HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.019 1996-1998 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.
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I hope this has clarified Family _apport Services participation in this coliu~orative effort with the
Department of Education. It ensures a brighter future for the teen age pazents and their children here in
West Hawaii. As you can see no illegal acts have taken place, either by Konawaena staff or Family
Support Services.
Please feel free to call me if you have any further questions regarding this matter.
S~ cerely yours,
~
Cynthia .Salley
President