HCAP WEEKLY May 27, 2024

Early Outreach to Kūpuna for H-HEAP Services

In May, HCAP’s District Service Centers are busy scheduling visits with kūpuna and vulnerable community sites island wide to begin the early processing of Hawai’i Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP) Energy Credit applications.

For anyone that needs help with paying their past due electric or gas bills, applications are being accepted for HCAP’s Energy Crisis Intervention (ECI) program. With the new partnerships formed in the community, several new sites were added to begin in-person processing for the program.

Being able to provide this early outreach to kūpuna is especially nice because it allows staff members the chance to get a head start on H-HEAP applications and it gives the kūpuna the opportunity to apply for this much needed program.

Many times, kūpuna have difficulty understanding the complexity of the program and the requirements or just need help with completing their applications. Everyone was happy to see the staff and for many just to simply have someone to have a nice conversation with.

This year the H-HEAP staff started a few weeks earlier so that they could receive on the job training before the program opens for the general public on June 3rd.

Click Here to learn more about H-HEAP.

Leeward Client Obtains Employment at KFC to Support Family

Jace, a HCAP client from Waianae, recently sought assistance from the Leeward District Service Center in obtaining employment to contribute to supporting his family financially. Once he completed his job readiness training, he quickly found a role working at fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

He was extremely motivated to obtain employment after having been out of work for a while. For his job at KFC, Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) assisted Jace in receiving work clothes and a HOLO card for transportation to assist him with the first month at his new job. Jace and his family lived at a transitional home where they were set to stay for a year. Within that year, the family was able to make a successful transition to a permanent home.

Jace is enjoying his job and learning very quickly. He is also interested in attending Honolulu Community College but is not certain on his next step quite yet. In the meantime, he is grateful to be working and maintaining a steady income. HCAP congratulates Jace on his new journey.

Click Here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Nanakuli II Head Start Students Visit the Library and Build Marble Mazes

The Head Start keiki and their parents from Nanakuli II took a field trip to the Nanakuli Public Library. While there the keiki learned about the library, its importance in their community, rules of the library, how to take care of the books, and how to apply for a library card.

They also engaged in story time with the librarian. Field trips are an exciting way for parents to engage in their child’s early childhood education experience. They provide reinforcement of concepts learned within the classroom as real-life experiences to practice and develop essential skills and ignites children’s curiosity. Thank you to all parents that were able to join!

The keiki at Nanakuli II were also busy learning about various types of balls, buoyancy, gravity and rolling. As an extension of their study, the keiki participated in a marble maze and created a marble run with their families while at home. During outside play, the keiki worked together and constructed a ping pong ball run out of cardboard and tape.

Click Here to learn more about HCAP’s Head Start & Early Head Start Program.