Prevent Child Abuse Hawai‘i Conference

The Joyful Heart Foundation was invited by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to the Tenth Annual Prevent Child Abuse Hawai‘i Conference. Held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, the event was designed to help parents, caregivers and professionals address ways the local community can work collectively to prevent child abuse and neglect. This year's theme was "Strengthening Families…Because Children Matter!" Three protective factors were the focus of this year's event: Nurturing and Attachment, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development and Social Connections.

The amount of forethought, authenticity, love, and joy (of course!) that you all brought to the process was abundantly demonstrated by your level of engagement in the planning, your beautiful and impressively intentional resource area at the conference, and culminating in a truly amazing conference session—down to the pretty ribbons you tied the papers together with!

- Jennifer Murphy
Program Officer, Hawai‘i Community Foundation

The conference brought together 350 professionals and concerned community members who work with and care for children and families from across the state. Joyful Heart was asked to conduct an afternoon presentation on identifying and understanding the impact of secondary trauma and useful self-care techniques that can be employed to mitigate its effects. As part of our Heal the Healers Program, Joyful Heart designed the afternoon to provide a snapshot of our various healing modalities intended to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit.

I was so touched yesterday at the Joyful Heart presentation. Great speaker and Paula's performance was wonderful. I was in tears. Literally! I did not realize how much I needed a bit of self care, so last night I did zero work. Just talked and hung out with friend on the beach. Thank you for the reminder for me to give myself care.

- Quynh Uyen Nguyen
Family Services Coordinator, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive

The event began with a video message from Joyful Heart Founder & President, Mariska Hargitay. Mariska welcomed the participants to our joyful community and expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the Hawaiian community and everything it has given in support of the Foundation. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, trauma worker and educator, and author of Trauma Stewardship, presented on the causes and signs of vicarious trauma as well as the importance of self-care amongst those who work with abuse and neglect. Hawaiian songstress and Joyful Heart regular Paula Fuga wowed the crowd with her soulful music. Joyful Heart's staff also created a wellness fair which offered information on an array of healing and self-care techniques. Our partners at philosophy generously provided gift bags for everyone in attendance.

Aloha from Maui. I just returned from the Prevent Child Abuse Hawaiʻi conference. This was the first time I had heard about your foundation. Your presentation touched my heart I think it's awesome that there is healing going on amongst the hurt.

- Mia K. Sado
Community & Youth Program Assistant, Neighborhood Place of Wailuku

More About the Tenth Annual Prevent Child Abuse Hawai‘i Conference

The conference's keynote speaker was Dr. Stephen Bavolek, an internationally recognized leader in the fields of child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment, and parenting education. The conference also featured nationally and locally recognized speakers, exceptional workshops, a resource marketplace of agencies and organizations, and great networking opportunities.

Featured presentations at the conference included:

1. "High Empathy Equals Low Abuse in Families" by Dr. Stephen Bavolek
2. "The Virtues of Effective Parenting" by Award-winning author and parent educator Shirley Yuen

Concurrent Workshop Sessions

1. Accident or Abuse? Preventing Traumatic Head Injury by Bunny Carl Matsuura, Kapiolani Child Protection Center
2. Dealing with Hard Times: Using Our Island Intelligence by Andrew Aoki, Kanu Hawaii
3. Invisible Children's Project by Marya Grambs, Mental Health America in Hawaii and Dennis Arakaki, Invisible Children's Project
4. Parents are Primary: Meaningful Parent Involvement
5. Measuring the Impact of Advocacy & Policy by Staff of Organizational Research Services
6. Is an Ounce of Prevention Really Worth a Pound of Cure? The Dollars & Sense of Strengthening Families & Child Abuse & Neglect by Dr. Stephen Bavolek
7. Surfing Safety - Today's Online Child by Kristen Izumi-Nitao. Hawaii State Office of the Attorney General - Director of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
8. Recipe for Success: Key Ingredients of Successful Proposals by Staff of Organizational Research Services
9. The Impact of Family Violence on Child Health by Lois Magnussen, EdD, APRN, Professor and Jan Schoultz, DrPH, APRN, Professor at University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
10. A Cultural Perspective on Parenting: The Kamalama Program - Healthy Values for a Healthy Ohana by Venus Rosete - Hill, Neighborhood Place of Wailuku

The conference's Presenting Partners were Prevent Child Abuse Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Children's Trust Fund, HMSA Foundation and The Institute for Family Enrichment.

Joyful Heart is committed to supporting our community Hawai‘i, which has given so much to our organization, by helping to strengthen families and preventing the abuse and neglect of Hawai‘i's children.