`Ohana is Forever IX: Beyond a Label details:
Friday, July 24, 2015
Ko‘olau Golf Course in Kaneohe, Oahu
Registration & Continental Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.
Conference: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Click here to register on-line by July 7, 2015
Click here for a flyer with more information.
Please join us for this free, statewide, foster youth-focused conference for current and former foster youth and those who support them, including Family Court judges, guardian’s ad litem (GALs), Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), Department of Human Services staff, resource families, and service providers. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served.
This conference will provide tools to guide youth to rise above past adverse experiences and build a foundation for ensuring a happy future and a positive legacy. Adult workshops include:
• Helping Each Other See presented by Christian Alameda, Ph.D, A.K.A. Dr. Kimo, Cultural Psychologist and former resource caregiver. Dr. Kimo will help us examine the awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and skills needed to learn how labels can limit us and how universals can connect us.
• Defining Normal: Working Together to Improve Life for Young People in Foster Care ~ Panel consisting of HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Boards will review the new federal law that sets out guidelines for child welfare agencies to improve a young person’s social capital and give resource caregivers more opportunities to act as a natural parent would in relation to everyday activities. This workshop, developed and facilitated by current and former foster youth, will review the law, provide the youth voice of experience and recommendations for those working with foster youth and resource caregivers. Participants will work in small groups to discuss possible methods and solutions around normalcy and prudent parenting.
• What??? Use a Weighted Backpack??? presented by Valerie Chang of the Department of Health. Valerie will help us understand praxis, the ability to conceptualize, plan, organize, and carry out a sequence of unfamiliar actions, why it is important for our youth and how to help youth develop this skill.
• Beyond a Label ~ Presenter Francesca Weems is a native of the Big Island and entered the foster care system at the age of 8 years old. She has defied statistics for foster children, going on to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a Master’s in Education. After living away from home for 10 years, Francesca made her return to islands this year to work as a Sports Anchor/ Reporter for Hawaii News Now. Francesca will inspire you and answer your questions about how she beat the odds.
This event is funded by the Hawai‘i Court Improvement Program and the Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation, supported by the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services, EPIC `Ohana and First Circuit Family Court and coordinated by Family Programs Hawai‘i.
