Molokai Community Service Council Inc

TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE MOLOKA'I COMMUNITY.

MCSC RUNS HO'OMANA HOU, A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE SCHOOL IS TO PREPARE ITS PUPILS FOR COLLEGE. THE SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM IS ALIGNED TO HAWAII CONTENT STANDARDS. THE SCHOOL IS CERTIFIED BY THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. STUDENTS LEARN FROM DIRECT TEACHER INSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS ON INDIVIDUAL COMPUTERS USING A NATIONALLY-RANKED SOFTWARE PROGRAM CALLED PLATO. HANDS-ON OUTDOOR CLASSES ARE ALSO HELD FOR SCIENCE LABS, HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND HAWAIIAN HISTORY, MCSC RECEIVE SERVICES PROVIDED BY EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHICH ARE NOT RECORDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

HALE HO'OMALU DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM - THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER. HALE HO'OMALU (THE HOUSE OF PROTECTION). THE ONLY PROGRAM ON MOLOKA'I THAT PROVIDES A SAFE SHELTER FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE SHELTER PROVIDES AN AVERAGE OF 800 BED DAYS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES DUE TO VIOLENCE. WOMEN COME TO THE SHELTER IN MANY WAYS: WITH POLICE ESCORTS, HIDING IN A FRIEND'S CAR, AND SOMETIMES EVEN ON FOOT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, RUNNING TO ESCAPE A PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE PARTNER. ONCE THEY REACH THE SHELTER, THEY RECEIVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, MEALS, COUNSELING, AND 24 HOUR PROTECTION UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF HIGHLY TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED STAFF. HALE HO'OMALU HELPS VICTIMS OBTAIN TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS (TROS) AGAINST BATTERERS. A STAFF ADVOCATE PREPARES THE LEGAL PAPERWORK NECESSARY TO REQUEST A TRO AND PROCESSES THE REQUEST THROUGH FAMILY COURT. IF THE TRO IS GRANTED, THE ADVOCATE ACCOMPANIES THE VICTIM TO SUBSEQUENT COURT HEARINGS AND HELPS THE CLIENT WITH ANY ADDITIONAL COURT PAPERWORK. IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, HALE HO'OMALU HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR PERPETRATORS THROUGH ITS ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROGRAM (ATV). ATV SERVICES COURT-ORDERED ADULTS AND JUVENILES WITH CLASSES THAT ENABLE THEM TO RECOGNIZE WHAT KINDS OF EVENTS TRIGGER VIOLENT REACTIONS, AND TO DEVELOP NON-VIOLENT COPING MECHANISMS IN REACTION TO THOSE TRIGGERS. JUVENILES WITH ANGER MANAGEMENT ISSUES ATTEND SIMILAR CLASSES WITH OTHER YOUTH IN ORDER TO LEARN THE SAME LESSONS IN A PEER SETTING.

THE ANNUAL FRIENDLY ISLE UNITED FUND (FIUF) CAMPAIGN - THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO RAISE MONEY TO FUND WORTHWHILE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ON THE ISLAND OF MOLOKA'I. GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT APPLY FOR FIUF FUNDING. AN ALLOCATIONS COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF BOTH COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND MCSC REPRESENTATIVES, DETERMINE THE AWARDS. THE MAURICE THOMPSON DROP-IN CENTER SERVES ADULTS WITH CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESSES. IT IS A PLACE WHERE THESE ADULTS CAN GATHER TO SOCIALIZE, LEARN LIFE SKILLS, AND ENJOY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE CENTER'S CLIENTELE APPRECIATES THE SAFE AND NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THEIR RATES OF HOSPITALIZATION HAVE DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY EVER SINCE THE CENTER OPENED. THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT WITH THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. MCSC PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR THE FUNDS USED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT.