HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0626.008 2022-2024 P/ Council .
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GOMM.624
TESTIMONY provided by
Dawn Rego-Yee, LSW
Resilient Communities, Schools and Families Project Director
Ceeds of Peace
Before the 1-'611 Qt-S
HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL
January 10, 2024 @09:00 s 4
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Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 � ?"`
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In consideration and support of BILL 108 Draft 2 w 'r
Relating to Sustainability, Climate, Equity,and Resilience
I am writing in firm support of Bill 108 D2, as it will benefit all Hawai'i County residents,from kupuna to
keiki, by ensuring access to safe, compassionate services and resources to live and thrive.These revisions
align with the County's commitment to sustainability, climate action,equity, and resilience.They will
help equitably coordinate policies and programs, using a trauma-informed approach to support all of our
residents and especially our underserved and vulnerable populations who struggle daily to afford
stability and security.
I am the Project Director at Ceeds of Peace overseeing the Resilient Communities, Schools and Families
(RCSF) Project as well as an independent trauma informed care trainer and consultant.This is a
collaborative, pilot project with 5 partner DOE public schools including Honaunau Elementary in South
Kona and Mountain View Elementary in Puna on Hawai'i Island.The goal of our project is the support
and activation of school communities through knowledge and awareness about trauma and trauma
informed care,greater access to services, intentional relationship building and community schools. We
have built our project around centering the needs of our schools and communities, leveraging resources
and connections and moving at the pace of trust and pilina (relationships).We recognize our families and
communities as experts and our greatest source of strength and wealth of resources.
The RCSF project was conceived in 2019 and began amidst a worldwide pandemic in 2020. It has
provided over 20 trauma informed care professional development sessions to our partner schools
teachers, administrators and staff and in addition to informal coaching and technical assistance for one-
on-one and small group support.These professional development sessions covered topics such as
adverse childhood experiences,vicarious and secondary trauma, brain sciences, protective factors and
cultural and historical trauma.Within these sessions,educators have been able to find space to
recognize their own personal stories, stressors and traumas as well as the possible stories,stressors and
traumas their students may also bring into the classroom.The actions they see in the classroom may
have a deeper meaning when they are able recognize, pause and shift from asking"what's wrong with
you?"to "what happened to you?"We have heard in feedback following these trauma informed care
professional development sessions that they planned to utilize techniques learned within the classroom
in small and bring ways including daily breathing practices and check-ins.These simple yet impactful
interactions work to bring more space and empathy into the classroom and help to meet the students
and teachers where they are at in supporting their learning and growth.
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Ref. To:
Ref. Date JAN 1 0 21 '
Knowledge,awareness and understanding about trauma is one big step toward a more empathetic and
supportive environment.We also must continue to uplift,fund and eliminate barriers to places,spaces
and services that support healing. It is also imperative that we examine how systems continue to
contribute to the stressors and traumas and how these systems need to shift to create a more equitable
and just society. We cannot merely understand trauma,we must create and shift societies, policies and
practices to create supportive, healing and just communities.
These amendments enhance the OSCER's mission to make it more efficient and sustainable for everyone
who lives,works,and plays in the County of Hawaii. It will also reinforce the County's commitment to
creating a "trauma-informed county"to service its residents better and improve community health and
wellness outcomes. I strongly urge the Council to consider and support this bill.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony in support of Bill 108 D2.
Respectfully,
Dawn Rego-Yee, LSW