By Papa Ola Lōkahi
In the aftermath of the tragic wildfires, the Maui community experienced a significant increase in mental health crises, including heightened anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief – common emotional responses following natural disasters.
To respond to these urgent needs, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health secured the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Emergency Response Grant (SERG) and hired Papa Ola Lōkahi as the intermediary. Together, we focused on delivering culturally appropriate support that aligns with the values and needs of the community.
The goal of the SAMHSA SERG program is to build a sustainable continuum of care that offers culturally grounded interventions to wildfire survivors. In the first year, the SERG grant profoundly impacted the recovery efforts for our ʻohana on Maui. The objectives for Year 1 included crisis counseling, behavioral health support, community outreach, and providing programs and services that promote healing and resilience, particularly from cultural and holistic perspectives.
MauiSERG has empowered local organizations to model community-driven, culturally sensitive disaster recovery. We are committed to building upon this momentum, addressing unmet needs, and fostering resilience to sustain the community’s long-term recovery. Building on insights gathered from both survivors and practitioners, we have identified areas for growth in Year 2.
Year 1 Partners included:
- Aloha House
- Collaborative Support Services, Inc.
- Ethnic Education Hawaiʻi
- Guardian Revival
- Hawaiʻi Center for Children and Families
- Hawaiʻi Psychological Association
- Hoʻaka Mana
- I Ola Lāhui
- Kula No Nā Poʻe Hawaiʻi (KULA)
- Maui Family Support Services
- Mindful Living Group
- Pacific Counseling Group, LLC
- The Queen’s Medical Center
- YMCA of Honolulu
Current SERG Partners for Year 2 include:
- Aloha House
- BluePaz
- Collaborative Support Services
- Guardian Revival
- Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Connection
- Hawaiʻi Center for Children and Families
- Hoʻaka Mana
- I Ola Lāhui
- LOILOA
- Maui Family Support Services
- Maui Roots Reborn
- Native Hawaiian Education Association
- Pacific Counseling Group
- Pacific Island Consulting – Mindful Living Group
- PIHA Wellness
- Project Vision Hawaiʻi
- The Queen’s Medical Center
- YMCA of Honolulu
MauiSERG accomplishments, February to September 2024: Community Served – 7,298 families and 20,413 individuals; Clinical Care – 8,152 urgent trauma and mental health clinical appointments; Community Outreach – 452 events and 2,133 non-clinical appointments; Workforce Development – 94 training sessions attended by 2,229 local professionals and; Collaborative Engagement – Strong partnerships with 14 local organizations ensured tailored and effective services, especially for under-served populations.
