, Chair: Pacific Islander Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai῾i
Panelists:
Ulla Hasager, Ph.D., Civic Engagement Specialist for UHM,
Kat Lobendahn, Coordinator of Pālolo Pipeline
Our largest newer group of youth in Hawai`i are the children of Micronesian & Marshallese migrants that have come to Hawai`i during the last 30 years. Many of them are American Citizens who were born here. Because of a demand by social workers and teachers, this special panel will present this timely and important topic to improve your knowledge and skills on 3/14/14. While Micronesians, Marshallese, Paluan, etc. are now 1% of Hawai`i’s population, there are many schools that have large populations of their student body who are from (or whose patents are from) those island nations. There is even one school in Hawai`i that has over 50% of their students whose parents are from these island countries. Do you know which school this is?