Newsletter Archives
Welcome
to our
Newsletter Lei Stand
Welcome to our Newsletter Lei Stand
Here is our collection of newsletters gathered over time. Just as each lei is lovingly crafted by hand and meaningfully given to others, each newsletter is sewn with gathered stories, reflections, and voices of ʻohana. Browse through our archive and see our varying strands of connection and aloha for our community.
Here is our collection of newsletters gathered over time. Just as each lei is lovingly crafted by hand and meaningfully given to others, each newsletter is sewn with gathered stories, reflections, and voices of ʻohana. Browse through our archive and see our varying strands of connection and aloha for our community.
Fresh Lei, Fresh Stories
Staff Corner
These lei are carefully sewn from the flowers of our staff’s experiences, insights, and reflections. Each one carries the colors and fragrance of the day-to-day work that brings EPIC ʻOhana’s mission to life.
In celebration of the HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative 15th Anniversary, we took a moment to talk story with Patricia "Patty" Chin. The 28th of this month marks Patty’s first six months as the HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative Statewide Manager, but she has been part of EPIC as a program recipient since she was 16 years old. At 18, Patty, joined the HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board on Kauaʻi, then in 2018, started her professional journey with EPIC as a Youth Partner.
This month, we are honored talk story with Marilyn Toribio Cocchia the Youth Circle Manager. Marilyn shared what inspired her to be a part of EPIC.
Launched in 2018, the Youth Partner Program (YP), has grown to nine Youth Partners serving youth on all islands. YP's are young adults between 18-27 with lived experience in systems (foster care, mental health, juvenile justice) who are passionate about supporting young people and helping them navigate the systems. Recently, we asked youth partners to share their thoughts on the program. We hope you enjoy reading their insights and stories as much as we did.
People who participate in the Nā Kama work bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. One may be a cultural practitioner. One may be a person whose experiences include homelessness or substance abuse and children placed into foster care. One may be a leader in a state agency or a nonprofit agency. One may be a frontline worker who works every day with families or young people.
Join us in welcoming our new Program Development Manager, Lise Vaughan-Sekona. Lise has a passion for justice and service. After learning of the transformative work at EPIC 'Ohana has been doing in and for our community, she became interested in being a part of the organization
Executive Director’s Corner
Here you’ll find lei braided from vision and leadership. Like strands twined and wrapped together, these messages from our Executive Director bind perspective, direction, and aloha into the moʻolelo of our ʻohana.
Holding Close to ‘Ike Hawai’i
EPIC ‘Ohana is excited to launch its EPIC ‘Ike Hawai’i Series in 2025. The monthly virtual, live session features a wide range of presenters and topics through an ‘Ike Hawai’i (Native Hawaiian knowledge) lens. These professional development sessions are available for EPIC staff and board members.
Three Months of Awe
I am so excited to be a part of this edition of the EPIC Newsletter. It has been three months since I took on the role as Executive Director and I have been humbled by what I have experienced and witnessed in this short time.
Aloha Pumehana Kākou!
I am deeply humbled and honored to take on the kūlana and kuleana as EPIC 'Ohana’s Executive Director. It has been my privilege to be a part of EPIC 'Ohana for nearly 15 years with the HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative. I believe I was divinely led to this work and am grateful to Arlynna Livingston, and EPIC 'Ohana Board of Directors, for taking a chance, then and now, on this Kalihi girl, and for both Arlynna and Laurie Tochiki’s mentorship, aloha and visionary leadership through the years.
As you can see by the 2023 “numbers” EPIC ‘Ohana was quite busy in 2023. A large decline in the number of children taken into care was a big shift for child welfare in 2023. CWS has worked hard to prevent removals and provide other services to families to stabilize them. Our efforts have also shifted a bit to reach out to families early in CWS involvement.
Our hearts go out to our ‘ohana on Maui. The concept of being “trauma informed” seems more important than ever as we deal with tragedy at home, and in the world. Over the last two years, we have been blessed to partner with the Pū'ā Foundation as they work to build a peer support network and workforce and to find ways, based on Hawaiian culture and values, to build a trauma effective and beloved community.
EPIC ‘Ohana is celebrating its 25th year as a nonprofit organization in 2023. We are so very grateful for each and every one of you. We have been able to raise up the voices of families and young people in ‘Ohana Conferences, Youth Circles, Wraparound meetings, convenings like Nā Kama a Hāloa because of your support.
Since our last newsletter EPIC `Ohana has been busy with some very exciting projects and programs. In the next few paragraphs I will share some of the highlights.
Aloha family and friends:
EPIC `Ohana, like many organizations in Hawai`i, uses a July – June fiscal year. On the 24th, our `Ohana Conferencing, `Ohana Finding, and Youth Circles staff celebrate with a get together for the first time in person since 2019.
A few weeks ago, our EPIC `Ohana gathered on Zoom for our annual Kūhiō Day training. It was our third virtual Kūhiō Day, and we paused to think about Hawai'i in 1922, when Prince Kūhiō passed away, 100 years ago.
There is so much to be grateful for as we end this difficult year. Most especially, all of us at EPIC ‘Ohana are grateful for all of you. During those times this year when our hearts ached from grief and hurt, we were grateful for the spirit of aloha that endures within this complicated system serving our most vulnerable families and children. In those moments when we witnessed renewal, hope and healing, we were thankful for the steadfast courage of the many people who joined in our circles, our conferences, our meetings, and our network.
We hope that you are enjoying our EPIC Connections newsletters. Thank you so much for your support, it means so much to us. We also hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.
In this issue we celebrate 25 years of 'Ohana Conferencing (OC).
Since the last newsletter, two virtual events inspired and motivated us. The Voices of Hope event at the Hawai`i Theater was magical! In the next few months, we will post the inspiring FYA talks from our HI H.O.P.E.S. leaders.
Welcome to our new, quarterly newsletter. What a time this has been. A year ago, we pivoted to virtual meetings, circles, conferences and have not looked back! I know that sometimes it is hard to be hopeful in this challenging time. This is one reason why we are sending this newsletter, so that we can reflect on the many accomplishments that come from all of us working together.
Meet the EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc. Board Members
These lei honor the blossoms of our board members — their stories, talents, and dedication. Each strand introduces the people who help strengthen our circle and ensure EPIC ʻOhana continues to flourish.
The EPIC ‘Ohana Board of Directors is excited to welcome Delia Parker Ulima as Executive Director, Kuhikuhina Nui, of EPIC ‘Ohana. Delia has the heart, vision, and skills to carry forward our mission “to strengthen ‘ohana and enhance the welfare of children and youth through transformative processes that are respectful, collaborative, and solution-oriented.”
Helping children to have stability, security, and love is at the heart of what motivates Lisa Jacobs to do her invaluable work, as founder and president of Better Way Divorce, also known as Pono Divorce. The desire to help others has always been an integral part of Lisa; a seed planted in her by her social worker mother.
After graduating from college with an honors degree in creative writing Karen Worthington wasn’t sure what she was going to do next. She wanted to go to grad school, but was torn between social work and law.
For our board member, Dr. Susan Chandler, why and what are two essential words that have been a driving force in her life. Always curious about how systems work and the impact they have on people, Susan has been questioning and challenging the status quo throughout her impressive career.
“Your name is unusual. What’s the origins of your surname?” Patrick Yim asked at the very beginning of our conversation. Names have always been important to him. Having traced his own Chinese and Hawaiian ancestry back for generations, he knows that names carry not only a legacy, but a link to the essence from where we come.
EPIC has been fortunate to have outstanding Board members since its earliest days and in this newsletter we will pay tribute to four who have passed away. These members may no longer be with us, but they planted seeds of hope and inspiration that are still thriving in EPIC today.
Becoming a social worker wasn’t on 20-year-old Arlynna Livingston’s career radar, but the birth of twins and the daunting task of self-financing a Ph.D. in psychology gave her the push she needed to look into career alternatives. Social work, it turned out, was the perfect fit.
EPIC has been fortunate to have many outstanding board members, and Peter Lewis is no exception.
Clear, authentic communication is what Betty Ching holds most dear. In her work as a therapist, mediator, and social worker, empowering people to have a voice and speak their truth has always been Betty’s purpose.