Wilma Friesema is the ‘Ohana Connections and Staff Development Manager

For our board member, Dr. Susan Chandler, why and what are two essential words that have been a driving force in her life. Always curious about how systems work and the impact they have on people, Susan has been questioning and challenging the status quo throughout her impressive career.

Aloha family and friends:
EPIC `Ohana, like many organizations in Hawai`i, uses a July – June fiscal year. On the 24th, our `Ohana Conferencing, `Ohana Finding, and Youth Circles staff celebrate with a get together for the first time in person since 2019.

“Your name is unusual. What’s the origins of your surname?” Patrick Yim asked at the very beginning of our conversation. Names have always been important to him. Having traced his own Chinese and Hawaiian ancestry back for generations, he knows that names carry not only a legacy, but a link to the essence from where we come.

A few weeks ago, our EPIC `Ohana gathered on Zoom for our annual Kūhiō Day training. It was our third virtual Kūhiō Day, and we paused to think about Hawai'i in 1922, when Prince Kūhiō passed away, 100 years ago.

This video brings voices of parents with lived experience to encourage birth parents currently in the child welfare system, especially those struggling with substance use disorders.

This video is a panel discussion with four birth parents about their experience of receiving their Family Service Plan. They describe what helped or hindered them around its implementation, and share ideas of how that the process can be improved.

Mandy Jimenez Casian is a Youth Circle Facilitator

EPIC has been fortunate to have outstanding Board members since its earliest days and in this newsletter we will pay tribute to four who have passed away. These members may no longer be with us, but they planted seeds of hope and inspiration that are still thriving in EPIC today.

There is so much to be grateful for as we end this difficult year. Most especially, all of us at EPIC ‘Ohana are grateful for all of you. During those times this year when our hearts ached from grief and hurt, we were grateful for the spirit of aloha that endures within this complicated system serving our most vulnerable families and children. In those moments when we witnessed renewal, hope and healing, we were thankful for the steadfast courage of the many people who joined in our circles, our conferences, our meetings, and our network.

We hope that you are enjoying our EPIC Connections newsletters. Thank you so much for your support, it means so much to us. We also hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

In this issue we celebrate 25 years of 'Ohana Conferencing (OC).

Becoming a social worker wasn’t on 20-year-old Arlynna Livingston’s career radar, but the birth of twins and the daunting task of self-financing a Ph.D. in psychology gave her the push she needed to look into career alternatives. Social work, it turned out, was the perfect fit.

Corina Calvo is an ‘Ohana Conference Specialist (Coordinator)

This 10-minute video, created by Hawaii’s Nā Kama a Hāloa Network, depicts the benefits that can happen when parents and resource caregivers (foster parents) collaborate on behalf of the children.

We are excited to share this virtual celebration of ‘Ohana Conferencing - 25 years of service in Hawai‘i .

June was National Reunification Month, and across the country celebrations have been taking place to honor successful family reunifications. This webinar honors own Hawaii Reunification Champions, Resource Caregivers.

The 15th annual ‘Ohana is Forever conference was held virtually on July 16, 2021, with over 200 young people, adult professionals and community partners in attendance online.

Since the last newsletter, two virtual events inspired and motivated us. The Voices of Hope event at the Hawai`i Theater was magical! In the next few months, we will post the inspiring FYA talks from our HI H.O.P.E.S. leaders.

EPIC has been fortunate to have many outstanding board members, and Peter Lewis is no exception.

Denise Clark is an ‘Ohana Conferencing Faciliator.