Palama Settlement

“The organization amended its bylaws to increase the minimum number of board of trustee members to 18 (previously 12) and maximum number of board of trustee members to 27 (previously 18).”

“For their review, the form 990 is provided to the board prior to its submission to the irs.”

“Palama's conflict of interest policy is discussed during new trustee orientation. A signed copy of the policy is kept on file for key staff and volunteers, and trustees. Should potential conflicts of interests arise, the trustee is given the opportunity to disclose all material facts. Depending on the conflict, the trustee may recuse him/herself from a meeting or vote.”

“The executive director's compensation was reviewed and approved by the board of directors. Comparable data such as form 990 of other organizations that are similar in size was used. The process was documented in the minutes and personnel file, and was last undertaken in 2019.”

“Palama annually renews its registration with state of hawaii's department of commerce and consumer affairs, the attorney general's office and the state department of taxation and the 990 is therefore public record. Upon request, palama will make all information available to requesting parties.”

“Recreation programs are provided for low to moderate income families and individuals, at-risk youth, and the elderly. Programs for youth include learn-to-swim classes/free swim, after-school drop in activities, competitive sports and access to a computer center. Palama's goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for youth during those hours when the risk for delinquency is high. Late night basketball during the summer months provides an option for teens to engage in a physical, team sport rather than delinquent activities. The late night league drew over 200 youth from various kalihi area non-profits to the palama gym for weekly games in june and july. In addition to the games, the teams were required to participate in educational and community service components which were led by the honolulu police department, a league partner. In 2018, 200 plus senior citizens were registered to participate in line dancing, tai chi, zumba, chair yoga, mah jong, hula, pottery, watercolor and sewing classes. The program is volunteer driven with seniors serving as coordinators and instructors.”

“Education - during the 2018 summer, palama continued its pre-k ace boost camp program at both the palama and linapuni school sites. The pre-k ace boost camp is a four week, kindergarten readiness program for students without or with limited preschool experience. The students at both sites were also offered the opportunity to participate in the leadership in disabilities and achievement of hawaii's school readiness program. The children who signed up received hearing, vision and developmental screening. A pre and post-test evaluation at both sites was conducted utilizing the brigance diagnostic comprehensive inventory of basic skills revised. At pre-test, more than 50% of the linapuni students were below the kindergarten readiness level in three of the five sub-tests including rote counting, counts objects and reads upper case letters. At the end of the four week program these numbers improved to less than 50%. At post-test, the majority of the palama children were testing at the kindergarten ready level or better on all five subtests. The evaluator noticed an increase in learning skills such as the ability to self-correct and to apply learned information to their everyday world as well as an increase in confidence when post-testing at both sites. The ho`opa`a kakou afterschool tutoring program assisted approximately 180 unduplicated students in 2018, with an average of 274 visits each month. Most of the students were from neighborhood elementary schools and from homes where english is a second language. In addition to homework assistance, the children wrote and produced two plays as part of their palama drama club. In 2018, computer coding classes were conducted in the henry and colene wong computer center. The coding classes met twice per week with the students of the ictp who were taught how to use the free, on-line scratch program that was developed by the massachusetts institute of technology. Coding was also offered to the community children twice a week and on saturdays during the summer. In 2018, palama settlement's scholarship program awarded a total of $55,150 to 29 college and private school students. In addition to the hannah cochrane, and blackfield and friends awards, the rebecca kwai hin kamp, and the jane and dr. Daniel katayama scholarships established in 2015 were also awarded. Scholarship preference is given to those students who have participated in a palama program, or to those residing in the kalihi area.”

“Psycho-social well-being - the in-community treatment program (ictp) is an alternative learning program for adjudicated youth who are referred by family court. Ictp provides an opportunity for youth who are failing in school to recover credits toward graduation by working in partnership with each student's home school. Staff also work with probation officers to ensure compliance with family court plans. The program integrates mentoring, character development, one-on-one counseling, and group sessions to encourage the students to eliminate law violating behaviors and develop into healthy, productive adults. During 2018, 25 unduplicated students were served. While in the program, the number of law violations committed by these students dramatically decreased from 8 committed prior to entry to 1 while in the program. Program staff also conducts individual, group and family counseling sessions.”

“This process has not changed from the prior year.”