Contact: Judith F. Clark, MPH

Executive Director, Hawaii Youth Services Network

677 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 911

Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: 808-239-7024

Fax: 808-521-3299

Website: http://www.hysn.org

Email: jclark@hysn.org

MENTORING PROGRAM AWARDED TRAINING GRANT

Honolulu, Hawaii - December 3, 2004.  The Alexander and Baldwin Foundation has awarded a $1,000 grant to Hawaii Youth Services Network for its mentoring program for children of prisoners.

"More than 5,000 children in Hawaii have a parent in prison," noted Hawaii Youth Services Network Executive Director Judith Clark.  "The need for a mentoring program for these keiki is especially great, because many of our prisoners are housed on the mainland or on another island from their families.  Maintaining communication and relationships are very difficult for these families."

The funds will bring a trainer from the Child Welfare League of America to Hawaii to work with the staff who are responsible for training and supervising the volunteer mentors. 

For more information about mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, call Hawaii Youth Services Network at 531-2198.