Figure 1. Pie chart depicting data from RDP inception through July 15, 2005.
Figure 2. Pie chart depicting data from RDP inception through July 15, 2005.
Rural Development Project Overview
Date: 7-20-05
By: Diana Custer and Karin Phaneuf
Approximate total number of participants served: 7,600
Approximate total number of programs delivered: 450
Approximate number of current programs: 200
|
Program Types |
Number of Programs |
|
Agriculture |
39 |
|
Business |
45 |
|
Education |
17 |
|
Visitor Industry |
27 |
|
Health |
37 |
|
High Technology |
151 |
|
Public Safety |
10 |
|
Science |
1 |
|
Trades |
59 |
|
Youth Programs |
26 |
|
Types of Programs |
# of Participants Served |
|
Agriculture |
547 |
|
Business |
1,304 |
|
Education |
848 |
|
Visitor Industry |
579 |
|
Health |
1,380 |
|
High Technology |
1,431 |
|
Public Safety |
142 |
|
Science |
19 |
|
Trades |
755 |
|
Youth Programs |
387 |
Figure 1. Pie chart depicting data from RDP inception through July 15, 2005.
Figure 2. Pie chart depicting data from RDP inception through July 15, 2005.
Overview
The Hawaii Rural Development Project (RDP) delivers a wide variety of education and training projects across the State of Hawaii. Under this grant, each of the Island Directors (located on the six main inhabited islands of the Hawaiian Island Chain) develops, administers, and delivers programs that meet the specific needs of their Island’s residents. Even though the island communities are physically separated from each other by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, there is a common thread of “needs” that is, in part, influenced by this physical separation. Each Island community faces similar challenges in delivering (to the residents) adequate health care, youth development and enrichment programs, higher education opportunities, and trades and agricultural training. RDP supported activities provide invaluable services to each Island community by developing and delivering projects that augment current educational and training opportunities provided by High Schools, Community Colleges, and Universities across the State.
Lanai – Where RDP Began
The Rural Development Project is a federal grant that the U.S. Department of Labor received through the office of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. Senator Inouye was instrumental in establishing the Rural Development Project in 1997 when the original $200,000 grant was awarded to the Island of Lana’i. Lana’i’s program successes led to RDP project expansion to include the islands of Maui, Moloka’i, Kaua’i and the Big Island. In 2002, the Rural Development Project grew to include rural Oahu.
In July 2002, Maui Community College received $10 million in grants for rural development and job training programs on Maui, Molokai, Lana’i, Kauai, the Big Island and rural O’ahu. This was the largest award ever received by a community college in the state of Hawaii. Projects utilizing this funding include Nurses Training, Healthcare Worker Training, Teacher Training, Teacher Preparation (PPST), Vice Principal and DOE Administrator Recruitment and Retention, Educational Assistant Training, Dental Assistant Training, Custodian Training, Oral Health Education, Dental Services for low income and underserved populations, Leadership Training, Small Business Support, Computer Literacy, Farm Management Training as well as a variety of community education and workforce development initiatives throughout the state. The program has also been used to train people to perform Kahoolawe ordinance clean-up and to confer computer skills to Kauai residents so they can work at the Pacific Missile Range Facility located on the remote Westside of the Island.
Agriculture
Number of Programs: 39
Number of Participants: 547
Types of Programs:
A wide variety of agricultural and forestry programs have been delivered primarily on Big Island and Kauai. Kauai RDP has developed and delivers a Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) Training series which is designed as a basic program for people interested in gaining general landscaping knowledge as well as to prepare professional landscapers for the Certified Landscape Technician certification exam. The training consists of classroom and field training in the following subject areas: Plan Reading and Math for Landscapers, Pest Identification and Pesticide Theory, Pesticide Application, Tree/Shrub and Groundcover Establishment, Turf Establishment and Management, Fertilization and Soil Fertility, Irrigation Parts Identification and Pipe Repair, First Aid, Pruning, Irrigation Controllers and Plan Reading, Plant Identification and Theory, and Turf Maintenance Equipment/Field Equipment/ Truck and Trailer Instruction.
In addition to the above training series, a wide variety of workshops and classes have been conducted covering forestry management, hydroponics, aquaculture, taro production, nursery skills, propagation of native plants, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and business skills for agricultural based businesses.
Business
Number of Programs: 45
Number of Participants: 1,304
Types of Programs:
Business Centers have been established on both Maui and Molokai, and have been met with enthusiasm from the public. The Business Centers are proving to be instrumental in the creation and development of a variety of business types including: farming, fishing, aquaculture, education, value added food products, transportation, retail sales, construction, secretarial and office services.
Kauai RDP has developed and presents a variety of business development workshops and course series addressing common needs of growing a business. An example of a business series currently being presented by Kauai RDP is as follows:
Take Stock of your Resources: Gain an understanding of the NXLevelTM business plan and begin to develop a mission statement, goals and objectives.
Basic Equipment Required: Planning and Research: Begin market/industry research through identification and usage of research sources.
The Legal Terrain: Explore legal and government regulations, leases and other contracts.
Manage From the Ground Up: Understanding the managing of human resources, employee needs and related expenses.
Plan It, Grow It, Market It: Understanding marketing issues, including research and analysis, market potential and competition.
Reap the Benefits, Marketing Strategies: Learn what elements influence price and the price/quality relationship, and examine promotional tools.
Get Your Budgets in Line: Prepare budgets, accounting systems, and analyze financial information.
Analyze This: Cash Flow and Financial Statements: Learn tools used for financial information.
Cultivate Your Money Resources: Gain information about sources and different types of financing.
Harvest Your Future: Examine reasons for growing your business.
Education
Number of Programs: 17
Number of Participants: 848
Types of Programs:
Educational needs of Hawaii’s residents are being addressed on a number of fronts. RDP is inputting training into the educational system throughout the hierarchy of the system. RDP are delivering training to Principals and Administrators; a variety of teacher training programs including PRAXIS I and II test training delivered both online and in classroom settings; Educational Assistant (EA) training to meet Federal “No Child Left Behind” mandates; distance learning delivery of classes throughout the state via, streaming video, HITS, PLATO online self paced math classes, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) ie Skype, video conferencing (polycom), and MCC’s Skybridge system; and work study programs aimed at people with barriers to higher learning.
A major thrust of several of our new programs is to develop a variety of ways to address a chronic math problem which exists throughout our population.
Currently, a pilot “pre-college math” program is being developed by the Statewide Educational Assistant (EA) Mentor to address the math “issue”. The Mentor is responsible for guiding EAs through the process of earning college degrees as required by the federal government for continued employment as an EA starting January 2006. The biggest challenge faced by the EAs has been coping with the required math curriculum. As with many of our programs, poor basic math skills are (once again) a stumbling block. The EA Mentor has researched and is putting together an offering of a self-paced, on-line PLATO Interactive Math Curriculum which is equivalent to pre-college math. The Mentor has designed a program intended to provide remedial math skills which will qualify students for acceptance into the required Math 100 (Survey of Mathematics) Course. Based on the results of this pilot project, the EA Mentor will further develop this curriculum and present it as an alternative math pathway to any DOE employee who needs math skills improvement.
Visitor Industry
Number of Programs: 27
Number of Participants: 579
Types of Programs:
Visitor Industry programs include courses in:
Health Care
Number of Programs: 37
Number of Participants: 1,380
Types of Programs:
A major portion of RDP’s resources have been used in a comprehensive approach to training in the field of health care. RDP has delivered and currently delivers training in the following areas:
· Elder Health Care
· Community Case Management
· Medical Assistant training
· Radiologic Technologist training
· Long Term Care Worker training
· Comprehensive oral health care programs
· Dental Assisting training
· Hemodialysis Technician training
· Nurse Aide training
· Telehealth training for Nurse Aides and Personal Care Attendants
· Vision Care Provider training
· Community Clinic Health Promotion training
· New Nurse training
· Upward Mobility training for all levels of nursing staff
· Nurse Preceptor programs
· Medical Professional Coding training
There is a critical shortage of nurses in Hawaii. Our hospitals have acute nursing vacancies on all levels including in their specialty units such as ICU, ER, OB, and OR. Policies, procedures and funding make it difficult for our hospitals and other health care facilities to recruit and retain nursing staff and to recruit new graduate nurses. In direct response to this significant problem, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) Nurse and Health Care Worker Training Program was created in January 2002 in partnership with RDP.
Since its inception, 850 nurses and health care workers have participated in HHSC training programs such as Nurse Aid and New Nurse Trainee Programs, Preceptorships, Specialty Nursing Programs, Upward Mobility programs, and a pilot project designed to assist employees who hold nursing degrees from foreign universities to become licensed Registered Nurses in Hawaii.
High Technology
Number of Programs: 151
Number of Participants: 1,431
Types of Programs:
RDP’s input into High Technology training and education has been broad, and includes all levels of office computer training from basic keyboarding to advanced classes in advanced software such as Excel and Powerpoint. A wide variety of digital media courses have also been delivered from beginning Adobe Photoshop courses to advanced media production courses. Some of the highly advanced software courses RDP presents include instruction in the use of Linex, CISCO networking, AutoCAD programs. Other high technology courses include topics such as Basic and Advanced Fiber Optics, Basic Optics, mapping with GPS, and Audio Studio Techniques.
In addition to providing a multitude of courses in the use of computers, RDP brought computer labs to Hawaii’s residents by installing computers at Lanai Education Center, Kauai Community College, Kauai Community College’s Westside Computer Lab, the Anahola Computer Lab, and The Big Island Workplace Connections (One-Stop Partnership).
On the Island of Kauai, in partnership with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, RDP initiated the Anahola Document Digitization Center, which trained Hawaiian Homeland residents to convert into “electronic form” paper documents from corporate and government clients that need maintenance manuals or other documents digitized for storage or increased use in the field. Completed projects include the conversion of an engine manual for Delta Airlines as well as maintenance manuals for vehicles for the Army and Air Force. Participants are also trained to convert engineering and architectural diagrams and maps from paper into electronic format. This program has been so successful that upcoming RDP programs on Molokai and Oahu will be modeled after the Anahola Document Digitization Project.
Public Safety
Number of Programs: 10
Number of Participants: 142
Types of Programs:
RDP Public Safety Programs are currently under development and include providing Streaming Video capabilities to the County Fire Departments around the State. The delivery of training by streaming video will have a significant impact on public safety. By video streaming training sessions over the Internet, fire crews will be able to stay at their respective stations and still receive training. This enables them to receive training that will increase their skills, thereby responding to public needs in a more efficient manner, and yet remain accessible (during the training) to respond to emergency calls. Enabling fire crews to remain in their stations during training increases public safety because engine crews are not stretched thin covering for other crews that have left the station to receive training. An added plus is the online library aspect of video streaming, which will allow fire captains and their crews to review different types of training as situations arise, not just when the class is offered.
Public Safety Courses already conducted include:
Science
Number of Programs: 1
Number of Participants: 19
Types of Programs:
Archaeological Inventory & Cultural Monitoring - MOLOKAI
Participants have started field work on Molokai in the Kamalo ahupua’a. Preliminary classes were conducted by UH Archaeologist Theresa Donham. Participants conducted preliminary field work, which entailed instruction by UH Anthropology instructor Theresa Donham covering concepts of reconnaissance, inventory survey transects, site and feature discovery, use of maps, general field protocol, use of nomenclature, use of flagging tape, use of compass, use of description forms, tape and compass mapping. The next session will cover using Global Positioning System (GPS) and continued mapping.
Anthropology classes were taught at the MCC-Molokai Education Center in the Spring 2005 semester, which will be followed by intensive ahupua’a (district) reconnaissance services. Trainees will attain certification as archeological technicians and be eligible for employment in scientific research, as well as serve as trainers for additional workers taking part in an island-wide inventory. Additional partners in this project include the Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (KSBE), Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center (QLCC) and Ke Aupuni Lokahi (KAL) Enterprise Community.
Trades
Number of Programs: 59
Number of Participants: 755
Types of Programs:
A wide variety of trades training has been delivered on all six islands. Training programs provided include:
Public School Custodian Training
By partnering with the Department of Education, successful programs focused on upgrading the skills of public school custodians in Hawaii have been implemented on Kauai, Maui, Big Island and Lanai. A total of 220 custodians have attended a 4 week series of hands-on training sessions covering plumbing, electrical, masonry, basic carpentry, drywall repair, painting, and workplace safety. During the course of the training repairs have been made to schools on each of the islands served, and cost savings (for just the training phase of this project) are over $100,000. Positive feedback from schools and participants include significant cost savings for schools, and increased effectiveness of the custodians in maintaining their buildings and grounds. Plans to conduct this training on Molokai and Oahu are underway.
Youth Programs
Number of Programs: 26
Number of Participants: 387
Types of Programs:
Some of the youth Development programs conducted around the State include:
Oahu Anti-Ice HPD Junior Officer Training
The RDP program is patterned after
a nationwide program called “The Law Enforcement Explorer’s Program” (LEEP).
This program provides training to young people (ages 14-20) who are interested
in pursuing a law enforcement career. During the course of the program participants
are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service.
The Explorer’s Basic Training Camp, which takes place in the beginning of the program, consists of 30-40 hours of training in a 2 night, 3 day camp. Activities include physical training, learning laws of arrest, arrest procedures, search and grid, and taking written exams. The camp is followed by a year of training which augments what the participants learned in the basic training camp. Activities include community service projects, courses in interpersonal skills, membership meetings, and tutoring. Halfway through the program another camp (Advanced Explorer Training Camp) is held to increase participant knowledge base and skills. Activities include physical training, firearms familiarization, learning how to conduct a traffic stop, interpersonal skills classes, police report writing, safety and arrests procedures.
Partners in presenting this program include the Honolulu Police Department, University of Hawaii Leeward and Windward Community College, Waianae, Nanakuli, Kahuku, and Castle High Schools, and neighboring communities.
Last Revised:
Thursday, January 12, 2006 01:26 PM