Foster Parent Information Session on May 18th from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Child &Family Service (CFS), Hawaii’s family-centered full-service nonprofit is hosting a Virtual Prospective Foster Parent Information Session for Hawai’i Island families during National Foster Care Month. CFS Transitional Family Homes program is looking for individuals and families on Hawai`i Island who are willing to open their homes to children in the community who are unable to live with their families.
This FREE online information session gives families the opportunity to learn about the licensing process, benefits and impacts of becoming a foster parent as well as talk story with current foster parents. Every child deserves a bright future and for those in foster care, you can make a meaningful difference in their lives. The Transitional Family Homes Program provides a comprehensive system of support, sanctuary, skills training, counseling, and clinical services for youth who are unable to live with their own families. The program ensures that youth are able to live in their neighborhood and continue participating in family, school, and community activities.
Foster parents can make a very real difference in the lives of children every day. They provide stability, model healthy family interactions and relationships, teach values, share their homes, and their lives, and can be a lifeline for a youth who really needs it. Therapeutic foster parents with CFS receive additional training and support compared to traditional Department of Human Services foster parents. Of course, raising any child is not always easy, and youth in therapeutic foster homes come with their own life experiences. CFS provides the following benefits and services to foster parents: 24/7 phone support and emergency access, a monthly stipend with additional incentives, one weekend off each month while other resource families provide respite care and a designated Therapist &Life Skills Specialist for each child. Registerfor this online event at https://FosterParentSession.eventbrite.com
Hamakua Harvest celebrates 8th Annual Farm Festival on May 21st in Honoka’a
Hamakua Harvest, a growing educational and agricultural hub and weekly farmers’ market, will be celebrating their 8th Annual Farm Festival on Sunday, May 21st from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their site at the intersection of Mamane Street and Mamalahoa Highway in Honoka’a. The festivities feature a 35+ vendor farmers’ market and an all-day line-up of entertainment including live music, educational presentations, yard games, keiki activities, and ono food. Our theme at this year’s Farm Fest will be “Canoe Crops” and centered around learning about Hawaii’s different canoe crops: ‘ulu (breadfruit), kalo (taro), niu (coconut), ‘uala (purple sweet potato), and mai’a (banana).
Farm Fest is the first Sunday in Western Week, a 60-year Honoka‘a community tradition including the Hawai‘i Saddle Club Rodeo, Paniolo Parade, Block Party, Saloon Girl Contest, and other activities celebrating Paniolo culture and history on Hawai‘i Island.
Free ag-educational workshops and orchard tours will be available for the public to participate in. Local experts will lead the Festival’s educational sessions and cover topics relating to Hawaii’s canoe crops. The Festival welcomes all ages. The Farm Fest Shuttle will provide free transportation from the Honoka‘a Gymnasium throughout the day.
Public Invited to Coffee With a Cop Events in Hilo and Waimea
Hawai‘i Police Department’s South Hilo and South Kohala Community Policing Sections invite members of the public to join them for Coffee with a Cop at two events in Hilo and a third in South Kohala.
Coffee With a Cop is an international program designed to help build trust between police and the community through informal events over coffee. Members of the public are invited to share their thoughts and ideas, while also getting to know the dedicated men and women of Hawai‘i Police Department who work tirelessly to keep our island communities safe.
These popular sessions have no agenda and topics of conversation can range from sharing personal stories to discussing neighborhood issues. Stop by and get to know your district Community Police Officers over a cup of coffee!
The Hilo Coffee With a Cop events are held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the follow dates/locations:
Tuesday, May 16, at the Safeway Starbucks, 381 Maka‘ala Street, Hilo.
Friday, May 26, at the Starbucks adjacent to Prince Kuhio Plaza, 111 E. Puainako Street, Hilo.
If you have any questions about Hilo Coffee With a Cop events, please contact South Hilo Community Policing at (808) 961-8849.
An additional Coffee With a Cop event will take place in South Kohala from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on:
Friday, May 19, at the Mauna Lani Coffee Co., 68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr. #300, Mauna Lani.
If you have any question regarding the South Kohala Coffee With a Cop event, please contact South Kohala Community Policing at (808) 887-3080.
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