HONOLULU - As Alexander Pope said, "To err is human." For young people, errors can have a detrimental impact on the rest of their life. However, Pope also said, "To forgive is divine." Here in Hawaii, first time juvenile status offenders are given a chance at redemption through the Hawaii National Guard Counterdrug Program's Kokua Ohana Aloha program
The Hawaiian KOA program is designed to give young people who have committed status offenses ranging from truancy, to running away from home, or injurious behavior, a second chance. Members of the Counterdrug Community Action team run monthly meetings for first time juvenile status offenders and their parents/guardians. If the families complete the two-session program, the juvenile offenders walk away with a clean slate.
"The goal of KOA is to bridge the communication gap between the youth and their families, a gap that widens in the teen years," said Army Staff Sgt. Celeste Paglinawan, Hawaii Counterdrug Civil Operations program manager.
Volunteer speakers from the Honolulu Police Department and the Victory Ohana help families bridge the communication gap by providing motivational speeches and coping mechanisms for families who are facing difficult situations.
Find a dream and chase it. Find something you want to do and go after it; give yourself a reason to go to school rather than to just be with your friends, said James Price who used to be a pimp and drug user and is now a bus driver and pastor with the Victory Ohana Prison Fellowship.
"Be a nerd, because nerds are successful," he said.
The program also aims to correct perceptions youth and families have about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
"Correcting incorrect perceptions is a key," said Army Sgt. Barry Asberry, Hawaii Counterdrug Prevention, Treatment, and Outreach coordinator.
"Getting the youth to understand that not everyone is doing it [drugs and alcohol] empowers them to make correct, wise decisions," he said.
Over the course of two days, parents and children attend workshops where parents receive instruction derived from the Stronger Influence Campaign. The goal of the workshop is to present facts about alcohol abuse and provide parents with the tools to facilitate clear, honest and direct conversations with their children about underage drinking.
The youth, on the other hand, receive information from the More than You Think Campaign, a youth centered program that helps young adults understand not only the risks of underage drinking but also provides useful facts.
For example, while young people may believe over 90 percent of their peers are drinking or have tried alcohol, the fact is over 70 percent of local youth their age have never tried alcohol.
"The parents and kids are getting the same information. It is just that one is more tailored toward the youth and the other toward the adult," said Air Force Tech. Sgt., Priscilla Bastatas, Hawaii Counterdrug Program.
Separating the groups provides them with a more communicative environment. The kids will share more if they are not in front of their parents and vice-versa, she said.
The second day of the workshop begins with a resource fair consisting of local social service agencies that provide awareness of specific issues affecting the families, such as the Meth Project and Narconon.
As the night progresses, teens and their families continue on their separate but parallel tracks and explore how to be a better family member and how social pressures are threatening to destroy the safe place that is the family.
The program culminates with parents and youth setting goals for the future. Parents also have the opportunity to pledge to be a stronger influence for their children, and the children to pledge to be alcohol free until age 21.
the end of the two-day program, it was evident that a transformation had taken place. In the beginning, families were reserved and withdrawn, but, by the end many questions were asked and direction was openly sought as parents and children opened themselves to the teachings and techniques.
"At first I really did not want to be here. I thought it was going to be 'You kids can't do that,' but I realized that it is far more than that, and we have gained a lot from this," said a single mother who asked not to be named.
"Preventing the youth from turning to drugs and more destructive behavior is a goal. This program is a good start. We offer follow up classes that families can attend on a volunteer bases after the KOA course," Paglinawan said. "While we don't have all the answers, we make resources available to help the parent and child find the right answer."
Every one of us takes our own path, she said.
"The most rewarding feeling is when someone comes up and says, 'We did it, my child is doing well now,'" Paglinawan said.
The KOA program was formerly known as the Akamai Program, which was spearheaded by the Honolulu Police Department.
As of January 2008, the Hawaii National Guard Counterdrug Support Program in partnership with the Family Court, and the Attorney General's Office, has been able to successfully transition the program in to what it is today. Many of the volunteers, speakers and organizations have been with the program for over ten years.
This year they hope to help 360 families course correct their children's lives.