Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 4, 1 April 1986 — Maui Foster Parent Program Needs Kokua [ARTICLE]

Maui Foster Parent Program Needs Kokua

"We neeel more homes to prevent inappropriate plaeements in institutions, or leaving children on their own." This is the plea being made by the Maui Foster Parent Program through Barbara Mickey, social worker. The program is a service of Maunaoiu Youth Residential Shelter working in cooperation with Children's Plaee, the Department of Social Services and Housing and Family Court.

It provides outreach to the community with information about the needs and problems of children and educational opprotunities on issues of eoneem such as: Communications skills — how to talk to kids so they listen; methods of discipline; how to deal with drug and aleohol abuse; law violations and family conflicts. An estimated 700 children statewide, 70 on Maui, were placed in foster care last year and most of the homes already certified are filled to capacity.

"There is a desperate need for certified homes statewide, and particularly on Maui, to meet the needs of infants and adolescents. Those in need are from all ethnic and socioeeonomie groups within our state," Mickey said in a letter to Ka Wai Ola O OHA. "lt is important," she pointed out, "to develop foster homes wi'th a wide range of backgrounds, skills and values to meet the diverse need."

Mickey points out that many children who need foster care eome from families who just don't have good parenting skills. Others, she observes, may eome from homes where there is drug or aleohol abuse; where there is physical abuse or neglect; or where there is a temporary family crisis. Interested parties may contact the Maui Foster Parent Program at telephone 244-9679 for more information.