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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.016 1998-2000 Councilman Curtis Tyler, Chair - r RECFJVEO Committee on Human Services Hawai'I county Council ~"1°"-_.~ ~Y---"`_"--"- Date~_~-Council C TESTIMONY Good morning Mr. Chairman and members of the Council. My name is Stewart Hussey, President of the Board of the Friends of the Children's Advocacy Center of East Hawaii. We are, and 1 emphasize, an atl- volunteer, non-profit organization formed to support the Children's Advocacy Center of East Hawaii. We work continually to raise funds to directly assist children who have been victims of sexual and physical abuse or neglect. All monies raised are used to meet the needs of abused children and their families when existing agencies are unable to provide for those needs. Our Client Special Needs Fund receives requests from Child Protective Services at DHS, Sexual Assault Support Services, Child and Family Service, the Hawaii Police Department and other agencies dealing with emergency or after care of these children. These requests are evaluated to insure that existing, available resources have been exhausted, or that the needs fall outside the agency regulation or that it is an emergency situation. Whenever possible, donations of goods or services are used before items are purchased or monies expended. The Friends_volunteers - Comm. No. (5 ~ • 0 I 131e Na g ~ p Ref. To: p~-^^f~ ~SEDG Ref. Date 4' 99 have worked closely with businesses and the community-at-large to secure donations in order to stretch every dollar. Some examples of the assistance our Client Special Needs Fund provides are: Gas coupons or transportation assistance is provided for families living in rural areas such as Puna, who must travel to Hilo for counseling, an absolute essential in repairing the emotional wounds inflicted on abused children; We sometimes provide folding mattresses, a donated bed, minimal furniture or household goods for families separated by emergency removal. Educational support is another aspect of the Client Special Needs Fund. For victims of abuse, especially sexual abuse, being like everyone else at school is very critical to their self-esteem and continued recovery. While school supplies, field trips, school pictures or a graduation cap and gown are taken for granted by most students, for abused children, the lack of these things are indicators that they are different because they have been abused. Small individual requests go a long way towards helping large numbers of children who would otherwise go without. Sometimes, abused children fall behind academically because their physical or emotional injuries prevent them from attending school regularly. Tutoring is provided to help them catch up and keep up. Restoring self-esteem is an important aspect in the recovery of an abused child. Receiving gifts and recognition on special occasions is important. Though small perhaps in dollar ampunts, receiving even one gift for Christmas is important. Three hundred children received donated or purchased gifts last year when they qualified by not getting ANY gifts from any other source. Being able to play soccer because someone paid your dues and for your uniform is important. Taking hula lessons even when you think you're ugly because your mother's boyfriend sexually abused you is important. The Friends are committed to assistina a victim in having some childhood. We oav for them because they have paid too dearly in so many horrible ways.. The Friends continue to raise money through various civic organizations and activities such as the annual Phantom fundraiser, etc. The money is used to maintain the Center, underwrite the Client Special Needs Fund and further specialized training in sex abuse investigations for police, prosecutors and social workers, Client needs are constantly changing and vary greatly from child to child. We started this quest in 1991 with assisting 79 children and expending $2,441. Sadly, the quest continues with 898 children in 1998 and expending over $55,000 to meet their needs. Meeting these needs is critical to the healing process. As we work with the community agencies involved in child abuse cases, we know it makes a difference. We can see it, we hear it from the judges, police, attorneys, social workers and most importantly, the kids. We try to fill the cracks so children will not fall through and be lost. We are the last stop when no other resource is available. We do not duplicate anyone else's services. We are all volunteers. AI? of the County money we receive will go directly to client services. The Friends of the Children's Advocacy Center of East Hawaii thank you for your sincere consideration of our request to continue funding for these vital services and enabling our community's response system to assist sexually and physically abused children.