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Hawaii Commission on Fatherhood

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Fathers and Children

Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003 indicates that the role of fathers in raising of children and in the health and well-being of families is often unintentionally overlooked and established the State Commission on Fatherhood to promote healthy family relationships between parents and children.

Contribute

Currently the Hawai`i State Commission on Fatherhood receives no state or federal funding but it is eligible to receive donations. If you wish to support this work to increase services for fathers and bring awareness to the importance of father involvement in their children’s lives, please make your check payable to the Hawaii Department of Human Services, (note “Commission on Fatherhood” in the Memo) and send it to:

   Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood
   c/o Barbara Yamashita, Deputy Director
   Department of Human Services
   1390 Miller Street, Room 209
   Honolulu, HI 96813

Hawai'i Coalition for Dads Website 

Hawai'i Coalition for Dads on Facebook

Mission

Brochure you can download

The mission of the Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood is to promote healthy family relationships between parents and children by emphasizing the important role fathers play in the lives of their children. The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to state agencies and makes recommendations on programs, services, contracts, policies, and laws relating to children and families.

The Commission:

    1. Acts as a central clearinghouse and coordinating body for governmental and nongovernmental activities and information regarding the promotion of healthy fathering practices;
    2. Identifies and promotes promising best practices that support and engage fathers in the emotional and financial support of their children;
    3. Identifies and supports solutions to the obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children;
    4. Raises public awareness of the importance of father involvement and the consequences of their absence to children;
    5. Recognizes outstanding fathers and father programs and services
    6. Recommends policies and practices, both within and without state government, that increase and improve services to fathers and which sustain and reengage fathers in their children’s lives;
    7. Promotes, fosters, encourages, and financially supports programs designed to educate and train men who are both current and future fathers in effective parenting skills, behaviors, and attitudes, strategies for overcoming personal challenges, and opportunities to be productive responsible contributors to their family.

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Why Were We Created?

The Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood was established by Act 156 of the 2003 Hawaii State Legislature. The Legislature noted that nationally there is a renewed understanding of the unique importance of fathers in the lives of their children, families and communities. It cited an increasing body of evidence indicating that children are more likely to thrive with support, guidance, and nurturing from both parents, and that the absence of one parent from a child’s life can place that child at a greater risk of health, emotional, educational, and behavioral problems associated with the child’s development. Since many young men today are themselves fatherless, lack appropriate role models, and/or are in need of information and education regarding the appropriate roles and responsibilities of fathers, the Legislature urged that more attention be made by the public and the state to the needs, issues, and concerns of fathers. The Legislature specifically found that the role of fathers in the raising of children and in the health and well-being of families is often unintentionally overlooked in government and non-profit contracts, programs, and services dealing with children’s health, welfare, and education, and that an ongoing statewide effort should be made to address this. 

In June, 2007, Hawai‘i ACT 190 made the Hawai‘i State Commission on Fatherhood a permanent commission.  The Commission is currently administratively attached to the Department of Human Services but functions autonomously.
 

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Who Are We?

Members

State Commission on Fatherhood: 

  Greg Farstrup, Chair  (Hawai'i Coalition for Dads)
  Chet Adessa  (Navy Fleet & Family Support Center-Oahu)
  Russ Awakuni  (Legal Aid Society of Hawaii-Oahu)
  Elwood Machado  (Kauai County)
  Claud Sutcliffe  (Mediation Center of Molokai-Maui County)
  Merton Chinen  (Office of Youth Services)
  Gordon Miyamoto  (Department of Education)
  Nickey "Tod" Robertson  (Department of Health)
  Pankaj Bhanot  (Department of Human Services)
  Tom Read  (Department of Public Safety)
  Russell Suzuki  (Department of Attorney General)


Applicants are needed for voting members on the Fatherhood Commission.
To apply to be a Commissioner in the State Commission on Fatherhood and help carry out SCF's mission, please use the Commissioner application form at this link:  http://hawaii.gov/gov/about/boards-commissions.html

For more information contact:

  Tony Benebese
  Manager, Governor's Office of Boards & Commissions
  email:tony.benebese@hawaii.gov
  Phone: (808) 586-0041

Committees

In 2005, the Commission conducted a strategic planning process to prioritize and categorize its work for the coming years. Currently, the Commission has four standing committees which are responsible for implementing projects and activities. They are:

    1. Information and Education
    2. Polices and Practices
    3. Public Relations and Promotion
    4. Events and Recognition

Meetings
The Commission has met monthly since all Commissioners were appointed in December 2004. Meetings are open to the public and are generally held the third Tuesday of every month from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm in the Lieutenant Governor’s Conference Room. Please notify the Chair if you wish to attend and to confirm the meeting time and location by sending an email to hawaii.fatherhood.commission@gmail.com 

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Hawaii Fatherhood Programs and Services

Statewide

    • The Institute For Family Enrichment (Nurturing Fathers, on Oahu & Hilo)
      (596-8433; www.tiffe.org)

Oahu

    • Navy Fleet & Family Support Center (Boot Camp For New Dads) (473-4222; www.greatlifehawaii.com)
    • The Institute for Family Enrichment (Nurturing Fathers Program) (596-8433; www.tiffe.org)

Maui

    • Maui Economic Opportunity (Head Start; BEST Reintegration Program
      (249-2990; www.meo.org)

Kauai

Hawai'i

    • Kailua-Kona/West Hawaii: West Hawaii Fatherhood Initiative, Family Support Services of West Hawai‘i (334-4153; www.fsswh.org)
    • Hilo/East Hawaii: Nurturing Fathers, TIFFE (951-5166)

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Hawaii Parenting and Educational Programs for Both Parents

Statewide

Oahu

    • Big Brothers Big Sisters (support for single dads and moms) (521-3811; www.bigshonolulu.org)
    • Kathy’s Parenting Solutions (352-3303)
    • Adult Friends for Youth (parenting education and support for youth/teen mothers and fathers) (833-8775)
    • Castle Wellness Center’s Active Parenting (parenting education) (263-5400; www.castlemed.org)
    • Families for R.E.A.L. (Resources and Early Access to Learning); (parenting education) http://familysupport.k12.hi.us/fam_real.html

- Leeward District:  453-6478

- Windward District: 233-5656

    • UH Family Education Centers of Hawaii at Manoa (parenting education) (956-2249 or 956-2248)
    • Hawaii Parental Information and Resource Center (parenting assistance) (841-6177 or 1-877-994-7472; www.hawaiipirc.org)
    • Kaneohe Family Community Center (parenting education) (Kaneohe area: 235-7747)
    • KPT Family Center (parenting education) (Kalihi area: 841-6177)
    • Neighborhood Place of Central Kalihi (parenting education and support) (Kalihi/Palama/Liliha area: 841-6177)
    • The Institute for Family Enrichment (parenting education) (596-8433; www.tiffe.org)
    • Kaiser Permanente Magical Kingdom of Parenting (parenting education) (383-5438; www.kaiserpermanente.org)
    • Kapiolani Child Protection Center (parenting education, specific to families involved with Child Protective Services) (535-7700)
    • Parent Community Networking Center (parenting education and support) (733-4737; www.parentproject.com)
    • Parents, Inc. (parenting education) (235-0488)
    • People Attentive to Children (child care referral services) (839-1988; www.patchhawaii.org)

Hawai'i

    • Family Support Services of West Hawaii (lists available resources) (334-4104; www.fsswh.org)
    • Kapiolani Child Protection Center (parenting classes for families involved with Child Protective Services) (329-4020)
    • Kealakehe High School Parent-Community Center (parent education and support) (327-4300 x432; www.parentproject.com)
    • Neighborhood Place of Kona (parenting education) (331-8777)
    • Parents, Inc. (parenting education) (934-9552)
    • People Attentive to Children (child care referral services) (Hilo: 961-3169; Kona: 325-3864; www.patchhawaii.org)
    • Personal Parenting and Assessment Services (parenting education) (327-2123; www.personalparenting.com)
    • Turning Point for Families (parenting education) (Hilo: 969-7798 x239 Kona: 326-1607; www.turningpointforfamilies.org)
    • Tutu’s House (parenting and grand-parenting education) (885-6777)
    • YMCA Family Court Visitation Center (parenting education and support) (329-2995)
    • Young Life Parent Project (parenting education) (969-7822; www.parentproject.com)

Kauai

Maui

Moloka'i

    • Hale Ho'okupa'a (parenting education) (553-3231)
    • Na Lei Mamo (parenting education) (553-8116)
    • Personal Parenting and Assessment Services (parenting education) (553-8114; www.personalparenting.com)
    • People Attentive to Children (child care referral services) (800-498-4145; www.patchhawaii.org)

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Home Visiting Services

Oahu

    • Alu Like, Inc (assistance for Native Hawaiian families) (Honolulu: 843-1417; Leeward: 674-8414; Windward: 235-6559)
    • Catholic Charities (assistance with infant care) (Honolulu: 535-0815; North Shore: 637-9559)
    • Child and Family Services’ Healthy Start (assistance with infant parenting) (531-9952)
    • Child and Family Services’ Home Reach (assistance with the parenting of young children) (543-8484)
    • Department of Health (public health nursing) (East Honolulu: 733-9220; West Honolulu: 832-5757; Central: 453-6190; Leeward: 675-0073; Windward: 233-5450)
    • Home Instruction for the Parents of Preschool Youngsters (for families with children who didn’t attend preschool) (235-7747)
    • Honolulu Community Action Program (assistance with parenting preschool age children) (847-2400; www.oahuheadstart.org)
    • Ke Ola Mamo (assistance for Native Hawaiian families) (Honolulu: 845-3388; North Shore: 232-2222; East Oahu: 259-6666; Leeward: 688-1110; Kalihi: 845-4646)
    • Keiki O Ka 'Aina (assistance for families with children who didn’t attend preschool) (845-3454)
    • Parents as Teachers (assistance with infant care) (843-2502)
    • Parents and Children Together, Healthy Start (assistance with infant and child parenting) (West Honolulu: 841-2245; East Honolulu: 988-8150; Windward: 247-4953; East Oahu: 259-0449; North Shore: 293-1241; www.pacthawaii.org)
    • Parents and Children Together, Early Head Start (assistance with infant parenting) (Kalihi: 842-5996; Kahuku: 293-5530; www.pacthawaii.org)

Hawai'i

    • Alu Like, Inc (assistance for Native Hawaiian families) (Waimea: 885-7040; Kona: 329-4801; Hilo: 934-9180)
    • Child and Family Service, Home Reach (assistance for families with infants and young children) (935-2188)
    • Department of Health (public health nursing) (East Hawai'i: 974-6025;  West Hawai'i: 322-1500)
    • Family Support Services of West Hawai’i, Healthy Start (assistance with infant and child parenting) (326-7778)
    • Family Support Services of West Hawai’i, Early Head Start (assistance with infant parenting) (Kona: 334-4134; Waimea: 885-0086 x21)
    • Hawaii Economic Opportunity, Head Start (assistance with parenting young children) (961-2686)
    • Hawai’i Parental Information and Resource Center (assistance with parenting preschool age children) (334-4111; www.hawaiipirc.org)
    • Personal Parenting and Assessment Services (assistance for families with CPS involvement) (327-2123; www.personalparenting.com)
    • YWCA of Hawai’i Island, Healthy Start (assistance with infant and child parenting (961-3877; www.ywcahawaiiisland.org)

Kaua’i

    • Alu Like, Inc (assistance for Native Hawaiian families) (245-8859)
    • Child and Family Service, Healthy Start (assistance with infant and child parenting) (245-5904)
    • Child and Family Service, Head Start (assistance with parenting preschool age children) (245-5914)
    • Child and Family Service, Home Reach (assistance and referrals for parenting infants and young children) (800-816-1222)
    • Department of Health (public health nursing) (241-3387)

Maui

    • Alu Like, Inc (assistance for Native Hawaiian families) (Hana: 248-7521; Wailuku: 244-8849)
    • Child and Family Service, Home Reach (assistance with parenting infants and young children) (877-6888; www.cfs-hawaii.org)
    • Department of Health (public health nursing) (984-8260)
    • Maui Family Support Services, Healthy Start and Early Head Start (assistance with infant and child parenting) (242-0900)
    • Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc, Head Start (assistance with parenting preschool age children) (249-2988; www.meoinc.org)

Moloka'i

    • Alu Like, Inc (assistance for Native Hawaiian families) (553-3284)
    • Department of Health (public health nursing) (553-3663)
    • Hawai'I Parental Information and Resource Center (assistance with parenting preschool age children) (553-3276; www.hawaiipirc.org)
    • Maui Economic Opportunity, Head Start (assistance with preschool age children) (249-2988; www.meoinc.org)
    • Personal Parenting and Assessment Services, Inc, Healthy Start (assistance with parenting infants and young children) (553-8114; www.personalparenting.org)

Lana'i

    • Department of Health (public health nursing) (565-7114)
    • Maui Economic Opportunity, Head Start (assistance with preschool age children) (808-249-2988; www.meoinc.org)
    • Maui Family Support Services, Healthy Start and Early Head Start (assistance and referrals for parenting infants) (565-7484)

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Family Counseling (Statewide)

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Family Law (Statewide)

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Domestic Violence (Statewide)

    • Domestic Violence Legal Hotline (531-3771)
    • Family Peace Center/PACT (832-0855)
    • Developing Options to Violence (CFS: 532-5100)

Health (Statewide)

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Resources and Links

National Organizations

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Last modified 03-14-2012 09:44 AM
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