Community Outreach

By its very mission, the YMCA of Honolulu builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Each year, the YMCA of Honolulu works with dozens of other organizations to fulfill its mission. Each partnership is unique and vital.

The YMCA is also a meeting place where its local community comes together. Whether building community by bringing people together or by reaching out to meet a specific community need, the YMCA builds strong communities every day.

The YMCA of Honolulu has been a long-term provider of outreach programs for youth, including substance abuse treatment services and outreach, prevention and intervention services

The three main substance abuse treatment services for youth aged 12 to 18 include:

• School-Based
• Court-Ordered
• Incarcerated Youth

Substance abuse treatment counselors provide individual and group education and counseling services that focus on helping the youth develop a healthier lifestyle by eliminating alcohol and other drug use and learning new problem-solving and coping skills.

For outreach, prevention and intervention services, referrals come from the youth, family members, schools, community or other agencies where another person has identified that the youth is experiencing problems. Outreach counselors assist youth in identifying his/her needs, and becomes a mentor or advocate for youth in schools and other settings.

The YMCA also employs 40 full-time adolescent substance abuse counselors assigned to 28 public schools on the island, and 8 counselors are assigned to the State Judiciary programs. The treatment program serves more than 1,000 youth. The Prevention programs serve another 3,000 youth in communities throughout the Island of Oahu.