Project Description:
Project Ho'omohala is a funded community under the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and Their Families, which provides grants and cooperative agreements to States. Ho'omohala (which means "evolving toward maturity" in Hawaiian) is developing a system of care to meet transitional needs of youth with emotional and/or behavioral challenges, ages 15-21 in the Kalihi-Palama (KP) area. This area is in the lowest quarter in terms of per capita income in the state. KP experiences higher unemployment, welfare and food stamp assistance than most areas on O'ahu. It has the lowest percentage of adults possessing high school diplomas and the third highest percentage of adults with disabilities in the state. Furthermore, KP has a high percentage of youth with emotional and behavioral challenges, delinquency and substance abuse.
Transition to adulthood is an especially challenging period for young people with emotional or behavioral challenges, particularly those who have been served by the foster care, juvenile justice, or special education systems. These young people are at risk for poorer outcomes in social, educational, and employment settings. Transitioning youth to adulthood has presented unique challenges for youth in Hawai'i's system, since youth under the age of 18 have been entitled to receive a comprehensive set of services (as a result of the Felix Consent Decree) while services for adults have been far more limited and less accessible.
The goal of this project is to implement a sustainable system of care encompassing the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) for young people with diagnosed emotional and/or behavioral challenges. Major system enhancements will include the use of TIP as the framework for transition specialists and the development of a Young Adult Support Organization (YASO). TIP is adapted to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Families and young people are active partners in the governing structure and evaluation process. Project Ho'omohala values an individualized and flexible approach when working with young people and their families. Each young person is encouraged to develop their own identity in a safe environment. Essential traits and life skills such as responsibility, self-determination, advocacy and leadership are modeled.
The Hawai'i Department of Health's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division is the primary grantee. Management of the grant is contracted through the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai'i. The Youth Community Center is operated by the Susannah Wesley Community Center. Dr. Hewitt B. "Rusty" Clark, creator of the TIP (http://tip.fmhi.usf.edu/)model, is serving as the lead consultant to the project. Hawai'i Families as Allies is "partnering" as the family organization. Wai Aka is providing the young adult support services. As key partners, families and youth will participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the project.
The evaluation process promotes continuous quality improvement through systematic feedback to stakeholders. The evaluation team administers and adapts evaluation activities to meet the needs of Hawai'i's diverse, multi-ethnic population. The actual evaluation process includes measures of the developmental stages that are unique to young people with emotional and/or behavioral challenges. It seeks to improve project activities and create new services to address the evolving needs of the young person and their family. This helps ensure that services remain relevant to the young person's needs and interests. Finally, it seeks to inform the young person on their transition progress and goal attainment.
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Cultural Diversity
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
