HCAP WEEKLY March 7, 2022

HCAP Wraparound Services Support Mother and Daughter Impacted by COVID-19

Edwina reached out to HCAP’s Windward District Service Center after receiving disconnection notices from Hawaiian Electric Co. and GASCO. Her financial hardships had begun in June ‎2021, when she contracted COVID-19 while on a trip to visit her son in California‎. ‎She ended up spending ‎3 ‎½ months in the hospital, due to organ failure from respiratory issues‎. ‎Once her condition was stable, she had to spend another ‎5 ‎weeks in rehab before she could return home to Hawai’i‎. Meanwhile, Edwina’s employer had placed her on a temporary leave of absence with no pay‎. Edwina applied to receive general assistance from welfare, but with no income, her utility bills piled up. Edwina and her daughter were faced with utility disconnection. 

Edwina was immediately referred and approved for an Emergency Crisis Intervention (ECI) through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which went toward her past-due electric bill. Windward District Service Center staff helped Edwina to apply for additional utility assistance through HCAP’s Hale Kākou Program, which took care of her past-due gas payment. Staff also delivered an emergency food box to Edwina’s home, provided by HCAP’s Kōkua Food Assistance Program. Both the Hale Kākou and Kōkua Food Assistance programs are made possible by CARES Act federal funds.

Nakita, Edwina’s daughter, enrolled in HCAP’s Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program. She shared with staff her dream of going back to school and earning a degree, so that she could obtain a better job and care for her ill mother. Staff provided Nakita with information on HCAP’s vocational assistance training program, and personally recommended her to Windward Community College’s Certified Nurse’s Aide program. With wraparound services from HCAP providing comprehensive support, Edwina is able to focus on her health, and Nakita is on her way to achieving her career goals.

Head Start Keiki Hatch Butterflies

Kunia lll Head Start keiki are learning about the butterfly life cycle, which includes four stages of metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa and adult. While excitedly observing two of the four stages in real time, keiki made connections between their learned knowledge and observations.

They enjoyed seeing the caterpillars (larva stage) consuming their leafy meals and predicting the butterfly’s (adult stage) hatching from the chrysalis (pupa stage). At Maunawili Head Start, the keiki observed and interacted with beautiful butterflies (adult stage).

HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start applications for the 2022-2023 school year are open now! Click Here for more information and how to enroll your keiki.

Nā Lima Hana Participant Pursues Healthcare Career Goals

Leutu came to HCAP’s Leeward District Service Center seeking tuition assistance through the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program. She had learned about the ECS Program from an instructor at Leeward Community College’s Medical Assisting Program. Since beginning her journey in the ECS Program, Leutu has completed her coursework, obtained certification from the National Healthcareer Association, and is now a Certified Medical Assistant. When Leutu began a new position at Primary Care Clinic of Hawaiʻi, ECS staff even helped Leutu with purchasing her medical scrubs. Leutu recently decided to continue her education by pursuing nursing school, and is studying for her entrance exams. Leeward District Service Center staff are proud of all that Leutu has accomplished thus far, and are rooting for her continued success in nursing school.

HCAP Head Start Parent Becomes Family Advocate

HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start recently welcomed a new Family Advocate, Kalae Pedro. Kalae is married and a mother of three children, who have been participating in Head Start since 2018. As a stay-at-home mom, Kalae volunteered as the Nanakuli Parent Committee Chairperson & Policy Council Representative from 2018-2020, during which time she worked alongside her Family Advocate to lead Head Start’s first Family Hui session. The Family Hui program strives to provide a safe place for families to find support and share their parenting experiences. As the class representative, Kalae encouraged other parents to attend Parent Meetings and Family Hui sessions. Through her active involvement, Kalae has built relationships with other Head Start parents and established a strong support system.

Kalae recently learned about open positions with HCAP through her current Family Advocate, and her son’s Head Start Assistant Teacher encouraged her to apply. When asked why she wanted to work for HCAP Head Start, Kalae responded, “I wanted to give back to the program that has helped with my children’s learning and has provided support to my family since we became a part of the Head Start program in 2018.” Kalae will soon begin working toward obtaining her Family Development Credential, which will help her to succeed in her new role as a Family Advocate.