Laakea Village

THE LA'AKEA VILLAGE IS A PLACE WHERE ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES CAN GO TO LIVE, LEARN, AND WORK WITH OTHERS IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF CARE AND RESPECT.

DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM: COVID AND THE DOH RULES THAT WERE PUT INTO EFFECT SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED OUR APPROACH TO PROVIDING SERVICES. PRIOR TO MARCH 2020, THE CAMPUS WAS CONSIDERED A COMMUNITY HUB WHERE PARTICIPANTS AND MENTORS GATHERED IN MORNING CIRCLE, A COMMUNITY AND COMMUNAL LUNCH WAS SERVED EVERY DAY, THE COUNTRY STORE WAS OPEN AND MANY ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE. ALL OF THIS QUICKLY TOOK A PIVOT TO LIMIT POTENTIAL EXPOSURE FOR THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. WE HAD TO FIND WAYS FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS TO CONTINUE TO TOUCH AND FEEL THE INCLUSIVE, LIFE SHARING SETTING WHERE THEY ENGAGE IN A HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE LIFESTYLE. WITH THE HELP OF ZOOM, THE PARTICIPANTS CONTINUED TO CONNECT FOR MORNING CIRCLE, ZUMBA, HULA, FITNESS, NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION AND NUMEROUS OTHER CLASSES. OUR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES CONTINUED TO THRIVE AS PARTICIPANTS AND MENTORS SCHEDULED TIMES TO COME ONTO CAMPUS IN PAIRS. IN THE LATTER PART OF 2021 WE WERE ABLE TO BRING BACK IN PERSON ACTIVITIES AND CLASSES INCLUDING MORNING CIRCLE, YOGA, NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION, DANCE AND A DOG BISCUIT MAKING CLASS. OUR DATA AND GOAL TRACKING CAPABILITIES WITH A SOFTWARE PROGRAM, THERAP, CONTINUED TO BE REFINED. THIS PROGRAM HAS THE CAPABILITIES FOR MENTORS TO LOG DATA IN REAL TIME THROUGH THEIR SMARTPHONE. EVEN THE ANECDOTAL STORIES CAN BE RECORDED. ALL OF THIS IS RESULTING IN INCREASED DATA COLLECTION. FUNDING FROM MEDICAID WAIVER SUBJECTS LA'AKEA TO RIGOROUS AND THOROUGH ANNUAL AUDITS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. ALTHOUGH MEETING COMPLIANCE STANDARDS IS NOT OUR END GOAL, WE VIEW CLEAN AUDITS AND SUCCESSFUL RE-CERTIFICATIONS AS CRITICAL CONFIRMATION OF OUR ABILITY TO SERVE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. THE COUNTRY STORE IS CONSIDERED A PART OF PROGRAM RATHER THAN A RETAIL ENDEAVOR AND BEEN SUBJECT TO STRICT SAFETY RULES WHICH HAVE EFFECTIVELY KEPT IT CLOSED SINCE MARCH. THIS HAS BEEN A KEY LOCATION FOR MANY SKILL BUILDING AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION ACTIVITIES. IN 2021 THE "STORE" MOVED OUTSIDE UNDER THE FRESH PA'IA AIR FOR A WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET AND PARTICIPANTS WERE INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS INCLUDING THE HARVESTING, PREPARING, SELLING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. SUNFLOWERS BECAME A STAPLE IN THE GARDEN AND STAFF AND PARTICIPANTS GATHERED BOUQUETS WEEKLY TO SELL TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE AND ON A CURBSIDE FARM CART AT LA'AKEA. OUR COMMUNITY LUNCH AND FOOD PRODUCTION PROGRAM RETURNED ONCE A WEEK WHERE PARTICIPANTS WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER COMBINING THEIR GOALS AROUND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, TABLE SETTING, PRACTICING PATIENCE AND COURTESY, AND WAITING ONES TURN, RESOURCE AWARENESS AND PRACTICING PERSONAL CHOICE AROUND FOOD TOLERATION. OUR COMMUNITY LUNCH IS AN IMPORTANT WAY WE SHARE WITH GUESTS AND FAMILIES EXPLORING LA'AKEA. WE ARE GRATEFUL WE ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AGAIN AND SHARE A MEAL AS A COMMUNITY.

OUR RESIDENTIAL HOME, MELE HOUSE, CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGHOUT 2021 FOR FIVE RESIDENTS. IN THIS WAY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARD PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT ARE FULL OF RICH AND GRATIFYING EXPERIENCES, THAT HELP WITH EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO WRITE AN EMAIL, OR SAY A NAME, OR MAKE EYE CONTACT, TO LEARNING TO CROSS THE STREET OR USE A KNIFE, TO ACTUAL JOB SKILLS LIKE MANNING A CASH REGISTER. THIS PROGRAM IS CREATED TO HELP REACH THE GOALS OF EACH PARTICIPANT'S INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLAN (ISP) THAT IS DEVELOPED WITH THE PARTICIPANT, THEIR FAMILY, LA'AKEA AND THE DOH CASE MANAGER. THE ISP ARTICULATES THE DIAGNOSES, GOALS, APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES, BEHAVIORS AND SAFETY ANALYSIS TO TRACK. STAFF ASSIGNED TO EACH PARTICIPANT MAKE NOTES DAILY, AND SUPERVISORS AGGREGATE THESE AND PREPARE MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY ASSESSMENTS FOR EACH PARTICIPANT'S FILE WHICH ARE SUBMITTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS' CASE MANAGERS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THESE ASSESSMENTS RECORD OUTPUTS LIKE SERVICES PROVIDED AND ACTIVITIES COMPLETED, BUT THEY ALSO DOCUMENT OUTCOMES, BOTH THROUGH ANECDOTAL STORIES AND METRICS THAT SHOW PROGRESS AGAINST GOALS.