Hawaii Advocate Program (HAP)

For children and families known to the child welfare and juvenile justice systems – or at-risk of becoming known to these systems – the Hawai‘i Advocate Program (HAP) provides comprehensive, community-based care. This statewide program strives to prevent out-of-home placements of youth.

The services, which are a replication of the nationally successful Youth Advocate Program model, are based on an intensive, individualized, strengths-based approach that focuses on the youth’s and family’s needs and goals.

Once admitted to HAP, each family is assigned a Community Advocate. The Advocate helps the family identify and cultivate relationships with persons and associations within the community that can provide support. Families receive an average of 13 hours of advocacy service per week. Services are flexible, creative and determined by the family’s needs, and are guided by a “No Reject, No Eject” policy.

Services

Individual and group counseling
Advocacy and referrals
Assessments
Individualized Service Plan development
Competency Development for Youth and Parents
Youth and Family Supports
Development of Child/Family Teams
Resource Development
In-school Assistance
Linkages to Community Resources
Group Activities (recreational, skill building, cultural, tutoring, etc.)
24-Hour Staff Accessibility/Crisis/Emergency Interventions

Population and Admission Criteria

Child Welfare Services

Families in need of foster care stabilization services to prevent imminent placement disruptions

Family Court

Violent Felony law violations
Repeated Felony law violations
Chronic Misdemeanor/Status Offenses
Youth transitioning out of Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF) (these youth may be up to age 21 years old)

Youth Responsibilities

Participation in the development of an individualized Service Plan and personal goals
Participation in program activities, at a specified number of hours per week
Attend school or maintain another appropriate educational or vocational plan

Discharge Criteria