HCAP Weekly January 21, 2019

Head Start Parent Sets Career Goals
District Service Center Staff Attend Training for Upcoming Tax Services Program
Kumuhonua Resident Moves into Hale Ulu Pono Facility
Central STEM Students Piece Together Bones with “Excavation Kit”
Leahi District Service Center Staff Do Community Outreach

Head Start Parent Sets Career Goals

Tammie first contacted the Central District Service Center after Stevi, her daughter’s teacher at Aiea I Head Start, referred her for help in creating a resume. Tammie is a single mom of three young children who was looking for a daytime job, so that she could spend more quality time with them. Tammie works in the evening as a cashier, gets off work when her kids are already asleep, and is often too exhausted to help them with homework.

As part of services provided by the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program, Central District Service Center staff was able to help Tammie create a resume; this led to her being hired as a Substitute Assistant Teacher with HCAP’s Head Start Program. This new position has allowed her to cut back on her evening work hours and have more time with her children. Tammie now envisions a career path that includes becoming an Assistant Teacher and one day obtaining the credentials to become a Teacher. She wants to set a good example for her children and show them how it’s possible to achieve their goals.

District Service Center Staff Attend Training for Upcoming Tax Services Program

HCAP’s Income Tax Services/Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Program will begin in February, but staff from HCAP’s District Service Centers have already begun prepping for the ins and outs of tax filing. In mid-January, staff from the Kalihi-Palama District Service Center, Leahi District Service Center, and Leeward District Service Center attended volunteer training sessions at Leeward Community College and Chaminade University. The Hawaii VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program trainers demonstrated how to use VITA’s professional tax software, walked participants through tax filer scenarios, and informed the attendees of tax deduction changes under President Trump’s new tax law.

Kumuhonua Resident Moves into Hale Ulu Pono Facility

Jesus had been living at the Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center since February 2017. He enjoyed taking care of plants, and in fact, relished his time maintaining the garden as part of community service work. During his stay at Kumuhonua, Jesus worked closely with a case manager to achieve his goal of obtaining housing.

Through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the Coordinated Entry System (CES) process, Jesus was qualified for services from Steadfast Housing Development Corporation, which helps individuals who receive mental health treatment find suitable housing options. Steadfast Housing helped Jesus obtain housing at Hale Ulu Pono.

This past November, Jesus moved into his unit at Hale Ulu Pono, a three-story, 72-unit housing facility across from Kumuhonua. With the assistance of Hale Ulu Pono staff Jere, Jesus was able to get a unit with a good view of the residential complex’s garden. Kumuhonua staff wish Jesus the best in all that he has planned for the future.

Central STEM Students Piece Together Bones with “Excavation Kit”

This week at the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, a 21st Century Community Learning Center, the Central STEM Exploration Center students learned about the different bones in the human body by using an “Excavation Kit”. They pieced together bones that were dug up in order to create a human skeleton. The hands-on activity was extremely popular with the class, and they seemed to relish getting their hands dirty.

Later in the week, the class also learned about precipitation and climate. Students discussed the earth’s tilt and how we get different seasons, as well as the different types of climates found around the globe. They reviewed the water cycle, learned about the different types of precipitation, and discussed how climate differs between the northern and southern hemisphere. All in all, it was a very productive week for students.

Leahi District Service Center Staff Do Community Outreach

In recent weeks, Leahi District Service Center Community Workers Joshilyn and Mia have been doing outreach at Palolo Homes and Palolo Valley Homes. Joshilyn and Mia have gone door to door, explaining HCAP’s programs and services including the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program, Head Start Program, and Income Tax Services/Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Program.

During the outreach visits, residents were encouraged to participate in the aforementioned programs and services. One resident recently came into the Leahi District Service Center on her own after Joshilyn and Mia’s visit to complete a Head Start application. Leahi District Service Center staff have followed up with the residents and have been working closely with those who have expressed interest in HCAP’s programs and services.