Our Services
Who We Are / Housing / Supportive Services
Going Home Hawaii believes we decrease the risk of new crimes and new victims by providing supportive services to meet the individualized needs of justice-involved persons experiencing barriers to successful reintegration. We accomplish this using a holistic approach of cultural inclusion and collaboration among community partners.
Who We Are
The Going Home Consortium (East Hawai`i) and Coalition (West Hawai`i) are a fluid, grassroots entity in which all of its members are volunteering their time and professional expertise. Members represent a cross-sector of service providers, cultural practitioners, government agencies, business, faith and community groups, former offenders and family members. The Consortium and Coalition each meet once a month, including holding joint meetings using online conferencing.
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Housing
* Note: All referrals are required to be sent to us via supervising authority/agency
(probation/parole officer, drug court, furlough case manager, intake service center, etc.)
(probation/parole officer, drug court, furlough case manager, intake service center, etc.)
Going Home Hawai`i provides reentry and recovery housing programs for individuals leaving incarceration and who may be recovering from substance abuse, as well as those involved in the criminal justice system who are in need of safe housing. Such housing contributes to public safety and community healing by significantly reducing the the rates of relapse, recidivism and homelessness among those who struggle to achieve and maintain productive lives. The community impact of relapse, recidivism and homelessness is felt disproportionately within the relatively small number of disadvantaged communities in our state to which they return, among which Hawai`i Island has the highest poverty rates.
Housing programs offering a safe, secure, clean and sober approach help individuals have a higher chance of success by providing conditions that keep individuals accountable in a structured setting essential to long term recovery. Learn more about the unique aspects of Recovery Housing and Going Home Hawai`i's four residences in East and West Hawai`i here. |
Supportive Services
Going Home works to reinforce the requirement for jurisdictions to have a wide range of effective, well-implemented programs that target the varying needs of justice-involved populations and addresses gaps in services that result in responsive programs and, ultimately, a more responsive system. Going Home (GH) provides, supports, and advocates for the following supportive services:
- In-Reach & Reintegration Program Services, East & West Hawai'i (IRR)
Program funded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Second Chance Act - This is a Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program for male and female justice-involved individuals. IRR is a 3-year project beginning in 2018 that provides intensive case management services and mentoring. Through case management and mentoring, GHH aims to assist program participants with obtaining safe, secure housing, educational and employment opportunities, and will work with participants to link them to benefits in which they are eligible for. Additionally, GHH will assist participants with admission into needed substance use and/or mental health treatment services. The overall goal of this program is to reduce recidivism; which is GHH's primary goal - to achieve a reduction in the recidivism rate within Hawai'i County and our State.
- 9 Months: Window of Hope Program (East Hawai'i)
A program for pregnant women struggling with substance use in the Hilo, Hamakua and Puna districts of Hawai'i Island. - Developing a co-case management approach to bridge the multiple sectors that provide judicial supervision for reintegrating individuals in our community.
- The GH Consortium's Career Pathways Committee is focused on providing comprehensive job readiness training for individuals reintegrating into our communities. In addition to their monthly meetings and ongoing training program development, the Career Pathways Committee also:
- Coordinates employer informational forums.
- Supports and assists with the coordination of job fairs in Hawai'i County.
- Networks with local employers to advocate for the hiring of justice-involved individuals who have successfully completed job readiness training and are found to be "employment ready."
- Coordinates Business Close-Up Events to provide employment training opportunities for reintegrating individuals.
- Coordinates an annual Employer Recognition Luncheon to honor employers in the community who consistently support justice-involved individuals and provide them with an opportunities to work without the pressure of their criminal record being held against them.
- Working with the Department of Public Safety to develop and deliver a re-entry program within the Hawai'i Community Correctional Center (HCCC).
- Support family reunification programs as part of the re-entry program at HCCC.
- Develop and engage mentorship programs throughout the community.
- Showcase GH efforts for other counties in Hawai'i that are interested in developing a similar model for reintegration efforts.
- The GH Consortium's Education Pathway Committee and Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program support and expand the role of educational programming available for individuals who are justice-involved.
Residents of the Pu'uhonua Wellness Center for Men in Hilo performed an 'oli to open Going Home Hawai`i's 2018 Annual Recognition Banquet. With them are Donna Madrid (left), who taught them the 'oli, and Rachel Lahela Kruse (center).
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Culture-Based Response
GH responds to the over-representation of Native Hawaiians in the Criminal Justice system and the impact on the family. It is a wellness-focused effort bringing the entire community around the issues and needs of the men, women, and youth returning home from incarceration. GH's Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education also offers special programs on Hawaiian Cultural Values. *[For more information pertaining to the State of Hawaii's Prison Reform Task Force, CLICK HERE to view the "Creating Better Outcomes, Safer Communities" final report of the House Concurrent Resolution 85 Task Force on Prison Reform] |