RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #46

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. Unserved or Underserved Overview: CAP aims to employ the most culturally and linguistically appropriate methods for outreach by collaborating and co-learning with other community-based organizations and government agencies. It also intends to be consistently proactive in gathering information about disability rights and concerns from CAP’s prioritized populations.

Focus on the Underserved. CAP continues to deploy community outreach advocates such as Pamela Cabreira, JanisMaria Chang and Veronica Flores. They are culturally appropriate for, and sensitive to, populations with underserved backgrounds like the Filipino, Korean and Indigenous Hawaiian communities, disadvantaged individuals with limited English proficiency such as Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants, and individuals from underserved geographic areas such as military communities or rural parts of the state. The outreach advocates focus on churches and church leaders, because the church serves as a social and cultural center for many AAPI populations, especially Filipinos, Koreans, Samoans, and Tongans. People with deafness have also been identified as another un- and underserved segment of our community that will benefit from CAP’s services. Advocate Carol Young is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and uses her professional and personal contacts in the close-knit deaf community to promote CAP services. Close family involvement with the military have led Advocates Verna Waikiki and Michelle Kaulukukui-Palisbo to a greater understanding of the challenges facing combat veterans, their families, dependents with special needs, and retired personnel. Advocate Anne Chipchase has had a distinguished career in helping those in need; she has been instrumental in establishing community programs for the homeless, former correctional inmates, caregivers, and the mentally ill, as well as charitable church programs. Advocate Howard Lesser’s 45-year career started with the very first disability rights statutes. The breadth of his skills reflects his long-standing commitment to the rights of people with disabilities. Advocate Kristyl Kim has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation and prior work experience in vocational counseling and work readiness that included clients with varying impairments.

Unserved or Underserved Highlights: In Hawaii’s multi-ethnic population, every outreach is composed of a diverse audience from one or more of the unserved and underserved populations that CAP has identified. This is partly due to self-selection, where CAP advocates and outreach advocates direct their outreach activities to events, agencies and locations that are all part of the un- and underserved continuum of services. This is also due in part to Hawaii’s unique demographic where, ethnically, “minorities are the majority”. (According to the 2020 Census, Hawaii’s population is 37.64% Asian, 24.29% two or more races, 24.15% White, 10.40% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.88% Black or African American, 1.39% Other races, and 0.25% Native American.) Pacific Islanders include individuals from the Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas (Saipan).

Programs and locations where CAP delivered outreach, education and training to a diverse audience include but are not limited to:

*Advisory Boards: Caregiver Foundation, Committee on Accessible Transportation, Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee, Hawaii Assn for the Blind, Independent Living Council, Maui Long-Term Recovery Group, Mental Health Taskforce, National Federation of the Blind, Oahu Economic Development Board, State Council on Developmental Disabilities; State Rehabilitation Council, State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board;

*Advertising: Placards in multiple languages on TheBus and TheHandiVan on selected routes through underserved communities; radio spots in multiple Asian and Pacific Islander languages; public service announcements in multiple Asian and Pacific Islander languages, posters, flyers and brochures with all government agencies, offices, public schools, and hospitals;

*Charitable Organizations: Catholic Charities-multiple locations, Easter Seals-all islands, Full Life, Goodwill Industries, Gregory House, Hawaii Community Action Program, Hawaii Foodbank, Institute for Human Services, Punawai Rest Stop, Salvation Army-multiple locations;

*Churches and Religious Organizations: First Presbyterian, New Hope, Our Lady of Peace, Saints Peter & Paul Church;

*Community Groups: Access to Independence, Access Surf, Aloha Foundation, Aloha Independent Living, Aloha United Way-Honolulu and Kauai, Alu Like Kauai, Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative-Hawaii Circle of Care for Dementia, American Association of University Women, ARC-Hilo, Kona and Maui; Autism Society of Hawaii, Best Buddies, Comprehensive Service Center, District Councils, Domestic Violence Action Center, East Hawaii Legislative forum, Filipino Cultural Center, For Our Keiki, Friendship House Kauai, Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, Hawaii Families As Allies, Hawaii Family Promise, Hawaii Justice Foundation, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Health Mothers Healthy Babies, Helping Hands, Home Aid, Honolulu Community Action Program, Kauai Economic Opportunity, KEY Project, Kinai Eha, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Kuhio Park Towers Micronesian support group, Ku Makani Resiliency Project, Language Services Hawaii, Longshoreman's Retirement Union, Maui Economic Opportunity, Maui Long-Term Recovery Group, Maui Wildfires Disability Hui, Neighborhood Boards-multiple locations, Neighborhood Place-Waianae, Oahu Intergroup, Ohana Community Care Services, Olakino Food Distribution, Olelo Public TV, Parents and Children Together, Partners in Care, Project Kealahou, Salvation Army, We Are Oceania, West Hawaii Legislative forum, Women’s Fund;

*Conferences & Events: Abled Hawaiian Arts Festival, Accessible Communities Conference (Disabilities and Communication Access Board), ADA Anniversary rally at State Capitol, Big Island Substance Abuse Council, Brain Injury Association Conference, Chaminade Career Fair, CSC Deaf Culture training, CSC Homeless Awareness, DDD Virtual Day at State Capitol, Deaf Mata Community Event, Deaf Safari at the Zoo, DOE Leeward Oahu Footsteps to Transition Fair, DOE Maui Footsteps to Transition Fair, DOE/DVR/DDD transition training, DOE presentation at Chaminade University, DVR Orientation Training, Epilepsy conference, Federal Resource Provider Fair, Governor's Coordinator on Homeless webinar, Hawaii Association of the Blind + annual conference, Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, Hawaii Justice Foundation Access to Justice conference, Hawaii Youth Services Network annual meeting, Hearing Loss Sensitivity Training, IHS workshop-mentally ill homeless, Kauai Parent and Child Fair, Kauai Voter Registration, LDAH-Traveling Mini conference, Learning Disabilities Assn-Annual Conference and Parent Talk Cafe, Legislative Forums-Hilo & Kona, Maui Abilities Resource Fair, Maui High School Transition Fair, Maui Senior Fair, Mental Health America-3 islands + annual meeting, Mental Health and Wellness Fair, Mental Health Resource Fair–Hilo & Kona, National Assn of Mental Illness-Mental Health Awareness & Awards Celebration, NAMI-State Conference, National Disability Rights Network-Annual Conference, Neighborhood Board meetings, Pacific Rim Conference on Disability, Statewide Homeless Awareness conference, Senator Ed Case-Townhall Meeting, Senior Fair at Hawaii Convention Center, Special Parents Information Network – annual conference, University of Hawaii-Maui Wellness Festival, Veterans Benefits-hosted by Catholic Charities, Virtual Advocacy in Epilepsy, Windward Oahu Mental Health Fair, Waikiki Town Hall meeting;

*Correctional Facilities: male and female correctional facilities and youth detention centers on all islands (7x), Department of Public Safety, Girls Court/Girls Detention Home, Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility;

*Disability Advocates and Providers: ALS Foundation, Alzheimer’s Program Initiative, ARC locations on all islands, BAYADA, Big Island Substance Abuse Council, Brain Injury Association, Center for Disability Studies (UH), Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Communication and Access Board, Easter Seals-all islands, Goodwill Industries, Goodwill Adult Day Health, Hale Ku’ike, Hawaii Assn for the Blind, Hawaii Disabilities and Healthcare Coalition, Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services, Helping Hands, Kauai Parent and Child Fair, Maui Center for Independent Living, Maui Wildfires Disability Hui, Maui Workforce Development, Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Disability Rights Network, National Federation of the Blind-Oahu, Kauai, & Student Division; Parents and Children Together, Queen’s Medical Center - Dual Diagnosis & Family Treatment programs, United Self-Help;

*Education Advocates: Center for Disability Studies, Leadership in Disabilities and Achievement, Special Parents Information Network;

*Employment Advocates: American Dream Network, American Job Center-Hilo, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation-all islands, DOE transition teams (25+ outreaches), Goodwill Industries, Kapili Like Vocational, Maui Workforce Development, Network Enterprises, Partnership Plus, Puna Kamali‘i Flowers, Residential Youth Services and Employment; Workplace Hawaii;

*Foster Homes: on all islands (12+);

*Government Agencies/Programs: City and County of Honolulu-Section 8, Disability Communication and Access Board, Children with Special Health Needs Program (DOH), Community Care Services, DD Case Management Units-all islands, Deaf Services Section (DVR), Disabilities and Communications Access Board, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation-all islands, DVR Orientation Training, DVR Comprehensive Center for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind Persons; DOE Statewide Transition Coordinator, DOH Behavioral Health Director, DOH-AMHD Clubhouse Adult Day Programs-all islands, DOH Suicide Prevention, DOH Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, DOL One Stop Maui, Department of Public Safety, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) -all islands, Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee, EPSDT Staff, Executive Office on Aging, Federal Resource Provider Fair, Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaii Justice Foundation, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii’s Long-Term Care Options and LTC Ombudsman, Honolulu Police Department, Ho‘opono Services for the Blind (DVR), Indigent Legal Assistance Fund, Legislative Forums-Hilo & Kona, Maui Workforce Development, Oahu Economic Development Board, Office of Aging and Disability Resource Center, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Office of the Ombudsman-SOH, One Stop Center, Parentline, Social Security–all offices, U.S. Housing and Urban Development-Honolulu;

*Group Homes & Nursing Homes: Boarding homes, AMHD Crisis Shelter, AMHD Group Homes, AMHD-Hale Na`au Pono-Wainohia, Avalon nursing home, Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, Hale Makua, Hale Na`au Pono-Kulawae and Lihue, Hawaii Kai Senior Living, Life Care Center, Mental Health Kokua-all islands (38x), Nana’s House-Kauai, Novie Sporting Home, Legacy Hilo Rehab & Nursing Center, One Kalakaua Senior Living, Steadfast Housing, United Self-Help, Weinberg Hale-Waianae, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center-Ikulani and Lumikula group homes, Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home;

*Healthcare Providers and Insurers: AlohaCare, BAYADA, Care Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Services Association, Hilo Hospital, Kalihi Palama Health Center, Kauai Community MH Center, Manikai O Malama, Molokini Behavioral Health, Queen’s Medical Center (QMC), QMC Behavioral Health Services, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, St. Francis Hospital, Steadfast, Tripler Army Medical Center, United Health Care, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waikiki Health Center;

*Housing Advocates: Access to Independence, Catholic Charities, Family Services, Full Life-Hilo and Kona, Gregory House, HOPE Services, Kauai Economic Opportunity, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Ka Hala O Ke Ola homeless resource center, IHS, Legal Aid, Landlord-Tenant Hotline, Maui Economic Opportunity, McCully-Moilili Homelessness Coalition, Mediation Center of the Pacific, Next Step, Punawai Rest Stop, Radical Hale, Salvation Army, Steadfast Housing;

*Legal Advocates: Access to Justice, ACLU, Circuit Court Community Outreach, Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii State Bar Association-Young Lawyers and Lawyer Referral Line, Indigent Legal Assistance Fund, Legal Aid Community Navigator, Legal Aid Society of Honolulu, MaxCorp, Mediation Center of the Pacific, National Disability Rights Network, William Richardson School of Law (UH), Volunteer Legal Services;

*Media/News: Interviews and quotes by Civil Beat online, Hawaii Free Press online, Star-Advertiser newsprint and online, KHON-TV, KITV-4, Olelo Public TV;

*Military Advocates: Exceptional Family Member Program, Joint Marine Base Kaneohe, Military and Family Support Centers, Navy/Air Force Family Services, Tripler Army Medical Center, Veterans Administration Clinic and Veteran’s Center-all islands (9x);

*Private Businesses and Associations: AOAO Kulanui Hale, Care Hawaii-Hilo, Kona, Kona Rehab, Life Care Center, Manikai O Malama;

*Public Schools & Charter Schools: DOE public high schools, including Hawaiian-language immersion schools, Public Charter Schools, and Hawaiian Arts Academy School; DOE Transition Teachers (124 participants);

*Radio: Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Chuuk, Filipino (Tagalog and Ilocano), Korean, Marshallese, Vietnamese, and English interviews and public service announcements;

*Senior/Elderly Advocates: AARP-Hawaii, Aging & Disability Resource Center, La`akea Village, Kalakaua Senior Housing, Kamana Senior Housing, Ocean Pointe Senior Housing, Pearl Haven, Roselani Place;

*Shelters: Catholic Charities, Hale Kipa youth shelter, HOPE Services, Institute for Human Services-men, women & families, Kauhale Hawaii, Lahaina temporary shelters, Next Step, Poai`lani, Punawai Rest Stop, Radical Hale, Safe Haven, Salvation Army;

*Psychiatric Facilities: Hawaii State Hospital, Maui/Kauai/Hilo/Kona psychiatric hospitals, Kalihi Palama Behavioral Health Clinic, North Shore Mental Health, Queen’s Medical Center-Kekela ward and Life Skills program, Queen’s Kahi Mohala, Suicide Prevention Hotline, Tripler Army Medical Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waikiki Health Center, Waimanalo Health Center;

*Universities & Medical Schools: Center on Disability Studies-UH, Chaminade University + Career Fair, Hawaii Pacific University, John A. Burns School of Medicine-UH, Kauai Community College-UH, Leeward Community College-UH, Manoa-UH, MCH-LEND-UH, Neuroscience Center of the Pacific, West Oahu-UH, William C. Richardson School of Law-UH, Windward Community College-UH;

*Veterans Centers: on all islands, Tripler Army Medical Center, VA clinics-all islands;

*Youth Advocates: Hawaii Youth Services Network, RYSE Youth Transition Program, Youth Challenge.