Ho'oikaika Annual Conference 2024

Weaving cultural values with western best practices to reduce instances of in home family violence. Providing a safe and nurturing home for keiki can have long lasting social, emotional and physical health benefits. 

The workshop will explore the ideas of losing ourselves as a result of Vicarious/Secondary or Complex Trauma and the importance of finding our paths to well being in order to help heal, guide, and care for others.  

Throughout history and in personal life, many challenges can lead to profound loss. Grief can extend beyond death, echoing from separation, injustice, trauma, and even everyday disconnections. During these distressing times, children are often the last to be considered. Reflecting on both generational and present experiences can reveal what is helpful and what hurts. In communities that value family, making such changes that support the individual can introduce new challenges, both internal and external. How do we process the nuances of loss across family and community members? This interactive, grief-informed presentation will be child-centered and family-focused. From educational, developmental, and leadership perspectives, presenters will explore collective stories, self-reflection, and the delicate process of acknowledging change while honoring personal narratives.

On June 14, 2023, Mālama ‘Ohana was signed into law by Governor Green signifying the State's commitment to uplift the voices of 'ohana and keiki affected by the Child Welfare System. Through the Hawaiʻi Office of Wellness and Resilience the Mālama ‘Ohana Working Group, listening sessions were held throughout the state to bring community partners together with those with lived experiences to improve and transform the child welfare system. Uplifting the voices of parents and youth with lived experience, building collaboration between community and state and deep listening are critical components for authentic transformation in our approach to support some of our most vulnerable families and children.  Venus will be sharing the process and the highlighted recommendations from those gatherings, next steps and how you can be involved.

Domestic violence is often discussed and responded to as a private incident that occurs behind closed doors. However, we know that domestic violence doesn’t harm just the immediate victim/survivor: it impacts our communities. This session will work to deepen understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, the impact of domestic violence on survivors, families and communities, and equip participants with tools to better support survivors and their children in healing and safety.

This session will be led by parents who have helped to write a publication which promotes a new way of supporting families when they are facing challenging times. The authors are promoting a different way for mandated reporters to work with families.  They will be discussing effective strategies that these reporters have used in other states. These strategies include: helping families identify their protective factors, linking them to community resources, creating new family engagement tools and using parent navigators to help develop these strategies. Building pilina (relationship, community) involves making a paradigm shift in the way families and providers relate to one another. Too often, families are reluctant to seek services for fear of being reported. It is our communities -- which includes educators, neighbors, medical professionals, social workers and service providers -- that have the kuleana (responsibility) and opportunity for connecting families to supports which will help prevent child abuse and neglect from happening.  This panel will talk about how supporting families helps protect children. This session is their Kahea or Call to Action: Support families rather than report them, and learn new ways you can get involved.