FROM JUDITH’S DESK

The annual Children and Youth Summit at the State Capitol is one of my favorite events each year. I love to see concerned and caring young people expressing their views about what our legislature should do to make Hawaii a better place. Since I don’t work directly with youth on a daily basis, this is my window on their world . . . And they always impress me with their depth of thinking and insights into issues.

This year, civil rights was a concern for the youth at the summit – Their number one priority was gay rights/marriage rights and equal pay for women also made their top five. Other top priorities for the youth included:

Establishing a safe house for youth that would help with domestic violence, suicide prevention, teen pregnancy, trauma; problem solving, drinking and smoking problems, and high school dropouts;
Improving financial aid for college; and,
Reducing gasoline prices/using alternative fuels.

The adult advocates also placed the safe house for youth in their top priorities. They also proposed a bill that supports safe and comprehensive teen health; restoring funding for youth programs (including TANF funds for youth development and pregnancy prevention); creating a coordinating body for youth services (to include creating youth service inventory and effective tracking system); and allocating funding for sustainability at the home level.

I’d like to conclude with some comments about the Summit from students from Olomana School (all spelling and grammar exactly as I received them):

Today was very insperational for me because, it opened up my eyes to important causes and issues in life, education, the enviernment, and other solution’s.

It was a really great experience for me to get togther with other peers from differnt schools to learfn about how they feel about these different topics that we learned today. I also liked the experience of sharing ideas and thouts to other students from differnt schools.

i learned alot about environmental services and sustainability. i think it is my most powerfull motive right now. How to keep my community safe and recycle alot. Live PONO.

RESOURCES

YOUTH CITIZENSHIP AND VIOLET RICHARDSON AWARDS
SPONSORED BY THE SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL CLUBS OF OAHU

Soroptimist clubs are part of Soroptimist International of the Americas (www.soroptimist.org), a service organization primarily working to improve the lives of women and girls locally and throughout the world. We are announcing our annual youth awards that recognize eligible students who have made outstanding contributions to school, community and country. Awardees not only receive deserving recognition by being able to share their accomplishments and future goals, but also receive cash awards to be used in any way to further their goals.

There are two Award Programs:
1. Youth Citizenship Awards (YCA)
Must be a senior from a public, private or equivalent high school on Oahu; female or male.
2. Violet Richardson Award* (VRA) *named after the first President of our organization
Must be a female between the ages of 14 – 17, from a public, private or equivalent high school on Oahu.

Deadline to apply is December 1, 2012.

To learn more and/or to request an application form, please contact:
Ann Katekaru for YCA program: ann.katekaru@gmail.com or phone 808.387.3196
Rene Tokunaga for VRA program: tokunagar007@hawaii.rr.com or phone 808.497.1361

PACT’S HAUPOA PROGRAM RECRUITING FAMILIES

HAUPOA provides innovative services for children, youth and their
non-offending caregivers who have been exposed to domestic
violence

OUR SERVICES
• 2-6 months of weekly group and one-on-one counseling for youth and their nonoffending
caregivers (e.g., mom, grandma, aunty)
• Goals of services
o Children (3-17 years) will learn healthy communication, coping, problemsolving, and safety skills
o Caregivers will gain knowledge and awareness of the effects of domestic
violence on their children and build stronger parenting skills
• Interested families have the opportunity to join a ground-breaking national
project

WHO WE SERVE
• Only one caregiver from each family can take part with his/her children. This is to maintain confidentiality and to provide a safe environment.
• This caregiver must have completed an intake assessment session with either the Puuhonua or Kuleana unit, before enrolling in Haupoa
• All children and caregiver participants must be willing to be active members of the service team

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
808-832-0855
Now accepting families!

TRAINING

MENTAL WELLNESS FOR CAREGIVERS AND SENIORS
Mental Health Challenges and How to Overcome Them

A Mental Health Brown Bag Seminar
presented by
Mental Health America of Hawai`i

You are invited to a discussion with:

Ritabelle Fernandes, M.D., M.P.H.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, UH
Staff Geriatrician, Kokua Kalihi Valley Clinic

Thomas Harding, Psy.D., M.A.
Director of Neuropsychology
Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience, LLC, Castle Hospital

Gary Powell
Executive Director
The Caregiver Foundation

Sara Tompkison, LCSW
Caregiver Support Coordinator
VA- Pacific Islands Healthcare System

When:
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
(Registration begins at 11:00 am – Program starts promptly at 11:30 am.)

Where:
Central Union Church
1660 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI
(Located between McCully Street and Punahou Street
in the Parish Hall, Diamond Head side of the church in back)

Donation of $10 – $25 requested
Call 521-1846 for registration

Parking free on-site
(Parking available in parking lot off of Punahou
or on the grassy area in front .)

Bring a bag lunch

CIVIL JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME IN HAWAII

With a special focus on Hawaii’s new “civil window” for victims of child sex abuse
If you can’t answer these questions, how can a victim?
• What do victims gain through civil actions?
• What civil options are available to victims?
• How can civil actions help victims of homicide, stalking, rape, child sex abuse, domestic violence, drunk driving, fraud, elder abuse and identity theft?
• Where can victims find a lawyer?
• What is the appropriate role of a victim service provider?

Who should attend?
• Victim advocates working in government agencies and community based organizations;
• Mental health service providers;
• Law enforcement officers;
• Social Workers;
• Sexual Assault and Forensic Nurse Examiners;
• Prosecutors
• Policy Makers
• Probation and Parole Officers; and
• Victims of Crime.

The training seminars are free, but space is limited. Register now on-line! Go to www.victimsofcrime.org and click on “Training”
The information on these seminars will be tailored to Hawaii Law. Each seminar runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call The National Center for Victims of Crime at 202-467-8700

PREVENT SUICIDE: “Tools for Life & Healing After Conference, Walk, & Reception Hawai`i 2012”

November 14

LOCATION: Conference; Elk’s Lodge Waikiki, Walk; Kapi`olani Park, and Aloha Reception; Elk’s Lodge, Waikiki

*AFSP International “Survivors of Suicide Day” Annual Day of Healing for Bereavement After Suicide

This conference is sponsored by:

The Hawai`i State Department of Health, Injury Prevention and Control System

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division

Hawai`i Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness, and Research (S.P.E.A.R.)

Partner: Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center – Honolulu Unit, Ohana Ke`ola Maika`i Project

Outcomes:

Increase knowledge and understanding of the issue of suicide, prevention awareness, education and training, and networks within the community
Increase knowledge and understanding of survivor coping skills, grieving process, and ways support is helpful
Increase awareness of available resources and access to them
Encourage participants; providers and survivors to take an action step by; 1) share their story, 2) networking with others, 3) becoming a prevention advocate, 4) registering for an education workshop, 5) serving as a community resource; 6) attend a task force meeting
Foster collaboration and partnerships between survivors and providers; agencies and organizations that address suicide, mental health, and life issues

Conference Registration Fee: $65.00
Walk and Aloha Reception: $25.00 Donation
All payments by check, payable to: HI S.P.E.A.R.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Pua Kaninau-Santos – Conference Chair
kkanina@qlcc.org and pkshawaii@gmail.com
(808) 851-7786, (808) 292-1903
(808) 486-5018 fax
www.suicidepreventionispossible.org

REGISTRATION – Accepting registrations
Registration Chairs
Bruce & Mikilani Sorman
bmsormani@aol.com or mikilani@aol.com
(702) 487-2991
www.suicidepreventionispossible.org

Affordable Care Act!

Healthcare Professionals Teleconference
November 16
12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.

Guest Speakers:
Senator Josh Green, MD, & Other special guests….

BRING YOUR LUNCH
REGISTRATION ADDRESS for QCC:
PublicHealthEducationRSVP@gmail.com

For more information call Angela Smith
(808) 349-1137

This training has been approved for 1.5 CEU hrs. by: HI Rehabilitation Counselors Association (HRCA), National Association of Social Workers, HI Chapter and CSAC for the Primary & VTC sites.
Event co-sponsored by Hawai`i Rehabilitation Counselors Association (HRCA).

INSIDE HYSN

KOKUA KALIHI VALLEY’S NEW WELLNESS CENTER

The new Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Wellness Center, in the former P&P Superfoods building across the street from Kokua Kalihi Valley’s Charles Judd Community Health Center, doubles the center’s dental care capacity to 12 exam rooms from the six that were housed in the neighboring health center. Those six rooms will soon be converted to additional medical exam rooms.

The 16,500-square-foot facility also features a pharmacy, an eye clinic, spaces for health and wellness education, vocational training facilities, including a commercial kitchen, and a showcase space dubbed the Wai­wai Room where Kokua Kalihi Valley program participants can sell handmade crafts.

FROM JUDITH’S DESK

Do you value the training programs that Hawaii Youth Services Network provides? Do you use the information in this newsletter about resources, best and promising practices in youth work, and news about Hawaii’s youth-serving organizations? Do you want HYSN to continue to be a key voice in needs assessment, planning, and public policy development so that youth and their families have access to the services they need?

If your organization is a current member of HYSN, please renew your membership (renewal notices were sent out in late September). If you’ve been participating in our training, reading our newsletter, or working with us to make Hawaii a better place for youth and families and your agency is not a member, please consider asking your leadership to join our statewide network of youth-serving agencies.

If your agency chooses not to become a member, you can choose to be an individual member and show your support for HYSN and its programs and activities.

Why a youth serving agency or you should be an HYSN member?

Because HYSN builds partnerships and collaborations that help meet the needs in your communities – In 2012, HYSN distributed more than $1 million dollars to its member partners to meet the needs of runaway and homeless youth and prevent teen pregnancy. In the past 10 years, we’ve shared more than $15 million dollars in federal, state, and foundation funds with our members. With it, we’ve worked together to address issues such as children of incarcerated parents, teen dating violence, and commercial sexual exploitation of youth. Your membership dues provide the essential non-federal matching funds.

Because staff members of agencies don’t have time to join every committee, task force, and work group addressing your issues – HYSN can represent the membership and you. HYSN has worked to improve outcomes for foster youth, expand after-school programs, ensure access to mental health services, expand sexual health education, reduce homelessness, and maintain funding for a wide range of youth services.

Because staff and volunteers need great training in order to provide the highest quality services to young people. HYSN works hard to meet training needs, enabling access for rural workers by providing training on island or travel scholarships to participate in Oahu-based trainings. Most of this training is provided free of charge.

Over the next few months, HYSN Board and staff members will reach out to organizations that are participating regularly in our programs but have not yet become members. If you or your agency is a current member, please talk with your colleagues about the value of HYSN membership.

Together we can make a difference in the lives of Hawaii’s youth – Please contact me today about your membership in Hawaii Youth Services Network.
Phone: 531-2198 ext. 1
E-mail: jclark@hysn.org

RESOURCES

HEALTH WEBSITES FOR TEENAGERS

For adolescents concerned with their health, the Internet can be a promising, confidential source for accurate information or an overwhelming and intimidating cause of confusion and misinformation.
Medically accurate and age-appropriate websites are important for adolescents seeking sexual health information, because many young people go online first with their questions about sex and sexuality. A 2009 Pew study found that 31 percent of teens look online for health, dieting or physical fitness information, and 17 percent look for information online specifically about health topics that are difficult to discuss like drug use, sexual health or depression.

Federally funded health information sites aimed at teens include:

NIDA for Teens

http://teens.drugabuse.gov

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a website on drug abuse specifically for a teenage audience. Features include an interactive video activity, “Choose Your Path,” in which the user has to make choices about social situations and drugs, in addition to several “Brain Games” that provide health information. The Sara Bellum Blog, written by a team of NIDA scientists, science writers and public health analysts of all ages, connects teens to the latest scientific research and news in straightforward language. With an emphasis on science and research, blog topics include brain science, drug abuse, addiction and more. This site also provides reader-friendly fact sheets on different types of drugs, addiction and other topics.

GirlsHealth.gov

http://girlshealth.gov

As the URL suggests, this colorful website is aimed at girls and offers information and resources on a variety of areas including relationships, safety and future plans. Quizzes offer a chance to test knowledge and receive accurate health information; for instance, the “Sexual Fact or Fiction” quiz offers a series of true or false statements and focuses on pregnancy and teen attitudes, and the healthy relationships quiz is multiple choice and explains smart communication skills and strategies. The Spotlight section highlights positive female role models.

Teen.SmokeFree.gov

http://teen.smokefree.gov

This site is aimed at young people trying to quit smoking. The site itself offers several interactive features, including a quiz to find a young person’s decision-making style. The teen doesn’t need to be at a computer for some of the site’s more innovative features. http://Teen.SmokeFree.gov offers a free texting service with reminders and updates to help young people quit smoking. The service is interactive; for instance, users can text “WANT” to the service when they are craving a cigarette and will automatically receive a reminder about why they wanted to quit. The QuitSTART application for smartphones lets users track cravings and moods, monitor progress toward achieving smokefree milestones, identify smoking triggers and upload personalized “pick me ups” and reminders to use during challenging times. There is also a Facebook page to allow young people to connect and discuss their journey toward quitting smoking.

DIGITAL HARRASSMENT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines electronic aggression as “any kind of harassment or bullying that occurs through e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging (IM), websites, blogs or text messaging.” Digital harassment—also known as digital abuse—is a form of electronic aggression that typically takes place between two people in a romantic relationship.

Mobile phones facilitate constant connection to romantic partners and peers, which makes it difficult to set boundaries. Dr. Jilly Murray of the U.S. Department of Education shares the following: “I call it an electronic leash. I’ve had girls come into my office with cell phone bills showing 9,000 text messages and calls in a month. This is all hours of the day and night. And it’s threatening. “Hi. How are you? Where are you? Who are you with? Who are you talking to?”

The prevalence of this relatively new phenomenon is difficult to gauge, but early surveys and studies are showing that many teens experience digital abuse. In one online survey, 36 percent of teens reported that their boyfriend or girlfriend checked up on them as many as 30 times per day, and 17 percent reported that their significant other made them afraid not to respond to cell phone calls, e-mail or text messages. An MTV and Associate Press survey found that nearly 3 in 10 teens reported that their partners have checked up on them multiple times a day, either online or via mobile.

Cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying are not mutually exclusive; young people who are victims of Internet harassment are significantly more likely to experience in-person victimization, and the majority of teens surveyed in a 2007 Pew poll reported that they that thought bullying was more likely to take place offline than online. In a 2011 study, Pew found that teenagers felt bolder, ruder or more empowered online without the face-to-face threats of real violence that they would experience in person. Victims of digital harassment are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs, receive school detention or suspension and/or skip school.

Anti-bullying government website

http://www.stopbullying.gov

CommonSense Media

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/digital-harassment-tips

Cyberbullying Research Center

http://cyberbullying.us/blog/electronic-dating-violence-and-teens-our-2010-research-findings.html

MTV: A Thin Line Campaign/Survey

http://www.athinline.org/pdfs/MTV-AP_2011_Research_Study-Exec_Summary.pdf

OnGuardOnline.gov section on cyberbullying

http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0028-cyberbullying

Youth Violence: Electronic Media and Youth Violence—A CDC Issue Brief for Educators and Caregivers

http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pub/EA-brief.html

TRAINING

CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND HEALTH EQUITY IN STATE GOVERNMENT TELECONFERENCE

Queen’s Conference Center
510 S Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96813
THIRDFRIDAY OF THE MONTH
12 Noon – 1:30 PM
FREE

Guest Speakers:
Christian Kimo Alameda, Ph.D.,
Administrator Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Equity &
Gerald Ohta, Affirmative Action Officer, Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Affirmative Action

Contact donna.higuchi@doh.hawaii.gov for reservations at various sites throughout the islands.

PORTALS TO PREVENTION, PART II WEBINAR

In this Part II of the new Well Aware webinar series on Portals to Prevention, we will consider what helps and what hurts children who exhibit suicidal thoughts and gestures. Building on Part I and its focus on empathy as key, this webinar explores the best ways teachers, parents and other adults can engage with suicidal children and adolescents.

Attendees will learn how to interact with a child who has just been released from the hospital following a suicide attempt…why youths may be reluctant to seek adult help for distress and suicidal thoughts…and what adults should and should not say and do to best help youth.

Speaker : Dr. David Goldston

An eminent international authority on youth suicide, Dr. Goldston is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor in the Division of Child and Family Mental Health and Developmental Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine.

Dr. Goldston has conducted research for the last 20 years regarding the longitudinal course, risk, assessment, prevention and treatment of suicidal and related behaviors.

He wrote the book, Measuring Suicidal Behavior and Risk among Children and Adolescents, published in 2003 by the American Psychological Association Press.

Tuesday, Oct. 9th, 2012

5-6:30 PM Eastern

11 AM – 12:30 PM HST

LOCATION: On the Internet.

FEE: Free of charge; note that audio access via telephone is a toll call with associated long-distance charges. Sponsored by the Wyoming Department of Health and Wyoming Department of Education.

QUESTIONS or to REGISTER: Contact Well Aware Webinars at:
(E) talkback@wellawaresp.org or (P) 920-457-4033.

INSIDE HYSN

HONOLULU ONE OF 100 BEST COMMUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Honolulu has been named one of America’s Promise Alliance’s100 Best Communities for Young People. The national award, presented by ING, recognizes Honolulu’s outstanding and innovative work in addressing the high school dropout crisis, and its programs and services that make it an outstanding place for youth to live, learn, and grow.

A five-time 100 Best, Honolulu continues to provide youth with educational, safe, and productive activities. Other winning years were 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2011. Since 2003, the City and County of Honolulu’s Youth Services Center has provided development and employment training services to at-risk youth.

“We are proud to be one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People,” Mayor Peter Carlisle said. “This award recognizes the hard work of many community members who have contributed to making a difference in the lives of our young people. It reinforces our belief that a focus on youth pays dividends to the entire community.”

This year, Honolulu competed with more than 320 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico for this honor. All communities entering the 100 Best competition completed a rigorous application where they provided details on how their existing programs and initiatives help deliver the Five Promises—resources, identified by America’s Promise as being critical to the development of healthy, successful children into caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; effective education; and opportunities to help others. Applicants also were asked to describe how different sectors of their community work together to help children and families overcome challenges. Most importantly, communities were judged on the strength and innovation of their efforts and programs to help high school graduates prepare for college and the 21st century workforce.

For more information, visit http://americaspromise.org/Our-Work/100-Best-Communities-for-Young-People/2012-Winners/Honolulu-HI.aspx.

HYSN 2011-12 MEMBERS

Aloha House	Hale Kipa, Inc.	P.A.R.E.N.T.S., Inc.
American Civil Liberties Union of HI	Hale ‘Opio Kaua”i, Inc	Palama Settlement
Bay Clinic	Hawaii Behavioral Health	PACT
Big Brothers Big Sisters	Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition	Planned Parenthood of HI
Big Island Substance Abuse Council	Hawaii Student Television	Queen Liliuokalani
Blueprint for Change	Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii	REAL
Bobby Benson Center	Hina Mauka Teen Care dba Alcoholic Rehab Services	Salvation Army Family Intervention Services
Catholic Charities Hawaii	Hui Malama Learning Center	Salvation Army Family Treatment Services
Central Oahu Youth Services Association	Kahi Mohala	Sex Abuse Treatment Center (Hawaii Pacific Health)
Child and Family Service	Kamaaina Kids	Susannah Wesley Community Center
Children’s Comprehensive Services	KEY Project	The Catalyst Group
Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii	Kids Hurt Too	The Children’s Alliance of Hawaii
Domestic Violence Action Center	Kokua Kahili Valley	The Maui Farm
EPIC, Inc	Kua no na Poe Hawaii	Waikiki Health Center
Family Programs Hawaii	Life Foundation	Women Helping Women
Family Support Hawaii	Marimed Foundation	Youth Vision
Friends of the Missing Child Center	Maui Youth and Family Services	YWCA of Kaua’i