Provides an evidence-based educational curriculum, programs, practices and strategies focusing on prevention and awareness, such as underage drinking, substance abuse, cyber bullying, teen suicide, as well as life and career skills and gender-specific programming to compliment in-school curriculum and the out-of-school activities. The training and evidence-based prevention program will benefit youths ages 11 to 18 in middle and high schools (6th – 12th grade), teachers, parents, families and the community of Maui island and Moloka’i.
Youth Services
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*New* *MEO Kāohi youth program under way on Moloka‘i*![]()
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Youth in the inaugural Maui Economic Opportunity Kāohi program on Moloka‘i helped with food distribution and learned about vehicle maintenance, including changing wiper blades and fixing a tire.![]()
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MEO Youth Services brought its drugs, alcohol, smoking, bullying and suicide prevention programs to Moloka‘i through a $100,000 grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation. The program focuses on intermediate and high school age youth by offering community service, life skills and leadership activities, as well as excursions around the island.![]()
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Activities during the first week of Kāohi from June 13-17 included basic vehicle maintenance, building a cardboard castle for Head Start preschoolers and assisting in the Maui Food Bank distribution at the Moloka‘i Veterans Center.![]()
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Activities planned for this week and the rest of June include a hike to Kalae, an excursion to Lokomaikai Farm, making tie-dye shirts and growing plant starters, as well as sign making and waving for LGBT Pride Month.![]()
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For the summer, Kāohi runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday through July 29 out of the MEO Moloka‘i office, 380 Kolapa Place, Kaunakakai. When the new school year begins, Kāohi will move to after school, extended school holidays and some weekends.![]()
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Kāohi is offered without charge. Youth still are being accepted.![]()
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For more information, contact Mela Candelario, Kāohi coordinator, at (808) 553-5472.
*MEO Youth Services kicks off summer break-new program year*![]()
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About 30 intermediate and high school youths and their families joined Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services gathering on May 27 to welcome summer break and register for the program that guides youths away from harmful and detrimental behaviors.![]()
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Youth Services runs suicide, bullying, substance abuse and tobacco prevention programs for intermediate and high school youths on Maui and Moloka‘i. Programs are offered in-school, after-school and during extended school breaks and include community service, leadership, cultural and career-oriented activities with the goal of increasing protective factors for youths and strengthening families.![]()
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Activities planned for the summer program, which runs from June 6 to July 27, include reading and donating books to preschoolers, organizing Bingo at Roselani Place, an assisted living facility in Kahului, and maintaining the Youth Services Adopt A Highway section along Maui Veterans Highway near Zippy’s. A second annual beach clean-up event is planned from 9 a.m. to noon June 28 at Kanaha Beach Park with partners Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui and Maui Family Support Services.![]()
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At the May 27 gathering, families enjoyed a meal and were provided application forms and an orientation for the next program year, which runs from July 1 to June 30, 2023. MEO Community Services Director Cassi Yamashita made a presentation on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal program that provides qualifying low-income households a one-time credit to offset energy costs. Signup for the LIHEAP Energy Credit program runs through the month of June.![]()
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Each youth received a duffle bag, which was donated by Executive Director Paul Tonnesen and Friends of the Children’s Justice Center. Each bag contained toiletry items. There also was a raffle for small prizes and other activities that evening in the MEO Classrooms.![]()
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The Youth Services’ prevention program is at capacity but to get on a wait list or for more information about the program, call (808) 243-4315 or email dane.ka‘ae@meoinc.org.
MEO Youth Services takes suicide prevention class to Moloka‘i![]()
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Maui Economic Opportunity’s Youth Services introduced its Suicide Prevention Basics Training to 50 7th-graders at Moloka‘i Middle School on April 11 and 12 in a program funded through a Maui County grant.![]()
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Youth Services Director Dane Ka‘ae flew to Moloka‘i to teach the two-session course to students in Kalei Adolpho’s PE/Health class. He will be returning to Moloka‘i over the next two weeks, bringing the course to 8th and 10th graders at Moloka‘i Middle and High schools.![]()
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The course, which has been a staple of MEO youth programs on Maui, is being offered by Youth Services to Moloka‘i youth for the first time. The curriculum places an emphasis on prevention and self-care, as well as recognizing the warning signs of suicide in others and what actions to take.![]()
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MEO also will be organizing a community meeting at a later date to discuss suicide and its stigma and how the residents can act as “gatekeepers” to identify those at risk and offer help and support.![]()
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Moloka‘i has been identified as a “priority community” for youth suicide prevention by researchers, said Ka‘ae.![]()
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“Our program offers a jump start to youth suicide prevention efforts on Moloka‘i,” Ka‘ae said. “We are excited to bring our evidence-based suicide prevention program to the island and to prevent the tragedy of the loss of a young life and all that potential.”![]()
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The Moloka‘i program is funded by a $15,000 grant from the county Department of Housing and Human Concerns with additional support from MEO.![]()
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The suicide prevention program is part of MEO’s commitment to bring its Youth Services programs to Moloka‘i. Another program, Kaohi, which is funded by the Nuestro Futuro Foundation, will offer Youth Services’ substance abuse, alcohol and tobacco prevention programs to Moloka‘i youth. ![]()
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For more information about the suicide prevention and Kaohi programs, contact Mela Candelario on Moloka‘i at (808) 553-5472.![]()
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Photo left: Seventh-graders in Kalei Adolpho’s Moloka‘i Middle School class play “One, Two, Three, Look,” a suicide awareness exercise. Youth at risk for suicide don’t want to be noticed, and the game puts an emphasis on noticing others.![]()
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Photo right: Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services Director Dane Ka‘ae teaches Suicide Prevention Basics Training to Moloka‘i Middle School students.
*A family night of games-dinner by MEO Youth Services*![]()
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Fourteen families – 65 individuals in total – joined Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services ‘Ohana Night and enjoyed a meal, took a family photo and played Outburst on March 24 at MEO in Wailuku.![]()
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Mary Leyva, the Maui County Tobacco-Free coordinator, also spoke to the group about the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping.![]()
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The evening opened with dinner, an activity that studies show strengthens families. Then, they played Outburst with winning families choosing different board games to take home to play, which promotes bonding.![]()
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Each family took a photo together that will be turned into a puzzle for the next family-strengthening activity. Families will work on the puzzle together, record their progress and have the puzzle framed.![]()
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MEO Youth Services runs suicide, bullying, substance abuse and tobacco prevention programs for intermediate and high school youths on Maui and Moloka‘i. Programs are offered in-school, after-school and during extended school breaks and include community service, leadership, cultural and career-oriented activities with the goal of reducing risk factors for youths and strengthening families.![]()
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For more information about Youth Services, call (808) 243-4315.
#aboutyesterday We assisted clients of MEO in the MILC program, which stands for Maui Independent Living Center. #communitylove #meoyouthservices