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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0138.005 2008-2010 Feb 18 2009 6:54PM HP LASERJET FRX:, P.1 P/CoutiCEL eliminating racism empowering women COMCr . ywca facsimile YWCA of Hawaii Island - T: 808-961-3877 Healthy Start Program F: 808-961-9140 1382 Kilauea Avenue myw.ywcahawaiiisland.org t' Hilo, Hawaii 96720 To: ~~Yl I /~O~ iTQ1~Gif t t Date: Cam. U31 t t ~-Ul lVt t From: y - Phone: CC: Fax: Q 1 J_ e6 9 1 Z Total Number of Pages Including Cover: Subject !1 9 V ry.~. E]Urgent E For Review Please Comment Please Reply For Your IrttDrrrtatiolCp 44- Comments: z i- cam. Oef. Tot V('Inenl6d Cowl.; Ref. Dote FEB 18 200.9 Important Confidentiality Notice This message and any attachments are solely for the person or organization to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the sender at the e-mail address above. Feb 18 2009 8:54PM HP LBSERJET FAX p.2 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing in regards to Healthy Start program being cut. I would like to let you know that the in home visits I receive from Healthy Start have helped me in times of stress with the children. When I have needed a question answered about why my child is acting a certain way and what I can do to help them and I they have always been there to help me. Growing up I was abused, and now when I talk to my mom and tell her that I am in this program she thanks God that there is someone out there to help teacb we how to raise my children better than she did me. There is always one question she asks me, "Why did they not have some program like this for me when you were growing up. I am so sorry for doing those things to you; I just did not know any better or have anyone to help show me different." Please do not cut the Healthy Start Program. Just know that if you are trying to save money this might not be the way to go because the cost in hospital bills, foster placement, and other doctor bills that you may inquire from mental health to therapy may cost more. Please take this into consideration. Thank you in advance, Sandra Leyva Cantu 15-915 Punawai Street Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (III IS) Feb 18 2009 8:54PM HP LnSERJET FHX P.3 i5-DG 10 0;,lI -k~ Mivhf , WACv- VV.1iI CL'1GtYY f / ~n 1 S~ ayA j S a oyetAt nmo-% 1 d VvAs S avcd Y&L, ~trs~ ~~mc„ Siv1~1C, ~vtlFclre v~no'f'ner~ ~^ovn VSir9 VAOW- i'Ax ~oli(avS uv~v,eccewrit'. S cam Cull -1 2wt avvl mk. ~~tar1S ubo~1 w,~ Y~QWin sbv1~ he[t4pUt, w,44,,out htnv,v,c~ }o fat Ww, 4,b iVit C. 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Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (I-H-IS) To Whom It May Concern: The services that the Healthy Start Program provides are essential for our community. These families have a better chance at life with this help. Prevention is the key, why wait till something bad happens then try to fix it. Remember prevention cost less then intervention. The services and support that the Healthy Start Program gives to families are invaluable for some that have no other means of support or information. The Healthy Start Program is their life line. Raising children right is not something that comes naturally for some parents and children don't come with an instruction manual. For these families that this program reaches, it is a crucial part in what kind of parenting they do and the results are a stronger foundation for the family. Our Children of Hawai'i deserve all the help we can give them to build a better future. Please don't leave our families and children without the resources and support they need to survive and succeed. We ask that you please continue to support and fund the Healthy Start Program 7miUyemura 146 Palani St_ Hilo, HI 96720 Feb 18 2009 8:54PM HP LRSERJET FRX P.5 Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS) Dear Linda Lingle, I know there are going to be budget cuts but why are you going to cut a program that helps new moms and their kids? From my own experience, if Healthy Start hadn't come into my life, my children and I would be in a much worse position. Before Healthy Start came into our lives, this is what it was like at our house: My husband was abusive to me. He would also wake me up several times a night to hurt me, he would provide no financial support, would not let me work, was consistently on drugs, and insisted I stay on state welfare or food stamps to support him. Unfortunately, during the day, I was so exhausted because of the nightly abuse and so angry and shamed that I did not know how to treat my two little boys with anything but anger, or I was too tired to deal with them. I knew it wasn't right and I wanted to change, I wanted to relate to my children with love but I didn't know who to turn to for help because I felt so alone. Then when I had my daughter in the Hilo hospital, Healthy Start was offered to me and I accepted their services. Then our lives changed: Marie, from Healthy Start, brought me all kinds of information about raising kids, why they do things, how to handle situations appropriately, proper ways to discipline..... And finally I told her about the abuse that I was going through and what I saw my husband doing to the kids. She got CPS involved and the cycle of abuse and violence was stopped. The healing didn't happen right away, but with Marie's help, it did happen. She kept bringing information, got me counseling, and parenting classes. She never treated me like a bad person, she simply helped me to become more of the mother I wanted to be. I cried when my oldest son, who has Down syndrome, called me mom and hugged me. I thought it would never have been possible after what we had been through. I would hate to think what my children would still be going through if she hadn't come to teach me about raising kids and what was healthy and acceptable in relationships. My kids would have been raised with nothing but anger-what kind of adults would that have made them? With Marie able to come out to our house I didn't have any excuses about driving or if I even had a car. I wish I had known about Healthy Start on my first child. The abuse wouldn't have happened. I don't lay awake crying about it anymore because I know I can't change the past, I am just happy to know that Healthy Start was available so that the abuse stopped. If Healthy Start gets cut, how many other kids will have to go through what mine did, without this program offered to help them? Sometimes parenting doesn't seem to come naturally and I feel very strongly that Healthy Start should be available so that parents can have help available. They come to the hospital when a mom gives birth. Right away their help is offered! That is how I found out about them. My first son had so many complications and was born on a different island, I don't know if it was offered and my second son was born at home. Not till my daughter was born did I know about them. I wish I had known about Healthy Start sooner. Things would never have had to get as bad as they did. Feb 18 2009 8:55PM HP LRSERJET FAX P,6 If this program is cut, it will be a sad day for all the children they could have helped. Of course, if they do get cut the judges will probably need their 10% raise because they will most likely be seeing a lot more cases of abuse and the children of abusive situations that grow to be abusive adults. Sincerely, Rebecca R. Z Feb 18 2009 6:55PM HP LRSERJET FRX p.7 Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS) February 2, 2009 To Whom It May Concern: As a former participant of the Healthy Start Program I was astonished to hear that Governor Linda Lingle plans to "abolish" this program. My heart goes out to all the families that would lose the opportunity to be serviced by such a wonderful and helpful program. The Healthy Start Program provides the extra support to families that are in dire straights. Some of these families have no where else to turn to for guidance and acceptance. My family participated in the Healthy Start Program for three and a half years. At the time my second child was bom, I was married but separated. I had endured abuse at the hands of my husband and he could not get a grip on his addiction to crystal meth. I remember feeling very scared holding my newborn and the thought of having to raise this child without a father made me weak. I knew that my own immediate fancily would be there for me but I still felt very alone. Before I was discharged from Hilo Medical Center a worker from the Healthy Start Program came to give me a basket with a Snugli, baby's fast book and community resources. She then asked if I would complete a Parent Survey with her and I agreed. My mother was there with me at the time this worker was asking me all kinds of questions about my past and present situation. My mother and I talked this workers ear off and shared lots of personal information. At the time I did not even realize that the questions she was asking me were to determine if I needed extra support. And of course I did!! I was excited to enroll in the Healthy Start Program and was interested to learn anything and everything about my newborn. Within a week I received a phone call from my Family Support Worker and had our 'i visit shortly after that. My FSW came to my home, which I thought was awesome because with a new baby getting out of the house can be a chore. We talked about the program and different aspects that it offers. She had lots of helpful information about my newborn. Above all of this she just listened to me and passed no judgment. This was a blessing that someone would take time to come to my home and be that extra support that I needed. During the next couple of months my FSW helped me through a restraining order hearing and a divorce. It was all the extra support and fountain of information that gave me the will to push through my adversity. Even with all this chaos going on my FSW was always there and never gave up on me. As time passed on my FSW became a part of my family. Every time something great would happen with my children I would want to share my joy with my FSW. A year after building a relationship with my FSW, she had a personal tragedy occur in her life. When she called me I just cried. My heart broke that such a beautiful person would have to stiffer such a loss. She told me at this time that she was leaving her job to be with her family and that I would be having another worker come to my home. Part of me was so sad to lose this person that I considered to be a friend but at the same time I could not even imagine what she was going through. D~2 Feb 18 2009 8:55PM HP LASERJET FAX P.8 I received a new t®mily gupport Worker and we instantly formed a bond. At this point in the program I felt very comfortable in my role as a single parent. I had learned so much about myself and my children through the information provided by my FSW. She always provided encouragement and educational activities for my children. My FS W always praised me on the way that I handled difficult situations in my life. Again I had gained a friend, a new member to our family. At this time I myself went through a very rough situation. I was raped by a man I was dating and became pregnant. For a long time I denied that anything had happened. I was very scared and afraid. When I finally opened up and spoke to my FSW she was so supportive and spoke to me about different support options I had. Never once did she make me feel any less for what happened. She once told me she was proud of how strong I was to make the decision to keep my child. I felt stronger knowing that I had support from Healthy Start and the other resources that they referred me too. Through all of the many hard and difficult situations that occurred in my life I always knew that my FSW would be there for us. This FSW eventually became a Clinical Supervisor and I received another FSW, who was just the most awesome person. She was always cheerful, thoughtful and encouraging. This last FSW encouraged me to apply to work at the Healthy Start Program. She stayed on me and put in a good word for me. As it stands I have been working for the program for a year. In the year since I have been employed, my family has gone through many changes that have been for the better. I am surrounded by many wonderful women and men that are dedicated to the families of Hawaii. I am proud to be a part of an outstanding program that gave so much to my family. As a Family Assessment Worker I now have the privilege of giving back to a program that went above and beyond for my family. In closing I ask that you think about all the families that are suffering from abuse and neglect. They need as to be their voice and to stand up for them when they are too weak or afraid to do it themselves. If this program no longer exists then where will they turn to for help? Who is going to guide them and protect them? Please reconsider taking away the only hope these families have. Mahalo Nui Loa, i R kah Grot i HCR I Box 5 Keaau HI, 96749 adz Feb 18 2009 8:56PM HP LRSERJET FRX P.9 Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS) January 27, 2009 The Honorable Linda Lingle Governor, State of Hawaii Executive Chambers State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Governor Lingle: Family Programs Hawaii is very fortunate to be partnering with the Department of Human Services on several Child Welfare Services programs. The work done under Lillian Koller has been exciting and effective as seen in the reduction of the number of children in foster care and the lowering of re-abuse rates for our state. We are proud to be part of this systemic change. We are, however, concerned that the elimination of funds for social services, particularly Healthy Start, will significantly negate the improvements made. One of the services we offer is Voluntary Case Management, a program that works with families who have been identified by Child Welfare Services for abuse and neglect due to the existence of problems such domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness and poverty. These problems are core risk factors that the Healthy Start Program addresses in its mission to eliminate child abuse and neglect and help foster nurturing and healthy home environments for Hawaii's keiki. Healthy Start is an invaluable resource for the families we serve. If you eliminate this "front line of defense" of child abuse and neglect, programs such as ours, and the State's own Child Welfare Services, will be impacted with caseloads that will become unmanageable. More of the "risk factors" that are being addressed by Healthy Start will become substantiated abuse and neglect, resulting in more children entering the foster care system. Subsequently, our prevention and intervention programs will either loose their current effectiveness, or require expansion costing more dollars than currently being used to fund the Healthy Start Program. c L Feb 18 2009 8:56PM HP LnSERJET Fnx P.10 Linda Santos, Family Programs Hawaii January 27, 2009 Page 2 of 2 Obviously, balancing the budget in these economic times is a very serious issue and you are to be commended on your proactive planning process. We respectfully request that you reconsider eliminating an entire program that has been shown to have a substantial positive effect on parenting in our state. We wish you the best in this time of hard decisions. Sincerely, Linda A. Santos, LSW, ACSW President & CEO Zoe 7 Feb 18 2009 8:57PM HP LRSER.IET FAX P.11 Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS) The Honorable Linda Lingle Governor, State of Hawai'i Executive Chambers State Capitol Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813 Dear Governor Lingle, I am so concerned about the cuts proposed for Healthy Start. As a school administrator I have seen first hand the difference an intervention at these early ages can make. It is not always the data that gives the real picture, but the stories. I know the economic crisis has put pressure on all of our state funding, but please put the children first! Healthy children with a nurturing home life are the basis for a strong Hawaiian civilization. Many of our young parents need support to re-learn at-risk styles of raising children. Please know I adamantly support Healthy Start and plead with you to keep this program. It is such an effective way to keep our keiki safe from violence, neglect and abuse. Respectfully, I qe~ Jethelyn Gregory, Ed.D. Feb 18 2009 6:57PM HP LRSERJET FAX p.12 ReQ %-0 9 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS) JG/n. W, pie at, cc Vj- Q fin a "7,~ CWi U~ IA~Z Srt.(a / L%~~ r U k4w tkry~ Feb 18 2009 8:57PM HP LRSERJET FAX p.13 January 2(o, Z609 fo whc;m m~V ConC,~rn , My s~ has been m Ahis VtOlf in ~ln~e 200-7 Ind tit has tADed him w m his coQnil~~e ski»s fm mom OS , ud Ce1VOWw &i hp . INS pro qY a1Y1 ~l ~ S NO helped me ~s a rno~er. Pis ~ fi,~11 dime student C ~om~tim2s I q6 Ghes5ed end over wY l rne~ ,1~ur -Ahe f~ Jtr n;>e*gs MOe GUe 16CY-s dnd ~rnthy Is~1i OM 'me and my son 0~ our home really gn ITI MWe me rel~X Ind f= on my ion and hC-ipinq ~~m dnd I learn newr ays tl~ iench and x w learn ~oYn etch a~her they help Che Ism . w~Vs ~o save MOYDy and c,i J-"ch my soh 6bwi colors ,m Nnq, QM' nq ,ahd -they O helped me learn beer ways of ~iscipl+n~ny my son 1 redly dwp e6J t-e 4 ese xc nm anj 46 s proyr t~ he1p Y~ ~ b~ a 1~-~~-er ~ oar. ~ Please- do rCA c~ oaf furdm q for ~-2 ~e~~hy Sfi~r+ p~ gY~lrn . T`n~nKy vu, I? ar~nd~ ~~rr-moo Feb 18 2009 8:58PM HP LRSERJET FRX p.14 General Growth Properties, lac. I January l2, 2005 i YWCA Healthy Start 1352 Kilauea Ave. .Ello, HI 96720 To Who It May Concern, I am pleased to write this letter in supportt of the East Hawaii YWCA Healthy Start f Program. My story starts as many in Fast Hawaii do as a 16 year old teenager with a newborn. I was a single parent and in an abusive relationship. I was living at home and had no employment. 1 was ajunior in high school and I had never held it newborn baby until I held my own child. Through my high school parenting class, i my teacher connected me with all of the available resources in the community that were available to teenage parents in situations like mine, including the YWCA Healthy Start Program. Catherine Lux was my in-home family support worker and she came at a time when no one else did. Cathy (as we called her) taught me about what my child's needs were, she taught me what my child was going through and what to expect at any given stage, and most importantly how i could create the most supportive and nurturing environment for ber for my child. Given my limited capabilities as a j teenager, r am sure that without her guidance, my attempts to care for a child would not have been as gracelid as it was with her support. i In addition, I want the program to know that while Cathy's job was to teach me child-rearing skills and let me know about other services 1. could utilize, she went far beyond the call ofduty. Cathy not only helped to build a strong foundation for i my daughter, but also For myself. Cathy was there through my elhorts to return to high school, she was there through my efforts to escape an abusive relationship; SR she was there to cbeer me on when I won a teen parent scholarship that would pay for me to go to UN-Hilo. And even after my daughter and I outgrew the program, Cathy kept tabs on me all the way. Until today, 10 years Inter I still come in contact with Cathy and each time that I reached a new milestone in my life, ah°"a° whether it wns getting my Master's or getting married; 1 know that Cathy is proud nl hvP~ei,eYn SUee~ i of us and the fact that we have become positive contributing members to our Hilo, HIS672D ! Community. li&495n-]§'l Ia~60&9:93655 xwi.AAp.cm . Epee I appplpniry Enpbye Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS Feb 18 2009 8:58PM HP LFSERJET FAX p.15 General Growth Properties, Inc. i In my opinion, the East Hawaii YWCA Healthy Start Program is a crucial outreach program and continued funding should be reconsidered. It is programs like tl1c YWCA Healthy Start that network together to form a support net for all of those members of our conununity who are most at-risk. I know that any daughter and I are just one of the hundreds who have benefited from the Healthy Start Program and the tireless dedication of their staff. Now more than ever their services are needed in our community. Please consider this letter Illy utmost support for the East Hawaii YWCA Healthy Stan program. i j Sincerely, i j Kimberly Shia abuku General Manager Prince Kuhio Plaza I i i MR, Mace KuMo Mao 1 I I I r0M Pnanla Smw i No. MI 957M I:Pd755d55i tax Ml&2336$ WWWWAeo ' Fq W OOautroaitr 5lp" Zo~Z Feb 18 2009 6:58PM HP LBSERJET FAX ~AP.18 / Q J 1 V1 1 jC' wh un k~ (Y1Q11 (,b) [LC 21i, cjL~ and 131 ota-i pcmitit u~1 4 - nv'q qi~. J~ cc~rrl~ ~-i-to GJ-WA and a j-uw -a n. fn j Q~c~~rru~nnc@..weL4~~ jnC_MCknCtt^~ ,J-,"th S JwaL 'vLts naJ-k aj-)Ct--b J-U anm CLr>d Qo a tna %a. Lit~ j~[-4 Ntf*A imt -tb Jj ak )-udL .rrvj .-.-u 1~c ~&ictzban. S hoA a plau m IYUJ kilo -O p9-,~ -Lual U#U-q )Zid-&, and a moms I C,Oldd 'G (1r )d -tWk Btn),A lw.ti. OfLtn momma c) pig Jtt. Q ou 'c the , laa ~.h~nam ) yJ l a f111JSJ A L pry, a z m ` o~ -ICi aua b t' Mjj .QWJe harm a nc Wt hackfi inc C n . "~U ~ ~ tcthd- af'd Yuc'" I ou.' JJ-RLGrk.J~H ~ S+c~tk hay QsCan c~ Q-~9 ~aA- C -Op U-13 w c~h uu~ ~t#~a~zbr~ ,axe rn ~ ~ rnloh ~ . rift . -nL Ch,~d n . o an2r ~ ~ .Qr~or~c -P ?9 a) WU- a tcam anclX~a i. ~ -V-CPh J-Oho zstri mi, h~,~, QcuuttL J n- C Xt~c~ru~ u ° . ~hn C)Rk An bouwq c A and o~n Qn~ -~c cry ~u zar S m 3h~ ~ Den re,~ dTdA C~ -W~ L& 'D -~u'A morn T ~f' bUj~, I~QQIUTA~~ X~ 1J; 1 YLRa r~{ ~3J Q11 JQCi~. t ; C~' I1 ~e ~~el ~sE C~ heiue ark c c vim, . - n cY~p Tt ~I~rU ~.~xv~yu~a .~`IXT ~n~SC~1Lcu'n -a a 1) ~rrt GtL{?1~2~ ~afl ~C.C PCUt~ LVJ L~ 1 Q_ ~tYl®OhL 1 Ut't IULU J,UU YLOJ.~Ln LcLc- Z and CL YLkbJ± .Cua- hau~_ _neu~ec~ c1Z,~frJr~n Znl ~ rt c cLu u,l rrlay one D. utt - nua l.G'~lP_2i -u i C LUi C.mr n r-n VJ1~ Lt P it f r~ -u~ 01"A LL~U J' Res. 55-09 n n o , r. e, crap T.Pa Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthv Starr Prn r (LTUQ Feb 18 2009 8:59PM HP LRSERJET FAX p•17 ~ZC c h au un ,"z, C7 (J S r- 2.o-P 7 Feb 18 2009 8:59PM HP LRSERJET FAX P.18 Res. 55-09 Request Gov. & State Leg. Continue Funding Hawai'i Healthy Start Program (HHS) MR & MRS WAYNE HANGMAN 54 East Rawailani. St January 7, 2009 TO: Whom it may concern As agraduated parent of the Healthy Start program I was upset to learn that a program that was there for my family in life changing times is on the list to be abolished. The Healthy Start program came to my family at a time when a new baby brought uncertain and life changes decisions to what at the time was a rocky uncommitted relationship. It was times when questions had to be answered and not being prepared for what being a parent met made those decisions unanswerable. I do not care how much planning or unplaning goes into the idea of having a child there is just not enough information available to know how this will affect each individual family. Parents can only prepare you so far as to what the world expects because life is a learning experience. Therefore as parents we are always learning. This learning is make possible though giving parents the faith in their own abilities to make the right choices. Healthy Start accomplishes this though individual and group settings where you are given. the chance to meet and bond with those whom you may never of had a chance to encounter creating lifelong bonds of friendships that give parents faith and trust in their communities. Parents are given the chance to not only learn how to be a parent but can share and be support for other Parents and families. The Healthy Start program helps instill in not just parents but the children the ability to grow in a safe, healthy environment. Thus giving the children a better chance at a healthy productive life and giving families the power to fight though tough times without the need to destroy oneself. Therefore because of the Healthy Start Program my family as gained a tzemendcus wealth of knowledge in ourselves giving strength to our relationship. A relationship that though crisis will survive based on the bonds created though our commitment to love., faith and understanding. Si cerely, elly a gman