Palama Settlement

“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.”

“The organization initiated a hip hop art and music program.”

“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, and a competitive sports program that requires attendance to a weekly acadmic center. Palama's goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for youth during non-schoool hours when the delinquency risk is high. Late night basketball during the summer 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. The senior program continues to draw about 200 participants who are registered in line dancing, tai chi, zumba, chair yoga, mah jong, hula, sewing classes and watercolor. The program is volunteer driven with seniors serving as coordinators and instructors drop-in activities for youth and families included a pool party, followed by an outdoor movie viewing on a 20-foot inflated screen. The game room also provides a safe environment for drop-in youth to spend afterschool hours.”

“Education - in 2019 an education director position was created and filled. Element5, a hip-hop program was initiated under the director's leadership. Element5 consisted of a music/beat-making program, as well as a break-dance and graffiti arts classes. At the end of the year, an event was held to showcase the elements of hip-hop to the community. The pre-k ace boost camp program at both the palama and linapuni school sites was again conducted. 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 students who enrolled received hearing, vision and developmental screening. A consultant conducted pre and post-test evaluation at both sites utilizing the brigance diagnostic comprehensive inventory of basic skills-revised. The ho`opa`a kakou afterschool tutoring program assisted approximately 184 unduplicated students in 2019, with an average of 310 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 learned about the u.s. Government and established their own student government. Students utilized the judicial branch to try to impeach their program president and to lodge a complaint to their supreme court in objection to a classroom rule. Computer classes were conducted in the henry and colene wong computer center twice per week with the students of the ictp who were taught the use of professional-grade graphic arts applications. Coding classes were offered afterschool and on saturdays during the summer to children ages 6 to 14. In the makery lab, afterschool children utilized the massachusetts institute of technology's scratch application to build robots with lego wedo kits. The robotics class entered the first lego challenge in december competing with teams from schools and youth groups.”

“Psycho-social well-being - the in-community treatment program (ictp) is an alternative learning program for adjudicated youth who are referred by family court. The youths are referred to the program by family court probation officers through a contract with the judiciary. Most of the youths have long histories of chronic truancy and are failing in school. Ictp provides an opportunity for youth who are failing in the traditional school setting to recover credits toward graduation by working in partnership with each youth's home school. Staff also work with probation officers to ensure compliance with family court orders and 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. The staff consists of the program manager and social worker, both with masters in social work degrees. They provide individual, group, family and crisis counseling sessions. The education director provides oversight of the academic curriculum. The youth specialist assists with assignments, conducts the physical education, drawing and painting, and computer graphic arts classes. During 2019, 19 unduplicated youths were served. In the 2019 summer, one of the youths completed the high school requirements to graduate. The youth had enrolled at kapiolani community college in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.”

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