Please click here for the presentation from the HE'E Special Meeting on July 16, 2014.
Planning Meeting: Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 9:00-11:00am at The Learning Coalition, 841 Bishop Street, Suite 301. (Validated Parking at Ali'i Place, 1099 Alakea Street).
At the last Planning Meeting on July 22, after discussion on prospective Coalition priority ideas, Coalition members decided to focus on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), specifically, strategies to highlight and advocate for the survey. After an informative presentation by Tonya Lowery St. John and Susan Saka at the Special meeting on July 16, the group felt energized to work on this topic.
In the Special Meeting presentation, we learned that there are a number of obstacles to taking the survey. One obstacle is the lack of understanding of the survey, for example, how it can identify important trends in youth behavior and how the survey can be used to qualify for federal grants. Another obstacle is having the survey be "opt-in," where parents must give active consent for student to take survey. Our understanding is in most states, the survey is "opt-out," where a parent can choose for their child not to participate in the survey. Other coalitions in the health and human services arena such as PHOCUSED, or community organizations such as Adult Friends for Youth also aim to heighten the awareness of the YRBS survey, and there is opportunity for HE'E to partner with such groups to outreach and advocate. Finally, we also see the survey as a potential tool BOE could use to set policy and the DOE could use as an indicator to fulfill certain goals in the Strategic Plan, in particular, in areas of safety and well being of students.
Another area the group expressed interest in is learning more about the Ho'opono Mamo project, a new juvenile justice diversion system designed to guide youth away from the juvenile justice system to a pathway of supportive programs to help them address those issues that may be leading to risky or harmful behavior.. For more information click here.
For other presented ideas such as Safe Routes to Schools, Breakfast Before the Bell and the Statewide Afterschool Network, the group decided to keep following these issues, and ask the key organizations leading action on these issues to keep the Coalition informed of their progress.
At the next Planning Meeting we will continue discussion on how to organize action on YRBS. We will also start brainstorming on ideas to support in upcoming legislative session.
HE'E News
Keiki Caucus and 2014 Children and Youth Summit Planning
HE'E has started to participate in Keiki Caucus and 2014 Children and Youth Summit Planning meetings this year. Keiki Caucus members include state senators and representatives and a community resource group of children and youth advocates and providers, who assist the caucus with identifying priority areas for children and youth in Hawaii.
The Children and Youth Summit, which will take place this year on Friday, October 10, 201, is an opportunity for youth to identify their priority areas and assist the Legislature in identifying key children and youth issues that need to be addressed in the 2015 Legislative session.
Keiki Caucus meetings are held on the third Monday of the month from 12:00-2:00pm at the State Capitol Please click here for a meeting schedule for the year. If you are interested in joining the Keiki Caucus or the Planning team for the 2014 Children and Youth Summit, please contact cheri@heecoalition.org.
HE'E Member News
Hawaii International Dyslexia Association (HIDA) is offering a series of three of its most popular workshops, to be held in the Fall in collaboration with Wayland Baptist University Hawai'i Campus in Mililani Mauka.
The workshops will be held on Saturday mornings at WBU's campus in Central Oahu. A certificate of attendance will be issued upon request.
- September 6: When Children Struggle to Read
- September 20: Dyslexia Simulations (interactive workshop)
- October 4: Help/Support for Struggling Readers (an overview)
HE'E meeting notes posted on http://www.heecoalition.org/resources/hee-meeting-notes/
