HCAP Weekly November 11, 2019

HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start Co-Host Region 9 Training  
#GivingTuesday 2019
Na Lima Hana Helps Couple Obtain Employment
SCSEP Participant Obtains Social Security Credits
Windward District Service Center Establishes Partnership with Hawaiʻi State Judiciary
HCAP Head Start Staff Present at 2019 Hawaii Early Childhood Leadership Symposium and Conference

HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start Co-Host Region 9 Training

Many of HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start staff had the opportunity to attend Region 9 Head Start Association’s annual Family Engagement and Cultural Effectiveness Training. The event, which HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start co-hosted, took place at the Sheraton Waikiki from October 28th to November 1st. Staff had the opportunity to attend presentations by Head Start colleagues in the Region 9 area. Some of the topics included: father engagement, staff wellness and mental health, strategic program planning, transitioning to kindergarten, and family engagement and adverse childhood experiences in the classroom.

On the first day of the conference, Kumu Hina graced us with a beautiful oli (chant). Hawaii’s First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige provided the opening remarks, highlighting the positive impact of early childhood education, the importance of family, and the role each of us assume as educators in our children’s lives.

As co-hosts, HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start staff also helped out as volunteers, greeting conference guests, conducting set up of tables and decor, setting up arrangements, assisting with speakers during the presentations, and guiding conference attendees to presentation rooms, among other things.

The week-long event attracted over 300 attendees from across Region 9. Needless to say, everyone had an amazing time networking, hearing great and useful information, indulging in incredible food, and being surrounded by the most amazing scenery!

#GivingTuesday 2019

From now until December 3, 2019, HCAP will be holding its annual #GivingTuesday campaign to celebrate generosity throughout the giving season. As a calendar day dedicated to giving, #GivingTuesday creates a community that encourages other to give more, give smarter, and to celebrate the spirit of contribution. Help others through the gift of your time, donations, goods or your voice.

We will be highlighting our efforts leading up to #GivingTuesday on December 3, 2019. We ask that you please consider supporting HCAP on this day of giving. Click here to donate to HCAP.

Na Lima Hana Helps Couple Obtain Employment

Ward and Kelly were first referred to HCAP’s Leeward District Service Center through their transitional shelter’s housing case manager. With eight children to take care of, Ward and Kelly came to HCAP’s Leeward District Service Center looking for employment assistance. Leeward District Service Center staff quickly enrolled Ward and Kelly into the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program.

As part of the ECS Program’s Job Readiness Training (JRT), Ward and Kelly updated their resumes, learned how to highlight skills on a resume to stand out to employers, and were introduced to different job search sites to look for employment and submit applications. Leeward District Service Center staff also helped Ward and Kelly set financial goals for their family.

SCSEP Participant Obtains Social Security Credits

When Leo first enrolled in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in 2017, he did not have any income and was short of the credits needed to qualify for Social Security benefits. Fortunately, after participating in SCSEP for several years as a Groundskeeper Trainee at the Waipahu Cultural Garden, Leo has earned enough Social Security credits to be eligible for full retirement. Leo is very happy that SCSEP helped him qualify for Social Security benefits and that he now has a steady stream of income that he did not have prior to participating in SCSEP.

Windward District Service Center Establishes Partnership with Hawaiʻi State Judiciary

HCAP’s Windward District Service Center staff recently established a brand new partnership with Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s Adult Community Service Outreach Unit. The branch will refer clients to the Windward District Service Center on a monthly basis for HCAP programs and services, such as the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program, as well as for community service opportunities. With this partnership, clients will be able to move through the system faster than normal because the agencies will be working hand in hand to make sure all services are being met in a timely matter while providing clients the tools and resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency.

HCAP Head Start Staff Present at 2019 Hawaii Early Childhood Leadership Symposium and Conference

Last month, HCAP Head Start Teachers Joy Dela Cruz (Heeia Head Start), Dona Arai (Ala Wai Head Start), and Phyllis Troche (Iroquois Head Start) were selected as presenters for the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children (HAEYC) 2019 Early Childhood Leadership Symposium and Conference, which was held at the Hawaii Convention Center. They shared meaningful family engagement and classroom experiences gained from being involved with the Bennett Foundation’s Farm to Early Childhood Education program.