News & Press Releases

~ 2011 IN THE NEWS ~

February 23, 2011
Aloha House recently received a $5,000 grant from Bank of Hawaii for information technology upgrades. Maui Youth & Family Services (MYFS) was also awarded $2,500 for its Ka Pono building renovations.

(L to R): Kevin Baptist, SVP Regional and Island Manager, Maui County; Dr. George Carlson, Aloha House/MYFS Board President; Jud Cunningham, CE; & Curtis Tom, VP and Kahului Branch Manager.

Bank of Hawaii Senior Vice President and Maui Island Manager Kevin Baptist said, “Aloha House is an important community resource in helping to create better futures for Maui residents dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. Bank of Hawaii is proud to support Aloha House with this grant to help them with some essential information technology upgrades. We are also pleased to help support the MYFS programs through this donation to improve the Ka Pono building, the site of many significant youth programs,” Baptist added.

The Aloha House grant is designated to upgrade computer workstations, software and phone systems. In 2008, Aloha House served 231 clients in its residential services, 259 in intensive outpatient services, 294 in outpatient services and 38 in transitional living services. Replacing the Aloha House operating systems, software, and phones will immediately improve collaboration, enhance staff’s ability to share secure information, and simplify work processes. 

“We are grateful to Bank of Hawaii to help us upgrade our technology, thereby improving our responsiveness to clients, accountability and overall productivity and cost efficiency,” Chief Executive Officer Jud Cunningham said.

MYFS provides the only outpatient substance abuse treatment program for adolescents on Maui in what is now known as the Ka Pono building, which was originally a part of the McNichol’s estate on Baldwin Avenue.  The Ka Pono building is used for outpatient services for Maui youth who are transported to and from the facility.  The program serves middle-school and high-school age adolescents on Maui who meet current criteria for substance abuse or dependence.  The facility is also used for meetings and trainings when youth are not receiving treatment.  This is the only outpatient substance abuse treatment program for youth on Maui, and in fiscal year 2009, the program provided services to 70 Maui youth at the Ka Pono building.

 “The Bank of Hawaii grant for our Ka Pono building comes at a critical point as the building, which was built in the 1920s, needs extensive repair and upkeep,” Cunningham said.

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January 14, 2011 - MauiNow.com article
Malama Family Recovery Center Receives $7500 Grant from MECO
Work to build a new 3,472 sq. ft. single-story residential structure began two years ago.

 

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~ 2010 IN THE NEWS ~

November 9, 2010
Wailea Community Association Awards $2750 to Maui Agencies: Aloha House, Maui Youth & Family Services and Malama Family Recovery Center

MAKAWAO, MAUI, HAWAII – The Wailea Community Association (WCA) recently awarded a grant of $1000 to Aloha House, $750 to Maui Youth and Family Services (MYFS) and &1000 to Malama Family Recovery Center. The $2750 grant was designated to each of the agencies as follows:

The Aloha House grant is toward the purchase of a 15- passenger van for its residential program.. The Malama Family Recovery Center grant will go toward furniture for the newly renovated Kahului residential home. The MYFS was to go toward the renovation of the Ka Po No building.

“Wailea Community Association has been an active supporter for community programs such as ours’ for years,” said Jud Cunningham, CEO for the three agencies. “There donations to our three agencies is much appreciated and will be well-utilized right now .”

ABOUT ALOHA HOUSE - Aloha House has been “helping to create brighter futures” to the island of Maui for 33 years providing services to the community in the areas of mental health and substance abuse. The mission of Aloha House is to "provide comprehensive, family-centered behavioral health interventions for the prevention and treatment of individual and family dysfunction.

ABOUT MAUI YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES - Maui Youth & Family Services is a comprehensive social services agency whose mission is to “Build better lives with Hawaii’s families.” MYFS has been accomplishing this mission for 32 years by offering a continuum of services for adolescents and their families, including foster care, prevention, outreach, outpatient treatment for substance abuse and behavioral health treatment programs. Visit www.myfs.org for more information.

ABOUT MALAMA FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER - Malama Na Makua A Keiki, Inc. dba Malama Family Recovery Center’s programs are unique in Maui County as well as in the state. Providing gender-specific services in a nurturing, healing environment for more than 16 years, the team is known for its strength and commitment to providing a safe, sober, healthy environment for women to do the challenging work of healing themselves so that they can create change for their families and their future. www.malamafamilyrecovery.org.

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September 7, 2010
Aloha House Receives Grant of $5000 from Maui Electric Company
MAKAWAO, MAUI, HAWAII – Aloha House recently received a $5000 grant from Maui Electric Company (MECO) for the Residential Substance Abuse program. The funds are designated to go toward the purchase of a new van for the residential program.

“Aloha House residents and employees are deeply grateful to Maui Electric Company for this grant,” said Aloha House, CEO, Jud Cunningham.  “Ensuring that we have enough resources allows us to continue the work of helping Maui’s families with addiction treatment and prevention as well as mental health issues. Aloha House has provided these services for the past 33 years, and we can attest to the many lives who have been transformed  by receiving them.”

“Maui Electric has been a part of this community for almost 90 years,” said MECO President Ed Reinhardt.  “We live here, we work here and we believe in helping those who help others. Are are confident that MECO’s support of the Aloha House Residential program will improve lives and strengthen families.”

About Aloha House - The mission of Aloha House, Inc. is to provide comprehensive, family-centered behavioral health interventions for the prevention and treatment of individual and family dysfunction. The mission of our Mental Health and Social Services/Child and Adolescent Mental Health programs is to help children with emotional and behavioral impairments achieve optimal functioning in their schools, in their homes, and in the community. The mission of our Substance Abuse Services Division is to assist persons addicted to drugs and/or alcohol to achieve and maintain a healthy and sober lifestyle.

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January 31, 2010 - Maui News article
2008 Humanitarian of the Year, isle community servant dies at 75
‘Aunty G’ remembered for her ‘big heart’ that inspired many others.

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~ 2009 IN THE NEWS ~

September 16, 2009 - Maui News Viewpoint
Recovery is a Process That Needs Community Support
By Jud Cunningham

March 16, 2009 - Maui News article
‘Sisterhood’ takes men out of equation
Therapeutic living program helps women reset lives

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November 15, 2009
Substance abuse agencies get grant
The Hawai'i Community Foundation awarded $27,131 in grants to the nonprofit agencies Aloha House, Maui Youth & Family Services and Malama Family Recovery Center.

The foundation received the grant dollars from the Gwenfread Elaine Allen Fund in order to merge the technology systems of the three local nonprofits.
The plan is to reduce administrative costs and increase efficiency by establishing a common server and intranet-based access for the group.
The agencies have been partnered since last year in order to streamline services and reduce costs.

Jud Cunningham, chief executive of all three agencies, said that the merger has been a success so far.

The foundation's grant will allow Aloha House, Maui Youth & Family Services and Malama Family Recovery Center to share files and communicate easier, according to a news release.

Mergers such as this one, in this tough financial environment, can help position nonprofits to not only survive but continue to provide vital services to the community, said the foundation's vice president of programs, Christian Bergeijk.
The nearly century-old Hawai'i Community Foundation is encouraging other nonprofits that have similar programs and goals to merge as a way to combat this poor economy.

October 21, 2009
Wailea Association awards Grant
MAKAWAO -The Wailea Community Association recently awarded grants of $1,000 each to Aloha House, Maui Youth & Family Services (MYFS) and Malama Family Recovery Center.

The Aloha House grant was used for the purchase of medical equipment, which will assist the agency with the cost of detoxification medications for its clients.
Malama Family Recovery Center grant will help provide personnel to care for the children of women in treatment during treatment sessions.
MYFS used the $1,000 to help pay for the cost of urine drug screening and sober incentives.

"We are grateful to the Wailea Community Association for pitching in to provide these valuable funds, which will reach throughout our community, touching people in transition," said Jud Cunningham, chief executive officer for the three agencies.

September 30, 2009
Malama's expansion projects gets underway
KAHULUI - Construction has begun on a new structure that will expand Malama Family Recovery Center's unique substance abuse treatment programs for women only.

A groundbreaking and blessing were held earlier this month for the 3,400-square-foot facility on Ano Street near Maui Community College. When completed, the building will add four beds for mothers battling substance abuse and their children, and will provide a space for staff and treatment programs.

"This is a very exciting time for us," said Lisa Ponichtera, clinical director for Malama Family Recovery Center. "We have been working toward this new facility for the past seven years and are really happy to see it come to fruition.

"Our work is about reaching new moms, who need help at a pivotal point in their lives and, more importantly, their children's lives. It is so necessary for this to be done in a quiet, nurturing home setting, and this expansion allows us to continue to do that."

The $1.1 million project includes $800,000 for construction and a target completion date in nine months to a year. The engineer is Wayne Arakaki; the architect, August Percha, and the contractor, 3D Builders.
The board of Malama Na Makua A Keiki, which runs Malama Family Recovery Center, purchased the land for a Kahului treatment home complex about 10 years ago, said Jud Cunningham, chief executive officer of Malama, Aloha House and Maui Youth & Family Services.

The lot had two cottages and a house that Malama utilized for its live-in therapeutic and outpatient treatment programs, Cunningham explained. The two cottages, which serve as live-in quarters, were retained on-site, but the house was torn down to make way for the new facility.

Malama has been using Maui Youth & Family Services' old dormitory facilities for the last nine months to make up for the lost space while the new structure is being built, he said.

Project funding came from the Community Development Block Grant program and the Harry & Jeannette Weinberg, Strong, Alexander & Baldwin, Fred Baldwin Memorial, Atherton and Bank of Hawaii foundations.

Malama offers a therapeutic living program that is state-licensed for 10 beds, primarily for pregnant and parenting women. Cunningham indicated that Malama may seek licensing for up to 14 beds, given sufficient funding, after construction is completed.

Malama programs are unique in Hawaii because they provide a nurturing, healing and healthy environment for women facing substance abuse issues. While Malama focuses on expectant mothers or those with children, all women are welcome in the program.

August 26, 2009
Accreditation earned for rehabilitation work
MAKAWAO - The rehabilitative services of Aloha House and Malama Family Recovery Center have been accredited for three years by CARF, formerly the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

Aloha House's accreditation covers:

Malama Family Recovery Center was accredited for the community housing and the outpatient treatment it provides to adults addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

"The process of obtaining accreditation for both of our agencies has been extremely gratifying and was a great way for our team to fine-tune our processes," said Jud Cunningham, chief executive officer of Aloha House and Malama Family Recovery Center.

"In a time where we are continually challenged to improve our outcomes with fewer resources, having this kind of review and feedback is extremely important to us," he said.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit body founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

Its "consultative" process centers on enhancing the lives of clients in order to promote quality, value and optimal outcomes of services. Accreditation involves peer review and on-site observation of programs.

Aloha House has been "helping to create brighter futures" on Maui for more than 31 years by providing family-centered behavioral health interventions to prevent and to treat individual and family dysfunction.

Malama Na Makua A Keiki Inc.'s Malama Family Recovery Center has been working for 16 years to provide a safe, sober, healthy environment for women "to do the challenging work of healing themselves so that they can create change for their families and their future."

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~ 2008 IN THE NEWS ~

December 31, 2008: Maui News article
Nonprofit leaders give out awards
Betsill Brothers, Henderson, Cachola-Gross honored

December 31, 2008: Maui News feature
People Who Made a Difference
Aloha House mental health crisis response workers. You might call them paramedics for the soul.

December 3, 2008: Maui News feature
Hero Project Receives a Financial Boost
KIHEI - A peer-driven substance-abuse-prevention program at Lokelani Intermediate School has received a $12,500 grant from the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation.

June 28, 2008: Maui News article
Trio of Isle Nonprofit Groups Joining Forces
Officials: Single board will not change the services of Aloha House, MYFS, Malama

June 8, 2008: Maui News feature
In a Crisis? Help is Just a Call Away
Aloha House's program’s outreach services provide hope.

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March 2, 2008
Aloha House Adds Dormitory Buildings
MAKAWAO — Aloha House expects to be able to accept more patients with the addition of two new dormitory buildings to its campus.

The nonprofit agency just completed a 16-bed dormitory for substance-abuse residential treatment, said Executive Director Jud Cunningham. He hoped to have the facility licensed by the Office of Health Care Assurance to start operating within a few weeks. The State Health Planning and Development Administration has already approved an application to add treatment beds, he said.

A second, eight-bed dormitory is expected to be finished this summer and will likely be used as a detoxification facility, Cunningham said.

Both buildings will have double-occupancy bedrooms and communal bathrooms.

The $400,000 capital project was primarily funded with Community Development Block Grants, along with private grants and individual contributions. Aloha House currently has 32 beds available for residential treatment, Cunningham said.

“This enables us to expand our overall capacity,” he said.

February 11, 2008
Aloha House Receives Grant from Hawaii Community Foundation
KAHULUI, MAUI - Aloha House, Inc. has been awarded a grant in the amount of $30,000 from the Robert E. Black Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to assist the agency in building it’s organizational capacity in the area of information technology.

Aloha House, Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 1977 for the purpose of providing outpatient and residential treatment for persons addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs. In recent years, the organization broadened its mission to include provision of substance abuse and mental health outpatient services for children, adolescents and their families. The agency is accredited and licensed by the State Department of Health as a special treatment facility and also holds national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Those interested in learning more about Aloha House and the services it provides may contact either the Admissions Coordinator at 242-9733 or administrative offices at 871-1314. Please visit our website at www.aloha-house.org.

Established in 1916, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) is a statewide, charitable services and grantmaking institution endowed with contributions from many donors. HCF is a steward of more than 450 donor funds, including more than 120 scholarship funds, and distributes charitable funds to Hawai‘i's nonprofit organizations through a variety of programs. HCF also serves as a resource on philanthropy and community investing.

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~ 2007 IN THE NEWS ~

The Mission of the Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program is to assist persons and families addicted to drugs and/or alcohol to maintain a healthy and sober lifestyle.

On November 15, 2007 The new Aloha House Outpatient Clinic will host an Open House. Festivities will begin at 11am with a blessing of the new facility, then at 12 noon, heavy pupus and entertainment. All are invited and welcome.

October 16, 2007
Aloha House Receives Grant from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
UPCOUNTRY MAUI - The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has awarded a grant in the amount of $287,000 to Aloha House, Inc. to complete the construction of two new dormitories to house participants in its residential substance abuse treatment program. The dorms, located on Ike Drive near Makawao, will add twenty-four treatment beds, bringing the total to fifty-six.

The capital project is also supported by grants from the Maui County Community Development Block Grant Program, other foundations and trust, including Cooke Foundation, Atherton Family Foundation, Bank of Hawaii Charitable Foundation, and contributions from individual donors.
The buildings are slated for completion in early 2008 and will address the critical need on Maui for additional residential treatment capacity for substance abuse and other behavioral health needs.

Aloha House, Inc. provides an array of residential and outpatient behavioral health services for both youth and adults and is celebrating its 30th year of service to the maui community.