About YMCA of Honolulu Kalihi Branch – Honolulu
Students in grades 6 to 12 can enroll in a free adolescent substance abuse treatment program offered by the YMCA of Honolulu Kalihi Branch. This program in Honolulu, Hawaii, is funded by the Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division and supported by donors. It aims to promote personal development among teenagers and help them overcome obstacles.
Students can self refer or be referred by family court, juvenile drug court, school counselors or youth community organizations. In order to guarantee that assistance is available where it is most needed they can simply register at participating school sites.
Their Ho‘okupa‘a program offers a secure nurturing setting outside of school hours. Teens can learn vital skills for leadership, problem solving, friendship and family relationships and academic success. By providing work and educational opportunities the YMCA also helps participants as they enter early adulthood. The main goals of their youth programs are mental wellness, social and emotional growth, academic success and physical health. Activities include positive self affirmations, journaling, drawing, investigating stress reduction strategies and identifying support networks.
Staff members are dedicated to helping peers form social bonds. They check in with each child throughout the day, using open-ended questions and conversation starters. Through constant observation for signs of stress or anxiety they ensure that every child feels supported in their environment.
Since its 1946 opening in a small, wartime building near the Bishop Museum, this facility has seen significant transformation. In 1952 it relocated to its current site on Kalihi Street. Since then it has offered a variety of services focused on general well being and has specialized in teen programs.
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