Kaua’i County has received a $75,000 federal grant to combat substance abuse among youths in the Kawaihau district, the largest population area on the island. The funds that will be funneled to Kawaihau Community Leadership Coalition also will be used
Kaua’i County has received a $75,000 federal grant to combat substance abuse among youths in the Kawaihau district, the largest population area on the island.
The funds that will be funneled to Kawaihau Community Leadership Coalition also will be used to motivate parents to help their children stay away from drugs, according to U.S. House Rep. Patsy Mink (D-2nd District).
Funds sent to the coalition over the last three years have helped drive down crime among youths, particularly in the Kawaihau district, said Sharon Agnew, head of youth programs for the county.
“We are really proud of our juvenile crime rates. We’ve seen an overall decrease,” Agnew said.
Alcohol and drug cases islandwide have remained steady the past seven years – about 100 cases in 1993 and an equal number for 2000, according to the county police.
But Agnew said those numbers would be higher and the federal funds would be halted if the program didn’t work.
Violent crimes dropped from a high of 210 cases in 1995 to 180 cases last year.
The coalition has helped parents by making literature available on drug prevention and referring parents to private organizations or government agencies that work with youths, Agnew said.
The county has provided administrative and fiscal help and other resources, she said.
The coalition includes residents and non-profit and community groups, including the Queen Liliuoklani Children’s Center, the Kapa’a Business Association and parent-teacher-student associations at Kapa’a High and Kapa’a Middle schools.
Funding has come through the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Office of Justice Programs.
With the latest grant, the coalition will have received $840,000 in federal and in-kind community funds over four years, Agnew said.
Funds have been used for banners, signs, training sessions and community events that stress drug prevention.
To further get the word out about the dangers of substance abuse, an advisory youth council was formed, drawing members from churches, schools and the community.
The first large-scale effort to combat substance abuse among youths on Kaua’i started after Hurricane Iniki in 1992, according to Marilyn Wong, a liaison for the coalition. The federal government provided funds to stem social problems, including drug use among youths.
The Coalition for Drug-Free Hawaii on O’ahu sought a partnership with Kaua’i groups to address drug prevention and to establish programs to encourage youths to become productive citizens, Wong said.
In 1995, the O’ahu group received federal funds and worked with a core of Kaua’i residents that had the same interest. They included Bernard Carvalho of the Kaua’i County Parks and Recreation division, Agnew, Cathy Simao and Kaui Castillo of Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center, Carol Lovell, executive director for the Kaua’i Museum, and Paul Hurley of Wailua. Today, most of the people are either part of the Kawaihau Community Leadership Coalition or work with the group.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
