A state program that aims to help children and adolescents with both mental health issues and developmental disabilities has received a federal grant of $3.6 million over four years.
The new grant is the successor to a $520,000 grant to the state Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division in October 2011 that created Project Laulima, focused on bringing together agencies to solve access and service quality problems. The new grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will continue and expand Project Laulima’s work with the Departments of Health, Education and Human Services, and several family and youth organizations.
"Children that have both mental health and developmental disability issues face unique challenges and often have difficulty obtaining effective services to meet their needs," Health Director Loretta Fuddy said in a statement. "For families, navigating through a sometimes complex network of multiple agencies can be daunting. We hope this new grant will make it easier to access better services for this historically underserved group of Hawaii children and their families."
In other grant news:
»The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center recently bought new exercise equipment for its fitness center thanks to a donation of $3,500 from the Great Aloha Run, the signature event of Carole Kai Charities Inc. That was on top of $1,500 donated earlier this year from money raised from the 2011 Great Aloha Run.
The funding was used to purchase an ergometer, a rehabilitation tool that combines an upper-body exerciser with a lower-body recumbent bike. The seat can be removed to make it wheelchair accessible.
Registration is under way for the 2013 Great Aloha Run, set for President’s Day, Feb. 18.
Go to www.greataloharun.com Opens in a new tab for details.
Since 1985, Carole Kai Charities has given more than $9.6 million to more than 150 local nonprofit organizations. The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center serves as a safety net for uninsured and medically underserved patients, treating 29,000 annually at five clinics.
» Employees with the Hawaii Medical Service Association and Healthways Hawaii have donated $10,000 to Lanakila Meals on Wheels.
As part of an employee wellness program, HMSA employees were encouraged to use Healthways’ Well-Being Connect online tool to record their diet, exercise and health-related activities. Participants earned more than $8,300 to be donated to a nonprofit organization. Employees chose Lanakila Meals on Wheels, and Healthways kicked in another $1,700.
