LIHU‘E — Six months after dozens of Kaua‘i residents pitched in to complete the Kaua‘i Community Drug Response Plan, Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste used his weekly “Media Chat” Tuesday to say the plan has provided a major boost in
LIHU‘E — Six months after dozens of Kaua‘i residents pitched in to complete the Kaua‘i Community Drug Response Plan, Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste used his weekly “Media Chat” Tuesday to say the plan has provided a major boost in efforts to respond to the island’s illegal drug problems.
“We have been successful in many of our efforts, but we mustn’t now rest on our laurels,” the mayor said. “I look forward to keeping up this momentum as we move forward with even more effort as we implement the drug-response plan.
“There are a lot of things (completed and) a lot of things on the brink that we can’t report on yet,” Baptiste added. “A number of programs need to be solidified that we can hopefully start in the upcoming year.”
That includes developing an adolescent treatment facility, adding more vice officers to the Kaua‘i Police Department unit, completing a study of kids in grades six to 12, among others.
Committees focusing on prevention, enforcement, treatment and community integration remain active, and are reporting positive accomplishments, said County Anti-Drug Coordinator Roy Nishida, who continues to manage the drug-response plan.
“We should (know about) our (federal) funds in the next couple of weeks,” Nishida said, which will help determine which programs will be implemented.
In the meantime, each of the four prongs of the mayor’s plan continue to push forward, said Nishida, adding that monthly meetings are held to discuss strategy.
Prevention
In the area of drug prevention, organizations and individuals responded in large numbers to the call for youth activities, and programs are being developed island-wide.
Baptiste indicated that he and Nishida have been working on plans for a wide array of youth activities, funded by donations from the private sector.
To find out what Kaua‘i kids are thinking, a survey of students in sixth to 12th grades is being conducted by leaders of the Kauai Children’s Discovery Museum and the Offices of Community Assistance to determine what activities are most desired and what new transportation services may be needed. Nishida said the survey is expected to be completed and analyzed by Monday, Nov. 1.
“We want to find out from them what they want,” Nishida said.
Nishida said they are expanding Challenge Day, a program that saw success at Waimea High School last school year.
The program, intended to enhance students’ self esteem, will be brought to Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a high schools, on Nov. 12 and 15, respectively, said county Public Information Officer Cyndi Mei Ozaki.
Additionally, the Westside Drug Coalition reported that it is working on programs such as bicycle-repair clinics, mentoring programs for the classrooms, and using popular venues such as movie screenings to share anti-drug messages.
Teachers got a refresher course on drugs recently, too, Nishida said.
A recent state Department of Education teachers’ academy gave some Kaua‘i teachers an opportunity to learn about drug identification, dealing with problem behaviors, and drug prevention. A follow-up to this academy is planned for February.
Also, school Parent Community Networking Centers (PCNC) have received federal funding for the parent-training project, “Guiding Good Choices,” to aid prevention efforts at the home level, Ozaki added.
On Monday, Nov. 1, U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo will be meeting with members of the faith-based community on Kaua‘i to see how they can help in drug prevention, by connecting them with funding.
Kubo is “trying to link up their efforts with sources of revenue,” Baptiste said.
Enforcement
The island has seen an increase in enforcement efforts, as indicated by the drug arrests that have taken place in recent months, Baptiste said.
Vice officers frequently work shifts of over 24 hours to carry out the idea of “constant enforcement,” said Ozaki. As a result, thousands of hits of ice have been kept out of Kaua‘i neighborhoods.
With the support of the County Council, the Kaua‘i Police Department vice unit was doubled with the addition of five officers in the last budget process. While the amount has been approved, “We haven’t gotten enough officers to fill (the positions) yet,” said KPD Chief K.C. Lum, adding that since a new group of police officers will soon be hitting the streets after completing training, the positions will be filled slowly within the next month.
The enforcement committee has reported to Nishida that it has begun to develop a package of legislation to assist Kaua‘i’s enforcement efforts — a package that, once developed, will require community, administrative and County Council support.
Kubo met with the enforcement committee last week to help in developing legislation.
Treatment
In the area of treatment, county officials are in the planning stage as they develop an adolescent residential treatment facility in Hanapepe at the former Kauai Humane Society building, the mayor said.
Nishida said four groups, some from Kaua‘i and some from elsewhere, have expressed interest in bidding on facility operations. Three of the four are currently running other programs elsewhere, Nishida said, meaning they have qualified people already on staff to help treat adolescents.
The architectural designs are expected to be completed this fall, and county officials are preparing to submit permit applications to the county Planning Department, Ozaki said.
Additionally, leaders of other organizations are diligently working on developing plans and permit applications for other facilities, such as the adult male and women’s treatment facilities.
Members of the treatment committee also reported that speakers have been identified to make presentations on symptoms of drug abuse and drug-treatment options.
Integration
Nishida declared the integration committee has seen successes, in partnership with the faith-based community.
A program at the Kauai Community Correctional Center provides a weekly training session for inmates, dealing with pride, fear, anger, rage and violence, among other topics, Ozaki said.
This program was greatly helped by the Rev. Dr. John Zimmerman, of the National Prison Ministry, who conducted a two-day session to train about 30 volunteers in helping prisoners utilize community services outside of the prison system, Nishida said.
“Participants are very excited about the program,” the mayor said.
“Thanks to the mayor,” Nishida said, “for providing (Zimmerman) his transportation costs.”
A “storefront” program, through Aloha Church, provides a place where recently released inmates from Kauai Community Correctional Center may find a clothes closet and a place to shower, use a phone and a computer, and prepare for job interviews.
“It’s working out really good now,” Nishida said. “Many parolees have used their services.”
Members of the public, “those that are down and out,” have also been using the storefront to get some help, Nishida added.
“Groups and individuals out there continue to work hard at this everyday, for the betterment of our entire island,” the mayor stated. “I cannot express enough appreciation and gratitude to all of those who are giving of themselves now, for Kaua‘i’s future.”
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
