It Takes an 'Ohana
Hawaii's Foster Care ResourceIt Takes an ‘Ohana is a program of Family Programs Hawaii. We provide the latest news in foster care and updates to Hawaii’s child welfare laws. For more information on foster care and strengthening families in Hawaii, visit our main website by clicking the button below.
Skills for Success
Family Programs Hawaii’s (FPH) new program, Skills for Success, will start this February! This interactive, six consecutive week training program is for Youth ages 14-18 who are currently in foster care AND their resource caregivers. Upon completion, interested youth can be connected to career shadowing as well as receive a gift card. Resource caregivers will receive six training hours! Follow link for flyer with times and dates plus more information.
Trainings will be on listed topics: (1) social well being, (2) physical well being, (3) Financial, (4), Housing, (5) Intellectual potential, and (6) Employment, Career. Youth will learn soft skills in these different areas that’ll help prepare them for adulthood and resource caregivers will receive suggestions on how to support youth in the different topic areas. All training will take place at FPH, 250 vineyard Street, Honolulu. Click on this link to see flyer with dates and times:
Skills4Success
Contact Judy Adviento, MSW at (808) 540-2559 to RSVP or ask questions.
ITAO Book Club Starts New “Live” Meetings
ITAO is trying something new with the Book Club this year by changing from an on-line forum to meeting in person! We will talk about our current book using questions from the DHS Alternative Verification Form, making it easy to fill in the DHS form to receive the 5.25 DHS training credit hours for the book plus a certificate for an additional training credit hour, thus fulfilling the annual training credit hours with the DHS. Neighbor Islanders can join us via the internet. Details of the first “live” meeting are:
DATE: April 13, 2016
TIME: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
LOCATION: Family Programs Hawaii, 250 Vineyard Street, Honolulu
BOOK: Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Through the generous support of the Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation, we are able to provide copies of the book to the first 15 people who get back to us saying they want to join us for the April Book Club meeting.
If you are ready to join or have questions, contact Judith at (808) 540-2540 or at jwilhoite@familyprogramshi.org.
Thank you for all you do to help children and youth!
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2015 Legislation Session
Follow link to learn about law changes made at this year’s legislature.
National Center for Child Welfare Excellence Offers Curricula
The National Center for Child Welfare Excellence has produced several curricula related to key issues in child welfare. Titles include:
• Reaching Higher: A Curriculum for Foster/Adoptive Parents and Kinship Caregivers Caring for LGBTQ Youth
• Reaching Higher: Increasing Competency in Practice with LGBTQ Youth in Child Welfare Systems
• Making it Possible: Permanency Pathways for Older Youth in Care
• Assessing Adult Relatives as Preferred Caretakers in Permanency Planning: A Competency-Based Curriculum
Each features a facilitator’s guide and handouts for participants.
Follow link to learn more.
Matt Levi Investigates – Hawaii’s Foster Families
Former foster child Matt Levi’s recent episode regarding foster care in Hawaii is well done. I hope you will take the time to view it, for its focus is on the positive difference dedicated foster parents and social workers have on children and families. Follow links to watch.