A Neighborhood Place (NP) is a community based walk in facility that is open to the public. What separates the NP’s from other child welfare providers, is their footholds in the communities that they serve, their culturally sensitive approach to working with families and most importantly, their ability to help families regardless of circumstances or referrals.

Generally, NP staff members live in the areas where they work. Each NP has an active community advisory council or board of directors whose members have strong links to the community.  Most families will have a six-month relationship with the NP with the option of the NP providing on going support for up to a year. All services are voluntary.

Currently, there are five Neighborhood Places spread across three islands here in Hawai’i. The location of the NP’s range from urban areas with highly condensed populations, to isolated rural areas with much more scattered populations. Each NP is structured to handle the varying obstacles that arise as a result of their geographical locations. Though each NP plays a unique role in their respective communities, they all offer the following basic services:

·        Referral and Linkage

·        Systems Navigation

·        Service Provider Coordination and Collaboration facilitation

·        Family Assessment

·        Coaching and Counseling

·        Outreach and Family Support

·        Parenting Education and Child Development Activities

·        Community Engagement

·        Public Awareness

The goal that the Neighborhood Places strive to achieve is preventing the need for intervention by Child Welfare Services. The NP staffs work tirelessly to assure that the families they serve have no reports of abuse or neglect during and after their program involvement. This is achieved by creating a tailor-made service plan for families that focuses on the following protective factors:

·        The ability of parents to develop and sustain caring empathic relationships

·        Strong bonding and attachment between parents and child

·        Positive social connections

·        Accurate knowledge of parenting and child development

·        Access to concrete support in times of need

Of equal importance to the Neighborhood Places is their ability to demonstrate efforts which result in an increased community commitment to reducing child abuse and neglect. There are many programs designed to work with at risk families to reduce risk factors and increasing protective factors. However, the Neighborhood Places are unique in their belief that reducing child abuse needs to be a community wide effort. To that end, Neighborhood Place efforts focus on increasing the protective factors in their communities for families. Those protective factors for the community are:

·        Identification and addressing the underlying causes of abuse and neglect in their communities and bringing them to the awareness of policy makers.

·        Hosting community wide events that strengthen the family, provide opportunities for social connections and increase knowledge of child development.

1.       We Value Relationships First and Foremost

The work of the Neighborhood Place Partnership is predicated on the value of relationships. Trusting relationships are built as we take the time to know each other, treating others with respect, withholding judgments and assumptions.  All members have strengths and are valued as partners in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services. All persons within the partnership have an equal voice working together in relationships based on equality and respect.

2.    We Act Knowing Relationships and Trust are Built on Honesty

Honesty is not simply "telling the truth". It is truthful, reliable, trustworthy and open. Being honest implies you are willing to tell the truth at a cost of personal risk. It means telling the truth out of respect for others and oneself. It is a standard of conduct and communication. Honesty is necessary for trust to exist and encompasses the virtues of truthfulness without gaps.

3.      We Collaborate with Others to Achieve Results

Together we are stronger in spirit and action than we are alone. Collaboration is the creation of shared outcomes, opportunities and risks to bring about positive results for children, families and long-term system change. Collaborators must regard each other as colleagues each with a willingness to change. Collaboration is a balancing act - building lasting relationships inside and outside the organization. The foundation of collaboration is trust.  

4.       We Recognize the Importance of Spirituality in our Life and Work, Giving Us a Sense of Hope and a Positive Future

We recognize and acknowledge that we as humans all have a spiritual element to our being. It is important that we connect with our spirit in order to:

·        Gain a deeper appreciation for the wisdom of our kupuna and

         value the lessons of our ancestors that help guide us in the choices

         we make.

·        Receive spiritual guidance and the strength to address

         challenges.

·        Recognize that in our own weaknesses, WE CAN.

5.      We Act with Humility (Ha’aha’a)

  In acknowledging our spirituality, we also are able to practice the value of Ha`aha`a.  We do this by:

·        Not bringing attention to our self.

·        Recognizing and acknowledging the contributions of others.

·        Acknowledging and encouraging other’s strengths and resources

6.      We Act with Sensitivity to Individual Circumstance

Support is provided without preconceived thoughts, feelings or ideas of one’s background, history, situation or circumstance. Culturally competent and sensitive practices are appropriately provided to all persons within our communities.

7.       We Act with Courage

The needs of children, families and our communities are the first priority of the HNP. There will be times when decisions will involve taking risks. We will have the courage to do what is right with confidence and resolution even in the face of adversity.  In our actions we honor both our head and our heart.

8.  We Embrace Change as Opportunity

Change is an opportunity to create new forms of collaboration and partnerships that can improve the safety and well being of families and children.

9.      We are Willing to Work it Out (Ho’opono)

We know that differences will arise along the path of our work and we are committed to work it out through the practice of Ho’opono. This practice will require us to:

·        Have the courage to make things right, to heal, to forgive,   

         to let go.

·        Recognize and take personal responsibility for our actions

         and consequences.

·        Take the opportunity to confront our faults, make amends

         to those we have harmed and make positive changes to 

         better our lives and our relationships.

·        Value the power of forgiveness and second chance

10.   We Take Pride in our Work

We are committed to our services and programs being results driven. Through the rigorous evaluation of our services and programs we will ensure they are achieving our intended outcomes based on best and promising practices.