Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 11, 1 November 1989 — Two projects begin: elderly nutrition, help to ex-offenders [ARTICLE]

Two projects begin: elderly nutrition, help to ex-offenders

Alu Like has received two new grants to in'tiate projects in health and social services. The first project, Ke Ola Pono Na Ke Kupuna, is being funded by a $1.3 million grant for Supportive and Nutritional Services to 01der Native Hawaiians from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sen,rices, Administration on Aging. The project runs from Oct. 1, 1989 through Sept. 30, 1990 with possible continuation through 1992. The purpose of this project will be to enneh and enhanee the lives of kupuna by providing: a community-based center for project administration; nutrition services and meals; access services whieh include transportation, information, referral, and outreach services; and health enhancement including health screening and assessment, self-care training, recreation and education services. Project sites will be established on all islands except Lana'i and will provide services to 50 Native Hawaiian elders aged 60 and over. Alu Like is exploring the possibility of utilizing Hawaiian Horriestead communities on the Neighbor Islands and Lunalilo Home on O'ahu as congregate meal sitps.

The services will be available to all kupuna regardless of blood quantum. The second project is funded by the Hawai'i state Office of Health, Aleohol and Drug Abuse Branch. This $70,000, two-year project targets 50 Native Hawaiian ex-offenders and their families on O'ahu. The need for this project arose out of the high re-arrest rate of Native Hawaiian exoffenders. Of the approximately 69 percent who are re-arrested, 60 percent are re-arrested because of substance abuse violations. The purpose of this project will be to provide substance abuse awareness and education to exoffenders who are under the Department of Corrections Intensive Supervision Program. Exoffenders from this high-risk group will receive counseling services from Native Hawaiian kupuna. Efforts of the kupuna will be directed towards increasing the ex-offender's awareness of the effects of substance abuse and assisting them with re-establishing and strengthening their relationships with family members. The two goals of this project are to reduce the re-arrest rate due to substance abuse and to develop and demonstrate the effectiveness of a prevention model whieh is based on traditional Hawaiian healing practices.