About Us
What is Behavioral Health?
Behavioral Health is the full range of mental and emotional well-being, from the basics of how one copes with day-to-day challenges of life, including family relationships, to the treatment of mental illnesses like depression or personality disorders, substance use disorder, or other addictive behaviors.
Maui Behavioral Health Resources is an umbrella organization made up of three nonprofit agencies: Aloha House, Malama Family Recovery Center, and Maui Youth & Family Services. After operating independently for many years, the three agencies merged in 2008 to share and maximize limited resources, reduce overhead costs, and eliminate service duplication. The three agencies work together to provide residential and outpatient behavioral health care and other related services to almost 8,000 individuals and families in the Maui community each year.
Although each agency has retained its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, unique mission, and independent funding stream, there is one overarching administration and Board of Directors. By working together we can focus on providing a comprehensive continuum of services and accomplishing our unified vision: Everyone has the help they need to achieve and maintain a foundation for lasting recovery and well-being.
Maui Youth & Family Services provides youth with opportunities to succeed within a safe and supportive environment. Our prevention programs help young people form strong social bonds and family foundations so they can make the right decisions regarding drugs, alcohol, and other “high-risk” activities when they face peer pressure. Our intervention programs help youth in situations beyond their control, whether they are using/abusing drugs and/or alcohol or are homeless, in foster care, or aging out of foster care. By stepping in and providing the right guidance and support programs on an individualized basis, we can ensure that these young people do not slip through the cracks and encounter further harm. MYFS’ broad spectrum of services embraces young people and families in the community and addresses all types of needs related to physical safety, personal growth, and mental and emotional stability. MYFS works with several organizations and programs in Maui County and the State of Hawaii, such as Parents and Children Together (PACT), the Judiciary, public schools, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, Maui Homeless Alliance, the POI (Positive Outreach Intervention) Project, and more.
As a major community resource for intervention and rehabilitation of youth and families in need, MYFS is known in the community for its professionalism and effectiveness.
Aloha House, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1977 to provide outpatient and residential treatment for individuals addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs. Since that time, the mission has expanded to include provision of comprehensive, family-centered behavioral health interventions for the prevention and treatment of individual and family dysfunction. Within the Substance Abuse Services Division, the agency provides residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and long-term recovery support through its Sober Living Program. Within the Mental Health and Social Services/Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division, Aloha House provides counseling for both youth and adults. Learn more here.
Malama Family Recovery Center is the only agency on Maui that provides a continuum of gender-specific treatment services specifically for women in recovery from substance abuse and addiction. Malama is a non-judgmental, comfortable place where women can privately and confidentially talk about their needs and concerns with caring professionals. Gender specificity in treatment is critical to successful outcomes because women who use/abuse substances share common life experiences and have needs distinct from their male counterparts.
Women typically represent a minority of the client population in mixed-gender substance abuse treatment programs, which means that their unique needs are not always addressed. In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that women enter the treatment system through different avenues than do men. Women’s point of entry to treatment tends to be linked to Child Protective Services, OB/GYN doctors, family intervention, and referrals for treatment while in jail. We are able to offer enhanced programming related to mental health and medical care, victimization issues, parenting and family issues, child care, transportation, financial, employment, and/or vocational needs.
We are also proud to integrate culturally competent strategies that incorporate Hawaiian and local culture in substance abuse healing, as a substantial percentage of our clients are of Native Hawaiian descent.
Since Malama opened its doors in 1990, we have served over 2,000 women. The community impact is tremendous, as studies indicate that every dollar invested in drug treatment can save $1-$12 in societal and medical costs, and that drug treatment can cut crime by 80%. In terms of fiscal sense, it costs approximately $32,000 to incarcerate one person for a year in Maui County, compared to the estimated annual cost of $2,500 per person for Intensive Outpatient Treatment at Malama.
