A young girl used a marker to add some finishing touches to a sock puppet at the Neighborhood Place of Kona table late Friday afternoon. While drawing a pattern at the ankle of the sock, she paused, placed her new friend on her hand, and moved it side to side, inspecting her work.
“Can I take this home to play with?” she asked her mother who was casually browsing the organization’s brochure.
Napua Victorino, program services director, smiled and gave a resounding yes. For her, it was a sign that things were going as planned at the Healthy From Head 2 Toe event, which she said sought to “empower, educate and engage” adults and children.
Held at the Lanihau Center in Kailua-Kona, this wasn’t a run-of-the-mill health fair. Its organizers created a welcoming event that catered to families by offering fun activities, bags of popcorn and other goodies, and information about the participating groups and resources that exist to support youth in foster care and those dealing with mental health or behavioral challenges.
This free event also addressed issues of stigma by helping change the minds of those who may have misunderstandings, negative views or shame about their loved ones or those in these populations. It allowed attendees to network and ask questions in a less intimidating environment. By correcting misperceptions and providing educational opportunities like this one, the participating partner groups were removing the barriers to getting help and raising awareness.
Healthy From Head 2 Toe was held in conjunction with National Foster Care Month and Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
National Foster Care Month acknowledges foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals and other community members who help those in foster care find permanent homes and connections. It’s a time to “renew our commitment to ensuring a bright future for the nearly 1,200 children and youth in Hawaii,” as well as “celebrate all those who make a meaningful difference in their lives,” said Kaulana Iokia, West Hawaii community liaison for Hui Hoomalu.
In March, there were 63 children in foster care in West Hawaii, 37 of whom were Native Hawaiian, Iokia said.
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, on the other hand, celebrates the work parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, professionals and the community do to help youth with emotional or behavioral challenges. On Hawaii Island, many children deal with such challenges. As of March, the state Department of Health — Hawaii Family Guidance Center has been serving approximately 400 youth and their families islandwide, said Deanne Aoki, a mental health supervisor for DOH.
Friday’s event was the result of an ongoing collaboration between DOH and other community agencies, including the Kona Community Children’s Council, Neighborhood Place of Kona, Child &Family Service, Hawaii Families As Allies, and Partners in Development Foundation — Hui Hoomalu. These groups “share a concern or passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly,” Aoki said.
“Our goal is to bring awareness to our community and also provide information about local programs and agencies that promote healthy living for families in our neighborhood,” she said. “We hope that those who attend leave with a better sense of our Kona community resources, links to local programs, and are energized to begin or continue to live and build healthy families.”
For more information, contact Aoki at 322-1532 or deanne.aoki@doh.hawaii.gov.