The Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services (OYS) issues this Request for Information (RFI) to seek information and feedback from interested community-based organizations, juvenile justice public entities, private organizations, community members, and concerned individuals. The mission of the OYS is to provide programs and services for Hawaii’s youth including the provision of balanced and comprehensive services for at-risk youth, to prevent delinquency, reduce recidivism, and maximize opportunities for youth to become productive, responsible citizens through community-based and family-focused treatment interventions.
The Office of Youth Services seeks to procure statewide Community-Based Outreach and Advocacy services for vulnerable youth populations who are often not formally identified and connected to services or are involved in other state systems but lack appropriate and effective services. Such vulnerable or at-risk populations may include youth who are: out-of-school or drop-out, chronically absent or truant, prone to youth and gang involved community violence, runaway, beyond parental control, foster, disabled, homeless or unsheltered, pregnant or parenting, arrested, immigrant or have limited English proficiency, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Questioning, Intersexual, Asexual and more (LGBTQIA+), have substance use disorder(s), and mental health disorder(s). These at-risk youth populations are diverse, yet their characteristics and experiences place them at risk for developing problem behaviors and negative outcomes. Additionally, youth may be members of multiple at-risk populations, which place them at higher risk for negative outcomes particularly if they share two or more of the following risk factors: poverty, family instability, family dysfunction, child maltreatment, exposure to community violence, gun violence, lack of school resources, attend schools with problematic social issues (bullying or behavioral problems), lack of community resources, transient or move frequently, and youth that are racially and ethnically over represented in Hawaii’s youth state systems.
Community-Based Outreach and Advocacy services are designed to actively seek and engage hard to reach at-risk youth and their families to prevent and address immediate and long-term needs through the provision of case management, integration of social services, and referral for services. The overall goal is to prevent and mitigate negative youth outcomes by connecting youth and their family to services that address risk factors, build natural supports, and resilience.
The scope of work for Community-Based Outreach and Advocacy services may include, but is not limited to:
1. Nontraditional outreach efforts to identify and engage hard to reach, hidden, and vulnerable youth populations in their community and habitat.
2. Provide outreach during times youth and families are available (e.g., afternoons, evenings, weekends, etc.).
3. Establish and build a trusting relationship with youth and families.
4. Conduct intake and needs assessments for youth and their families.
5. Develop goals and service plans that are youth and/or family driven.
6. Advocate on behalf of the youth and families to secure necessary resources for them to achieve their service goals.
7. Provide information on community resources and referral options.
8. Provide and establish educational platforms to address youth violence prevention, to engage youth and families in understanding the various types and impacts of community violence, such as domestic violence, cyber-bullying, gun violence, etc.
9. Provide information on laws and the juvenile justice system to educate and help youth and their family navigate the juvenile justice system.
10. Assist youth to interface and negotiate with service providers, school, and their community to improve self-efficacy skills as they learn to navigate the systems of care.
11. Motivate and empower youth and their family to build and strengthen their natural supports and build advocacy skills to act on their own behalf.
12. Provide opportunities that foster healthy development and diversion from risk-elevating activities and attitudes.
13. Collaboration and coordination with other youth organizations (public and private) that provide services to youth.
14. Identify and collaborate with community resources or service providers that provide a temporary safe place for youth, while referral can be initiated (when appropriate).
15. Assess youth progress and communicate the progress to collaterals.
16. Provide support during crisis situations to assist in stabilizing youth.
17. Provide transportation to support youth’s service goals.
A virtual meeting to gather information and feedback will be held Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST). The virtual meeting will be recorded. The OYS will engage attendees to provide information and feedback on the following:
1. What is the need for Outreach and Advocacy services in your island/community? Please be prepared to elaborate on what youth populations are most in need due to service gaps and barriers.
2. What other service delivery components are needed to make Outreach and Advocacy services effective? Addressing youth prevention violence in your communities?
3. Are the proposed services already offered in your island/community? If yes, how are they similar and/or different?
4. The proposed target age for youth is 8 to 21 years of age. Does this span in age groups present a challenge for service providers? If yes, please explain why.
5. Does your local police department refer youth directly to Outreach and Advocacy services? How might these services benefit public safety?
6. What other information regarding these services should the OYS take into consideration in its development of the RFP?
To participate in the RFI virtual meeting, please access the Zoom link:
Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST).
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787664763?pwd=nKdGW487bb7pybFFtdKfnjxckA5SbN.1
Meeting ID: 827 8766 4763
Passcode: 445897
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Written information, suggestions, and other feedback for consideration in the development of the RFP requirements is requested by fax, mail or email by Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 4:30 p.m. HST to:
Tammi ‘Cuzzin’ Kahookele
Department of Human Services
Office of Youth Services
1010 Richards Street, Suite 314
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone:
+1 (555) 000-0000
Fax:
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Email:
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If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Tammi ‘Cuzzin’ Kahookele at
+1 (555) 000-0000 and
contact@example.gov as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats.
Participation in this RFI process is optional and is not required in order to respond to any subsequent procurement by the OYS. Neither the OYS nor any interested party responding to this RFI has any obligation under the RFI. The OYS may engage in further informal discussions to gather additional information and recommendations to assist in developing the RFP.
