The Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, healing young hearts mission is to strengthen connections to family and community by bringing together grieving children, teens, and parents in safe and healing ways.
This is accomplished through peer support and mentoring groups based on a model program that was developed by The Dougy Center: The National Center for Grieving Children and Families in 1984 and is now used internationally. We connect orphans, foster children, children of divorce, their care givers, and trained volunteers through peer support and mentoring programs. We create a safe and loving environment where they share stories, strengths, talents, and learn healthy and safe ways to cope. Children make positive connections with adult mentors and are empowered. Peer support programs prevent abuse of children by increasing open communication within families and connections to community resources. As families engage in supportive relationships, their hearts and home are healed.
The mission of the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition (HFYC) is to be a youth-led organization that empowers youth voice within the community and state to advocate and support current and former displaced youth.
This is accomplished by current and former foster youths, ages 14-24, serving as effective role models and developing positive avenues and resources in cooperation with a supportive community. Local chapters meet monthly across the state, creating opportunities for youths to connect in fun and safe ways, to learn leadership skills, to do community service projects, and to have a voice in the foster care system.