COM 0193.019 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Family Support Services of West Hawaii ....iv P.O. Box 1539 • Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750 April 3, 1997 Councilman John Ray 25 Aupuni St Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Councilman Ray, I am writing to clarify for you concerns expressed by Mr Tully in his letter dated April 1, 1997. Family Support Services provides assistance through a collaborative effort to both the GRADs program and Even Start program at Konawaena High School. The GRADS program focuses on encouraging pregnant teens to stay in school as long as possible throughout their pregnancy, the Even Start program shares this goal by providing child care after the birth of the baby. These both are programs of the Department of Education. The consequences of teenage childbearing are great; a high incidence of school drop out, poverty, maternal isolation and depression. Of all the girls who drop out of high school 20% do so because they are pregnant. 47% of those girls do not return ( The Governor's Office of Children and Youth, 1994). Research has established a direct correlation between years of school completed and likelihood of employment. It is apparent that, without programs like the Grads and Even Start, these teens will face a lifetime of lower earning potential and/or welfare dependency. The mission of Family Support Services is to help families and communities provide love and care for our children. To this end we offer home visiting, family support and parent education to high risk prenatal and postnatal families through our Healthy Start program. Healthy Start is a statewide program with a proven effectiveness of preventing child abuse and neglect in 98% of the families we work with. As part of the Healthy Start program we try to ensure the best prenatal outcome possible by making sure that pregnant moms get adequate prenatal care. We provide transportation to medical appointments for both mom and baby if the family does not have transportation. Of the teens referred to in the incident by Mr Tully four were minors the rest having reached the age of majority. As part of the Department of Education procedures for the GRADS and Even Start program there were parental permission forms on file for participation in the program which included transportation to medical visits. If you have any questions about parental permission you can call Brian Nakashima, the Konaweana principal, to address Mr Tully's charge that permission was obtained after the fact. As these are DOE programs the permission must be obtained by them not Family Support Services. Family Support Services was acting at the request of a DOE teacher to transport the students to their prenatal check ups. Please be advised however, as a result of the harassment by Mr Tully, of Family Support Services staff, through the use of unauthorized video taping and threats of a publicly televised expose of clients without their permission, I have advised all staff to not transport students from any school campus, • regardless of parental permission. Unfortunately, this will only overburden DOE teachers and administrators and hopefully not impact the health of students and their babies. Comm: No: Ref. To: ? �� Ref. Date qk‘SktIkcil A United Way Agency