Hawaii Youth Services Network - June 2014 Newsletter

June Newsletter

FROM JUDITH’S DESK

Recently I attended the Pacific Rim Conference on Disability and Diversity, and presented a workshop on working collaboratively with public officials (“A Little Aloha Goes a Long Way. . . “).

At lunch on the final day of the conference, we talked about advocacy and public policy development at my table. I shared some of my experiences with the Children and Youth Summit and youth as advocates. I talked story about the impressive young people who shared their experiences with the foster care system, which resulted in the new foster care to 21 opportunities.

A woman who is a case manager for persons with developmental disabilities said she wished there was a way for her clients to become involved. And I said, “Why not?” Our public officials need to understand how disabilities affect people’s lives, and not just about their limitations and needs for services. They need to know people with disabilities for what they are capable of achieving, and for how much they care about giving back to their communities.

I used to have a volunteer named Stephen who had cerebral palsy. His speech was difficult to understand, he walked slowly with a pronounced limp, and he could only use one hand. But Stephen was reliable. He showed up on time, worked hard, and helped us find ways to accommodate his disabilities. He did data entry on client records, helped create a resource guide for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and staffed our exhibit at the senior fair. He helped parents of disabled children understand that their children could have a bright and productive future even if they could not walk or see or hear. I learned a lot about life from Stephen.

Everyone wants to feel useful. Instead of viewing young people or persons with disabilities as people in need, let us look at them as people who can succeed. We are all part of our communities and need to have a voice in the decisions that affect our lives.

RESOURCES

The 21st Annual Children and Youth Day (CYD) will take place on Sunday, October 5 from 10am-2pm at the State Capitol and surrounding areas.

CYD is a FREE! event that provides thrilling adventures, surprises and excitement for the whole family; games and rides, nonstop entertainment, demonstrations, guided tours, food and drink vendors and more. For more information visit www.HawaiiCYD.org. You can connect with CYD on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HawaiiCYD.

If your organization is interested in having an interactive booth at CYD, please download the registration form.

Early Bird Registration at $85 is available until June 30. The Standard Rate of $125.00 is available from July 1-August 31. CYD features over 300 interactive activities and space on the event grounds fills up fast- don’t miss out!

The 21st Annual Children and Youth Summit (CYS) will take place on Friday, October 10 from 8am-2pm at the State Capitol. The CYS (also FREE!) brings together students, advocates, professionals, parents, policymakers and others to assist the Legislature in identifying key children and youth issues that need to be addressed in the following Legislative session and is an opportunity to mobilize the community to take action. Registration will open in August and is limited to the first 300 participants (21+ years old registrants limited to 100). You can connect with CYS on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HawaiiCYS.

Children and Youth Day (CYD) Hawaii would like to invite you to participate in this year’s CYD Heroes event planned for September 2014. This is an inaugural annual event of Children and Youth Month to recognize our youth for their heroic and significant achievements within the current school year.

CYD Heroes is an award that recognizes exemplary community service representing the highest standards and the best of our children and youth. A child, teen or group of young people may be nominated for their service to their schools; for outstanding achievements in academics, sports, or the performing arts; or their contribution to the health and wellness of the people of Hawai’i. Everyday, throughout the State, our young people save lives, protect the aina, stand up for others, and give back to the community in so many ways. As a program that represents the positive values of our keiki and ‘opio, Children and Youth Day Hawaii will be honoring our children and youth at an annual formal event and platform modeled after the popular CNN Heroes.

The Award for CYD Heroes

Please nominate a person or youth organization between five and twenty one years old.
The deadline to submit your candidate is June 30th , 2014.
Your participation and assistance to present the award at the CYD Heroes ceremonies in September 2014.

You may submit information on your candidate online at www.cydheroes.com. CYD Heroes will make the arrangements with your awardee for the making of the video production, photo sessions and rehearsal times. For more information, please feel to contact CYD Heroes at (808) 951-6699 or email us at info@cydheroes.com.

Deadline to apply is July 20th, 2014!

KUPU’S HAWAII YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS IS RECRUITING

About Kupu’s Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC)
Kupu’s Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps houses several programs that offer young adults ages 17 and older opportunities to receive hands-on environmental education, personal/team/leadership development, and the chance to work in some of Hawaii’s most fragile and beautiful native ecosystems.

About Kupu’s HYCC Extended Internship Program
Kupu’s Extended Internship Program (EIP) provides young adults with an intensive 11-month-long conservation experience, in preparation for an entry-level career in the environmental field. EIP interns are matched up with an environmental agency that best fits their interests, where they receive valuable field experience and mentorship as they work alongside some of Hawaii’s most knowledgeable conservation experts.

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Must be 18 years or older (or 17 with a HS diploma or equivalent)
Benefits include a $1,300 monthly living allowance, healthcare, and a $5,500 Educational Award (similar to a scholarship)
Application requires 2 letters of recommendation
Program is a full-time commitment, and runs from October 2014 until August 2015 (approx. 11 months)

TO LEARN MORE & TO APPLY, VISIT: www.kupuhawaii.org/hycc

Deadline to apply is July 20th, 2014!

LOCAL HEALTH DATA

With the new County Health Rankings from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, you can learn about health in your community. Reporting key health measures such as high school graduation rates, obesity, smoking, unemployment, and teen births, the rankings provide a snapshot of how health is influenced by where we live, learn, work, and play. The accompanying Roadmaps provide guidance and tools to understand the data and strategies that communities can use to move from information to action.

INSPIRING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN YOUTH

The federal Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs released a new microsite to encourage youth and young adults to shape programs, policies, and services that affect their lives. Youth Engaged 4 Change offers examples of youth who have led change in their community, and provides opportunities for youth to get involved in the civic process. If you want to further encourage youth to make change, tell them to check out and enter the Youth Engaged 4 Change contest!

PROMOTING ONLINE SAFETY SAVVY

Millennials may have been the first generation to grow up in the digital age, but they and their parents still have a lot to learn about staying safe online. Google is helping fill in the knowledge gaps with its online safety center, which includes instructional courses for teens and their families.

Additional online safety resources are available from the Federal Trade Commission’s On Guard Online site.

NAMELEHUAPONO WAHINE TO BE OFFERED

The Joyful Heart Foundation is currently collaborating with Kalei Kanuha to offer Namelehuapono Wahine, a Native Hawaiian, culturally-based group service for Hawaiian and Polynesian women who are adult victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Namelehuapono Wahine is a weekly group that blends Hawaiian beliefs, traditions and practices with trauma-informed clinical intervention. Any adult female client who self-identifies as Native Hawaiian or Polynesian, has a provider or therapist supporting their healing and is a survivor of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and/or child abuse is eligible for this group.

Since Joyful Heart is not a traditional service agency, they always look to partner with local agencies to make the survivor programming available as a supplement to the wonderful services already provided in our community. When a survivor is referred to us, we do a brief intake with her to ensure that the group matches her needs and situation. The hope is to receive enough referrals from community organizations to start the next group cycle within 4-6 weeks.

For more information, go to http://www.joyfulheart.org

A DAY OF WELLNESS FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT

Presented by the Joyful Heart Foundation
Saturday, June 21, 2014
9:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Buffet lunch and snacks provided

Free of Charge

Explore ways to take care of yourself while managing the impact of trauma and stress in your life. Interactive and hands-on sessions include physical movement and artistic expression. Art supplies, journals and other materials will be provided to all who attend.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing – this is a very casual and relaxed day. This event is for adult women who identify as a survivor of sexual assault or domestic violence. Childcare is available upon request.

To register, please email Rjoya at rjoya@joyfulheartfoundation.org

Please note: space will be limited – please let us know right away if you can attend!

2014 SUMMER REEL CAMPS FOR GIRLS

ANIMATION: JUNE 9 – 13 | 8:30 -4:00 pm
Learn the principles and techniques of animation using industry-standard camera, editing software, and more.

BASIC REEL: JULY 21 – 25 | 8:30 -4:00 pm
Learn storytelling, storyboarding, scriptwriting, use of professional camera, lighting, audio, and editing. You will be working in small production teams with a mentor and produce a short video.

Age 13-19
Deadline to apply: May 15 EXTENDED!!!
For the Animation Camp | Deadline: May 30
For the Basic Reel Camp | Deadline: June 20

Registration fee for each camp: $500

We offer a voluntary sliding scale fee so that you pay what you can.
Level 1: $100 (20% of the full fee)
Level 2: $200 (40% of the full fee)
Level 3: $300 (60% of the full fee)
Level 4: $400 (80% of the full fee)

Please note, No girl will be turned away for lack of funds . Just let us know!

If you want to know more about our camps, you can read about them here!

For more information, call (808) 799-4438, or email summer@hawaiiwomeninfilmmaking.org

Our camps are hosted at The ARTS at Marks Garage,
1159 Nu’uanu Avenue, Honolulu 96817

“HAWAII MATTERS” AIRS ON SUNDAYS

Ohana Broadcast Company has begun airing a community affairs radio show addressing topics and issues affecting our community. The 30-minute radio show titled “Hawaii Matters” airs on Sundays from 6:30am to 7:00am on all Ohana Broadcast Company radio stations.

“Hawaii Matters” is moderated by Devon Nekoba and Mandy Suganuma of the 947 KUMU Morning Show. Each radio show will address a single topic or issue, and feature a question-and-answer format interview with a local expert in that field. The show will air on 931 Da Pa’ina (KQMQ-FM), 947 KUMU (KUMU-FM), 1027 Da Bomb (KDDB-FM) and 1059 KPOI (KPOI-FM).

“The goal of ‘Hawaii Matters’ is to offer listeners valuable insight into the most important issues that are affecting the residents of Hawaii and especially, Oahu,” says Terry Gillingham, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Ohana Broadcast Company. “Our intent is for this program to provide actionable information that will be put to good use to help improve the quality of life for all that live here.”

For more information about “Hawaii Matters” or to provide a topic or issue for discussion, please contact Christine Yasuma, Director of Marketing & Promotions / Producer, “Hawaii Matters” at (808) 948-9433 or christineyasuma@ohanabroadcast.com

ANALYSIS: IS LEAD EXPOSURE THE SECRET TO THE RAPID RISE AND FANTASTIC FALL OF THE JUVENILE CRIME RATE?

By: Dick Mandel | May 19, 2014

For the juvenile justice field, there is no larger question. It’s the elephant in the room, the great mystery, the trend that has changes everything — and seemingly without explanation. Why have juvenile crime rates, once predicted to rise inexorably, instead been falling for two decades? Falling… and falling… and falling.

What if the answer was readily available? What if it mostly boiled down to a single element, hiding in plain sight, and we just refused to notice?

Well, compelling evidence suggests that much or most of the fluctuation in juvenile crime rates does boil down to a single element — a chemical element.

The element is lead, and a powerful body of research indicates that the recent declines in juvenile offending rates, like the rise in juvenile crime rates that preceded them, stem in large part from changes in children’s exposure to lead paint and exhaust from leaded gasoline. …