MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOWS
PROMISING MINDS FELLOWS PROGRAM Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Professionals Hawai`i Learning Community
MEET OUR FELLOWS Prepared by Charlee Tanuvasa The 2020 Cohort of the Promising Minds Fellows Program is led by mentors Amanda Luning and Erin Henderson, The Association for Infant Mental Health in Hawai`i and the Hawai`i Community Foundation. This booklet has been prepared for you to meet and get to know those involved in our inaugural program year. Our hope is to build strong connections with one another as we work together to develop relationships and systems that passionately support the vital first relationships of all of Hawai`i’s youngest!
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FUNDERS
MEET OUR FUNDERS
OUR GENEROUS PARTNERS The Promising Minds Initiative is funded by: Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation Gwenfread Elaine Allen Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation Harold K. Castle Foundation
Amplify the Power of Giving
Koaniani Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation Omidiyar `Ohana Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Stupski Foundation
- Hawaii Community Foundation
APRIL 2020 | MEET OUR MENTOR: ERIN HENDERSON LACERDO
MEET OUR MENTOR Erin Henderson Lacerdo, LCSW, IMH-E® HISTORY: Erin was born to Aaron and Iris Henderson while living on the island of Maui, and she grew up in Kunia, Oʻahu. She is the third of four children – with one sister and two brothers – so she definitely has some middle child syndrome! Once upon a time, Erin paddled for Waikīkī Surf Club and proudly crossed the Kaʻiwi channel for the first time nearly 10 years ago. Erin just got married last year and she is expecting baby #1 this July! It’s a good thing she loves babies and moms – now will be the time to put all theories to the test! GOALS: Clean my house, for once. Learn to cook at least three real dishes (not breakfast). Start being an adult and go to sleep by 10:00 pm. Read the books that sit on my nightstand. Remember that we all need to be “good enough.” Continue my life’s work of supporting first relationships.
WORK: Erin has a degree in History and Psychology, since she initially wanted to be a high school teacher. She returned home to Hawaii and began to work with children with special needs. After completing her MSW, she then started as an intern at Keiki O Ka ʻĀina Family Learning Centers, where she first spent time working with children impacted by incarceration. Through that work, Erin was able to work in the prisons by helping inmates become the best
Na wai hoʻi ka ʻole o ke akamai, he alanui i maʻa i ka hele ʻia e oʻu mau mākua?
parents they could, from the inside. She then transferred to the Healthy Marriages program and shortly thereafter, was trained as an Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch Up Parent Coach. For the next few years, she dedicated her career to learning clinical skills, developing a deep love for attachment theory, and enhancing the relationships of many babies and their caregivers. Erin then moved to be a child development specialist before her heading into her current position in home visiting programs, serving families prenatal through age 5. During that time, Erin also trained as a Child/Parent Psychotherapist, obtained Endorsement as an Infant Family Specialist, and completed her licensure for LCSW.
Why shouldn’t I know, when it is a road often traveled by my parents?
HOPES: I hope that one day, society will see the preciousness of a baby’s first relationships with caregivers and cherish that bond. If only we could have a world where this relationship was valued above all else, we could change the trajectory of lives everywhere. I also hope I turn out to be a good mom.
- ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #2301
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR MENTOR: AMANDA LUNING
MEET OUR MENTOR Amanda Luning, LMHC, IMH-E® HISTORY: Amanda was born in Maui but was raised on Oahu and went to “public school all the way!” She is the middle child of five (all the “types” of siblings), has been married for almost 20 years and her family loves to watch ‘Harry Potter’ and go to the beach at night. She’s a dog and a cat person equally and thinks that “running late” should definitely count as exercise. GOALS: Get serious about yoga again, no more laughing, seriously this time Stop talking so fast, and so much Fully and fluently learn a second language, either Hawaiian or Haitian Creole (but it’s time to pick because it’s getting very confusing), and talk fast in that language Be on the team that finds a cure/treatment and/or vaccine for COVID-19…or at least support them To always support all folks in acts of
“Let me hold that for you mom,
forgiveness, including for oneself
yours looks heavy.”-NL
WORK: Amanda has a degree in Early Childhood Education and was a preschool teacher for many years, including training with the Child Development Centers in Hickam AFB. She got into mental health “by accident” when her husband joined the Army after 9/11 and she thought they were moving and got a temp job answering the phone for a psychiatrist (he got stationed at Wheeler on Oahu, doh). She did mental health and medical administration for many years and then went back to school and trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She is an Endorsed Clinical Infant Mental Health Mentor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and currently primarily practices Child/Parent Psychotherapy. Amanda is the Parent/Child Services Manager at Salvation Army Family Treatment Services and does advocacy work in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. She says when she went from teaching preschool to working with men recently released from prison, it felt like “basically the same thing.” HOPES: “I have a hope that everyone will realize that to nurture and be nurtured is a the primary goal of humanity” (hence the quote above). Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health professionals have a unique specialization to make this a reality. The practice of intentional wonder and empathy towards the state of another person holds amazing promise in making lots of things much better.
There is no single effort more radical in its potential for saving the world than a transformation of the way we raise our children. - Marriane Williamson
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOWS
MEET OUR FELLOWS
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: JILL BEATTY
MEET OUR FELLOW Jill Beatty, LSW HISTORY: Jill was born at the old Ewa Plantation Hospital on the island of Oʻahu. As a young child, she and her family moved to Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a Ranch on Hawai’i Island, a place she still considers “home.” Jill grew up surrounded by horses, cows, dogs, cats, pigs, goats and sheep. Her favorite memories are of riding her horse, Poi Boy, in the mountains and eating guava together. Her love for animals continues to this day and she currently has two very spoiled dogs, Oli and Stanley. She is married to a kind and supportive husband and is a mommy to the most wonderful 20year-old young woman in the whole world! She considers being a mom the greatest joy and privilege of her life. GOALS: Learn to bake bread. Start an animal sanctuary for animals to live out the rest of their lives in love. Foster therapeutic relationships between animals and children. Read all the books on her kindle. Be like her daughter when she grows up.
WORK: Jill obtained her BA at the University of Arizona where she majored in Psychology, Japanese, and English. Upon graduation, she moved to Japan to better appreciate the culture, language and to teach English for six months. During that time her desire to work in the helping field blossomed and prompted her to apply to UH Manoa’s School of Social Work. After completing her MSW, she began her social work career at Queen Liliʻuokalani Children’s Center. For the next several years she learned how to better support families and grew in her appreciation of human resiliency and strength all though a Hawaiian cultural lens. Her next adventure took her Big Brothers Big Sisters on Maui where she saw the importance of nurturing adults in young children’s lives. Next stop was at Child and Family Service on Kauaʻi as a Program Director for the Healthy Start program. It was here that she developed a love for early childhood and how special the early years are for babies and their caregivers. Finally, she circled back to her first training ground at Liliʻuokalani Trust. It was here that she was trained as an Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch Up Parent Coach further reinforcing the importance of those early years. Her passion in supporting early and nurturing relationships between babies and their caregivers continues to grow to this day. HOPES: Her hope is for all babies to feel forever loved and cared for and that their first relationships will be ones of nurturance and stability.
Children only become spoiled when we substitute presents for presence. - Anthony Witham
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: BRIDGET CARRANZA
MEET OUR FELLOW Bridget Carranza, MA HISTORY: (Personal History) Born in Idaho and after college spent 12 years in Washington – 9 of those years in Seattle. I come from a small rural farming town. At our first Fellows session many people stated they grew up on a ranch. I grew up on a farm where we grew and hunted all of our food. I married my high school sweetheart and we have 3 children (21, 14, & 6). My oldest just got married, so I am still getting use to saying I have a daughter-in-law.
(Professional History) I have spent most of my time being a stay at home mom, while working various social services positions. The two most memorable and rewarding opportunities has been working an inpatient substance treatment center for women. Women were able to bring their children to the 6 months program. My role was to increase understanding of child development and encourage appropriate interactions. My second opportunity was being the coordinator/teacher of a small co-op preschool. Our preschool’s motto was that children learn through play, a motto that I still believe in. GOALS: That is a big question! I am a teen mom and a first generation college graduate. I have achieved my biggest goal (a dream I never thought could be possible) of becoming a marriage and family therapist. While I am working towards my licensure my goal is to stay open-minded as to the possibilities and to learn as much as I can as I develop my skills. This goal has brought me to the area of infant mental health and family therapy. I thought I was going to be working with adolescents, but I am so glad I came upon working with families with infants.
WORK: I currently work at Parents and Children Together in the ABC Program (Attachment Biobehavioral Catch-up Program). I get to go to homes of families with infants that have CWS involvement. We complete a 10-week, strength-based program to foster stronger attachments. The visits are video recorded to show the family highlights of interactions that boost attachment. Simply put; I bring toys and encourage parents to sit on the floor and play with their child while I comment on the great interactions they have. It is as awesome as it sounds – I am very grateful- not just for this work that I get to do, but to be able to watch the change in relationships through the 10-week program.
Help a parent and you've already helped a child
HOPES: My hope with the Promising Minds Fellowship is to broaden my network of peers, to increase my understanding of attachment, and the effects that attachment has on the developing child.
- Johanna Scott
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: MAYUMI COLOMA
MEET OUR FELLOW Mayumi Coloma, LCSW HISTORY: Mayumi grew up in Berkeley, California, spending much of her time riding her bike, doing flips on bars at the playground, and falling in love with all the furry creatures she ever did see. Growing up, and going into her young adult years, Mayumi had the fortune to experience life (as a student and a teacher) in many countries and cultures including Japan, France, Italy, and New Zealand, (all the while travelling to other places!).
More recently, Mayumi has settled down and is perhaps not so much “all over the place.” She has been living in Hawaii for over 10 years, and got married in 2016. These days Mayumi enjoys endurance running, connecting with friends, and spending time with family (both human and furry). She does not have any children of her own, but relishes being around them every day through her current work in Early Intervention. GOALS: Touch those toes! Stay connected with friends, embrace vulnerability, and build emotional intimacy. Know when to go 110% vs. when to slow down; and remember that both are ok. Run a marathon outside of Hawaii. Build confidence and competence personally and professionally.
WORK: Mayumi has done it all from being an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Washington state, to teaching English in Japan, to working with Guide Dogs. In 2009 Mayumi moved to Hawaii to study Social Work at Hawaii Pacific University, obtaining her MSW in 2011. Since then Mayumi has worked clinically with adolescents and adults (in inpatient and outpatient settings), worked on a veterinary hospice team providing social work consultancy, and worked in Early Intervention, assisting families with babies and toddlers with developmental delays. She received her clinical license (L.C.S.W.) in the summer of 2017. For Mayumi, Early Intervention is her “happy place.”
HOPES: Mayumi hopes that through her work and in her personal life, that she can encourage others to honor the values of compassion, relationships, and persistence.
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. - Anaïs Nin
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: JULIANA ALMENDROS GARCIA
MEET OUR FELLOW Juliana Almendros Garcia, M.Ed Special Educator HISTORY: I was born in Brazil and always loved to interact with all people. Growing up in a third world country you can find lots of adversities and challenges. Being the single child and growing up without a dad, my mother was definitely a superhero. My mom was a Geography teacher working in the Public School system in Brazil; therefore I witnessed face to face the difficulties that my mom had to try to understand and accommodate the different personalities and needs from the students with the curriculum. When I got married in Brazil, my husband who works in IT was invited to move to Atlanta, Georgia. We lived in Georgia for 9 years when our hearts missed to live in a place where the tropical weather and ocean existed. Nevertheless, I decided to quit my DOE job and we moved from Georgia to Hawaii with our only son who were 2 years old at the time. I must be honest, best decision in the whole entire world. We lived on Oahu for 2 years; however, we were still seeking the island feel that we did not quite find on Oahu; therefore, here we go again, we decided to move to Big Island last year, in which we are very happy. I cannot wait to explore more of this beautiful Island and meet interesting people in my field. GOALS: Meet more people in the field of early intervention. Work more with the community and with children who have ASD and other developmental delays. Play and hang out more with my little man. Enjoy the company of people who really make me happy. Say “no” more.
WORK: In Brazil I completed my undergraduate program as an Educational Psychologist and I used to work as a Brazilian Sign Language Interpreter in the undergraduate programs, interpreting Portuguese spoken language to students. I also work accommodating materials written in Portuguese into Braille at the University in which I was an interpreter for. After I moved to the U.S., I started learning English and got hired as a pre-school teacher in a private pre-school. When my English started to get better, I started the Master’s program in Special Education at the University of Georgia. Once I completed the program I started working in the Department of Education. Once I moved to Hawaii, I already got accepted in the Department of Education here and started working right away. My hearts always bit faster when I started learning more about Early Intervention; therefore, I sent an application to Easterseals Hawaii and got accepted on Oahu; in which I transferred to Big Island later on. HOPES:
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
I hope someday society can be more accepting of differences and I hope that everyone, no matter their disabilities and/or limitations, still be respected and live their lives with dignity and kindness.
- American Proverb
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: MICHELLE ISHIDA
MEET OUR FELLOW Michelle Ishida, LSW HISTORY: Michelle was born and raised in East Honolulu, spending lots of time at the beach, on the ocean paddling and playing tennis. She is an only child, and proudly dispels the only child syndrome as a myth! Michelle has been married to her high school sweetheart for the last fourteen years and are raising two spirited kiddos together. When they are not usually at the baseball field or dance studio, they enjoy hiking, going to the beach, watching Star Wars or Harry Potter movies and You Tube channels (of cute bunnies or Dude Perfect) together. GOALS: Actually, do my yoga video/program that I bought more than once. Finish painting the inside of my house, which we started over four years ago! Be more consistent in getting 8,000 steps in most days of the week. Become a better listener by not talking so much! Start saving for retirement Figure out if I want to obtain my LCSW Continue to practice gratitude!
WORK: While working as psychology research assistant and coordinator for Mary Rothbart, Ph.D. and Mike Posner, Ph.D. in their attention and temperament lab while studying Psychology at the University of Oregon, Michelle realized she wanted to go into the field of Social Work to continue to work with children and their families. She returned home to Hawaii to receive a Master of Social Work from UH Manoa. While a graduate student, Michelle interned at Kaiser Outpatient Clinic as a medical social worker working with isolated seniors, adults with mental health needs, and assisting family’s access much needed community resources. She also interned at Punahou School as a school social worker. Michelle facilitated social skill, bereavement, and a variety of other small groups with elementary age children. For the past 16 years, Michelle has worked as a Care Coordinator for Easterseals, Early Intervention in the East Honolulu community. Things have changed through the years with the different models of practice, therapists, and state procedures, but her love for making a positive impact in each individual family unit drives her to continue working and supporting children with special needs and their families. HOPES: I hope that family units in our country can survive during the challenges from the COVID-19 shutdown, re-assess what is truly important to them, develop new strategies for themselves in face of adversity, and come out on the other side stronger. I also hope to find an inspirational quote to share with others!
Always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. - A.A. Milne
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: LEE LACERDO
MEET OUR FELLOW Lee Lacerdo, LCSW HISTORY: I graduated with my Master’s in Social Work and later got my LCSW. I began my career in social work working for a private, non-profit social service agency primarily serving families involved with Child Welfare Services and the Judiciary. I worked as a case manager, Family Counselor (home based), therapist (office based), Program Director and Program Administrator focusing my work on child abuse and neglect (physical, verbal and sexual). After 17 years, I decided it was time for a change and for the last 5 years, I worked as a Project Manager for the State of Hawaii doing Quality Assurance for Child Welfare Services.
In 2017, I was invited to join a ChildParent Psychotherapy cohort where my passion for doing direct work with families got ignited again and I opened my private practice in 2018. I was later rostered on the ChildParent Psychotherapy website after completing the requirements for the cohort. It has been a whirlwind but it was worth it. GOALS: Although I have some knowledge of infant and early child mental health, I want to increase this knowledge and learn how to apply this to my practice and work with this young population
WORK: I am currently in full-time private practice in Waipio. My specialties include: trauma, life transitions, women’s issues, Child Parent Psychotherapy, play therapy, stress and clinical supervision for LCSW licensure. I am also on-call with the State of Hawaii doing Quality Assurance for Child Welfare Services. HOPES: My hope is that social service providers who work with families acknowledge the need to address infant and early child mental health. It is also my hope that they have a one-stop shop to access
It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are. - E.E. Cummings
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: KISHA OKUNA
MEET OUR FELLOW Kisha Okuna, MSW HISTORY: Kisha was born to Leilani and Michael David in Kailua-Kona. She is the oldest of three children- with a brother 15 months younger and a sister four years younger than her. Kisha is very close to her parents and siblings, and even after moving out of her parent’s house at 18, she still views her parent’s house as “home.” Kisha has been married to Jeff Okuna for 11 years. Together they have three children, Leina’ala (16), Kaleihua (14) and Brenden (10). Kisha and Jeff always have a vacation planned (even if it’s a staycation) and use that time to make memories and spend quality time with their children. GOALS: Make my house more comfortable while in quarantine. Keep up with my son’s school work (I get so caught up with work, he gets away with “forgetting” to do his work). Actually “stay home” (it is so hard; my kids never leave the house, but I sometimes make excuses to go to Target). Exercise at home at least three time a week (I miss Planet Fitness!).
WORK: Kisha completed her BS in Psychology. Prior to finishing, she worked 8 years as an assistant in the social services field, assisting social workers for Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services. With her BS, she worked as a Child Welfare Contracted Worker doing home visits and as a Voluntary Case Manager for four years before deciding to go back to school to get her MSW. While in school, Kisha worked part time licensing foster homes. Kisha completed both her general and clinical field placement at Liliʻuokalani Trust where she was hired as a teammate before completing her final semester of her program. Kisha just began her journey on working on her LCSW this year. HOPES: To learn more about infants and early childhood behaviors that will help me understand working with the 0-3 population.
Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better. - Maya Angelou
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: NICOLE RELACION
MEET OUR FELLOW Nicole Relacion, MSW HISTORY: Nicole was born on the island of Kauaʻi and grew up in Wailua Homesteads surrounded by mountains and farm animals. She has ten brothers, four parents, and a billion nieces and nephews (or at least it feels like it). Nicole was always either in a corner lost in a book or wrangling the five siblings below her. She eventually moved to Hilo to study at University of Hawaiʻi before doing a student exchange to Oregon State University. What was supposed to be 11 weeks turned into 8 years before Nicole finally made her way back home to Hawaiʻi bringing her cat Bailey with her. GOALS: Figure out what to do with my hands in photos. Go hiking once a week. Be more comfortable saying “no” when my plate is full. Be better at realizing when my plate is full. Make an impact on my community.
WORK: Nicole gained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology before receiving a Master’s in Social Work. While completing her Bachelor’s at Oregon State University, Nicole worked with children with special needs at IMPACT, an after-school program and with adults with special needs in group homes with Home Life Inc. Nicole then moved to Portland and worked at a group home for older adults with schizophrenia and co-occurring diagnoses, before settling in for five years as a Skills Trainer at Trillium Family Services. While at Trillium, Nicole worked in both the Secure Children’s Inpatient Unit and Intensive Community Treatment Services with children and adolescent from 5 to 18 years old, where she developed skills in trauma informed care and became passionate in learning about ACEs and the impacts of trauma across the lifespan. During her graduate program Nicole became interested in Social Work at the mezzo and macro levels and interned at National Crittenton, engaging in policy
Ka lei hāʻule ʻole, he keiki.
and advocacy work focusing on system involved girls and young women. Her next internship then took her to the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Division where she worked on community change initiatives impacting adjudicated youth. After 8 years in Oregon, Nicole finally moved home to Kauaʻi where she now works as a Direct Service Specialist at Liliʻuokalani Trust providing case management and counseling for Native Hawaiian kamaliʻi and their ʻohana.
HOPES:
A lei that is never cast aside is oneʻs child.
I hope for a world where children no longer have to break the cycles of intergenerational trauma and they can just be children. I hope for a world where comprehensive support systems for caregivers and ʻohana are built into every day society and can be accessed without fear or judgement.
-Mary Kawena Pukui
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: ERI RODRIGUES
MEET OUR FELLOW Eri Rodrigues, LSW HISTORY: Eri was born in Osaka, Japan as the oldest of three girls. She later learned that she had an identical twin sister who passed after few days following birth. She also learned that she was in the NICU for a month due to low birth weight and was in and out of hospitalization during her first year of life. She has however been healthy ever since and got multiple zero absence awards as a student! Due to her father’s job, Eri’s family moved in and out of Japan since she was little. Eri was a toddler with a strong British accent at one point and had to learn to code switch her Japanese dialect when her family moved to the suburb of Tokyo. Her mother and sisters reside in Japan, but Hawaii has become her home in the past 7 years. She lives with her husband, Jassen, born and raised in Ewa Beach, and their about to be 10-year-old “puppy”, Jack Jack in Wahiawa. GOALS: Take this opportunity to telecommute from home to tidy up and do some learning and exercise that have been intended for the last many years. Come to see that “I did (even a little) something” instead of “I did not get much done” in my day. Continue to grow in the work that I do with the families to be able to confidently call myself an “infant mental health clinician” by the end of this fellowship.
WORK: Eri’s work with families with young children (beyond her family) go back to high school when she was asked to babysit by some families in her neighborhood. She also started having some opportunities to teach piano to some little ones and ended up with a part-time classroom position at the children’s center on campus as an undergraduate student in Southern California. Although she had planned to purse a graduate degree, she returned to Japan after completing a degree in Psychology and a minor in Music to spend some time with her father who had been diagnosed with cancer. Eri found some opportunities to work in early childhood education and other school settings in the Japanese and the international communities around Tokyo and is licensed in early childhood education (for children ages 3-5) and as a caregiver (for children ages 0-5) in Japan. Life took her back to pursue a graduate degree in Hawaii and Eri has had opportunities to be involved with some agencies and programs such as the HUGS, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii and The Salvation Army Family Treatment Services while completing her MSW. She worked with some families through the early intervention program before joining SAFTS as a Family and Play Therapist in 2018. She is also a rostered Child-Parent Psychotherapy provider and is about to complete her training in Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in
If our society were truly to appreciate the significance of children's emotional ties throughout the first years of life, it would no longer tolerate children growing up or parents having to struggle in situations which could not possibly nourish healthy growth.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. HOPES: I hope that the ideas we work around in infant mental health will one day be part of a common universal language and that fostering healthy foundational relationships will start to make its miracles across generations.
- Stanley Greenspan
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: UNA STARBUCK
MEET OUR FELLOW Una Starbuck, MA, LMFT HISTORY: I grew up on the island of Maui, left and explored the world via higher education (San Francisco) and travel (Egypt, Nepal, Australia…), and returned to Hawaii to both help my family and serve the Maui Community. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Somatics from the California Institute of Integral Studies. I live in the Mauka Region on Maui on a farm with my beloved husband, 2 cats, 1 dog, 2 cows, 14 goats, 50+ chickens and a grumpy but loveable donkey named Liberty. GOALS: To be an excellent trauma therapist for children, teens and adults here on Maui. To have therapy be fun, creative, effective, brain-based and forward moving. To develop Hawaii centered curriculum for kids, teens and parents that help us make friends with thoughts, feelings and sensations, and strengthen our selves. To contribute to my community therapeutically, make the needed things happen so that local kids are healthy mentally and emotionally and empowered. To get better at watercolor painting. (My coronavirus shutdown hobby.)
WORK: I am currently in private practice here in Kahului, Maui. I just moved into full-time private practice this past January 2020. Previously to this, I worked for seven years at Child and Family Service, Maui Office, first as a therapist for the Maui Sexual Assault Center and in domestic violence programs, and then for the last year as a Clinical Supervisor for therapists in CFS’s Maui County Programs, including Molokai programs. I am a rostered clinician in Child-Parent Psychotherapy. HOPES: That this crisis causes good community change for us all to be able to afford and live sustainably in Hawaii. That we all know how wonderful and unique we each are. That we live more in harmony with each other and nature.
We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. - Stacia Tauscher
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: LINNIE TAN
MEET OUR FELLOW Linnie Tan HISTORY: I was born and raised in Malaysia. Unique fact: I speak, read, and write Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Malay and Hokkien (too rusty now with the last two language/ dialect due to the lack of opportunities to practice). Getting an education at BYU Hawaii was the best option for me and my siblings since it was almost impossible to get into any of the local universities in Malaysia due to overt systemic discriminations. I came to Hawaii at age 19 to attend BYU-Hawaii. At age 21, I took a break from school and served a fulltime mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Singapore and Malaysia for 18 months. My 18-months mission led me to pursue a Social Work degree upon returning to BYU-Hawaii campus. It was very much different from the Hotel and Restaurant Management degree I was pursuing. I knew I wanted to help people. I was very interested in Psychology, particularly how our early life experiences may impact how we act and react to different situations. My undergraduate internship was working in an outpatient adult mental health unit. My graduate degree from BYU-Provo was also in Social Work. My graduate internship was mostly focused on children and youth mental health. GOAL: My goal is support families with special needs young children.
WORK: With my MSW, I worked as an in-home and in-school therapist for the children and youth at PACT. I took a 10-years break to be a stay-at-home mom to my three children but I worked from home part time as a piano teacher for beginner students. About 7 ½ year ago I started working at PCDC Wahiawa in Early Intervention. I love being a Care Coordinator and a Program Director of this Early Intervention program. I love helping children with developmental delays and their families access resources they need, both directly and indirectly. HOPES: I hope to retire with enough income (…who does not?), to support my desire to serve families with children with special needs locally and internationally. I hope to continue to help families (caregivers) and children develop strong and healthy attachments with each other, especially the first 8 years of their lives because those bonds will strengthen the children’s ability to withstand trials and challenges in life.
And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet. - Shel Silverstein
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: ANUHEA WALL
MEET OUR FELLOW Anuhea Wall, MSW HISTORY: Anuhea was born and raised in Kealakekua, HI and graduated from Konawaena High School in 2011. A huge part of her upbringing was tied to the values and lessons learned on Wall Ranch. Anuhea left Kona to earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then a Master of Social Work from Pacific University in Forest Grove and Eugene, OR respectively. Anuhea enjoys playing sports like Basketball and Volleyball and hanging out with her nephews (Skye - 4 years, and Kamaehu - 6 months old). GOALS: Get my LCSW! Spoil my nephews to no end. Teach my cat how to fetch.
WORK: After graduating from her MSW program, Anuhea accepted an offer at her previous internship placement, Ophelia’s Place (OP). OP is a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment, education, and support of adolescent girls (ages 10-18). In 2 years Anuhea helped the non-profit create a satellite location in a rural neighbor town, expand services in strengths-based therapy and afterschool programs, and author a new empowerment-based group curriculum for girls of color.
In the Fall of 2019, Anuhea finally made the move home to Kealakekua. Her reasoning being, welcoming a new baby boy to the family! Her nephew Kamaehu was born on August 22nd and she enjoyed two months of full-time Aunty-hood before finally landing a job at Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT).
Currently, Anuhea serves Native Hawaiian youth and their families as a Direct Services Specialist at LT. She really enjoys working with the adolescent-teenage population addressing a range of challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, body image, and identity. HOPES: I hope that this program gives me the much-needed skill and experience to provide quality interventions for children ages 0-5. I hope that my understanding of
We do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on it.
childhood and the lifespan is enriched so that I am better equipped to share that knowledge with others. I also hope that the result of this collective crisis is that we come together more as human beings. I hope we truly value every person in our lives ages 0-100 - and we appreciate every moment we get to spend connecting with each other and filling our cups.
- John Dewey
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: ERIKA WARNER
MEET OUR FELLOW Erika Warner, LCSW, CSAC HISTORY: Erika was born to Harry and Olivia Warren in San Francisco California. She grew up mostly in southern California. She is the oldest of two, her brother is four years younger. Erika grew up loving to dance and play with her friends. Erika has always been a social person who loved to help others. In high school she was involved in student government and was a peer mentor. Senior year she was awarded with the Peer Mentor of the Year Award, after peer counseling 10 students that year. Erika is married without children, by choice. She has 8 god children, and loves being the best auntie on the block. GOAL: Read the books on my nightstand Mediate everyday Let myself be “good enough” Make people know they are enough Help people reflect and connect on their early childhood experiences to halt dysfunctional patterns and begin to heal Assist healers in their journeys
WORK: Erika earned her sociology degree at California State University of Northridge. She later moved to Hawaii to purse her master’s degree in social work. During her final year as an MSW student, she interned at Salvation Army Family Treatment Services (SA-FTS) - Women’s Way Residential Substance Use Disorder program for pregnant and parenting women. This was a great fit. Erika believes that when you change a woman’s way of being, you change the family’s life, which impacts communities. Women impact everything they touch. Through her extensive counseling experience with women, Erika learned just how impactful first relationships were in shaping women’s relationship patterns and self-esteem in throughout their life. Erika quickly moved up the ranks at SA-FTS and became a supervisor, faced with assisting the counselors in processing their own belief systems, transference issues and helping clinicians grow and use reflective supervision to enhance their client’s experiences, as well as their own. Recently, Erika as become a certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy, and has started a private practice, Reflect & Connect, LLC. Erika serves families and individuals in a relational framework, Reflect & Connect, LLC. HOPES: I hope to partner with more individuals and families to help heal and break cyclical patterns in their families that lead to depression, anxiety and insecurities.
Don't become too preoccupied with what is happening around you. Pay more attention to what is going on within you. - Mary-Frances Winters
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOW: SHANA HOKUONALANI YOUNG
MEET OUR FELLOW Shana Hokuonalani Young, MAMF HISTORY: Shana was born on Oahu raised in Hilo during the school months and lived on Oahu during all school vacations with her grandparents (when vacations were 3 full summer months, 2 weeks of Christmas, two weeks of Spring Break). When she was a little girl,she often climbed her grandparents mango tree and jump off the roof in Pearl City; causing her grandparents high blood pressure to soar. Shana loves zip lining, roller coasters, and someday hopes to skydive. Growing up, Shana was always the child who was put in charge of taking care of not only her siblings but all younger cousins, and the neighborhood kids. Shana has been married for 26 years, and has three children (28 years old, 23 years old, and a six year old). In December of this year, Shana became a Popo (Chinese for grandmother) to the most beautiful little lady named Kaʻiulani Rose. GOALS: Eventually get licensed in Child and Family Therapy. Learn to LIKE cooking Decrease my cussing Increase my positive impact on the lives of children & their families. To be happy, healthy, and at peace
WORK: Shana has degrees in Early Childhood Education, Child & Family Welfare, and Marriage & Family Counseling. She spent most of her career working in Early Childhood Education; starting out as a young teacherʻs aide in the 90ʻs, moving on to lead teacher postions, director positons,and a site coordinator. Shana also spent time as a case manager for home bound, fragile kupuna. Currently, she works at the Liliuokalani Trust as a Direct Services Specialist. As a side gig; Shana enjoys doing makeup for proms, weddings, senior portraits, pageants, fashion shows, and a few Merrie Monarch queens.
HOPES: I hope that one day, to leave behind a lasting, powerful, impactful, and inspirational legacy in my work with families and children. I hope that I get to witness my own children raising their families with all the tools Iʻve given them to raise kind, compassionate, forgiving, productive, and intelligent humans.
Somewhere early on, I got the idea inside of me that childhood was valuable, that children were worthy of being seen AND heard,who they were had a lot to do with how our world would become. - Fred Rogers
MAY 2020 | MEET OUR FELLOWS
MAHALO!
MAHALO! Association for Infant Mental Health in Hawaii