Winter 2021 Newsletter
Aloha!
I hope this newsletter finds you well. As we wrap up another busy year, our work in behavioral health is more important than ever.
The most recent State of Mental Health in America findings show that over half of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 27 million adults in the U.S. who are going untreated. In Hawaii, the bottom-ranked state, 67% of adults with a mental illness did not receive treatment.
Both adults and youth in the U.S. continue to lack adequate insurance coverage, leaving 11.1% of Americans with a mental illness uninsured.
Rates of substance use are increasing for youth and adults, even prior to the pandemic. 7.74% of U.S. adults and 4.08% of youth had a substance use disorder in the past year. Substance use increased 0.07% for adults and 0.25% for youth over last year’s report.
We know that there are many faces of behavioral health. With your support, each of our partner agencies is doing their part with the populations they serve to help reverse these trends.
Agency Spotlight: Aloha House
At Aloha House, our counselors provide one-on-one treatment and support for adult clients in need of substance use disorder treatment and mental health counseling. All services are provided at little or no cost to the participant to reduce barriers to care, allowing more people to get the help they need.
Aloha House is the only licensed residential substance use treatment facility on Maui. To best meet our community’s needs, we also provide other forms of assistance, such as counseling with Maui Counseling Group, outpatient treatment, crisis intervention, Maui Drug Court services, and sober housing support. Through these programs alone, we’re on track to help almost 5,000 individuals in 2021.
When you include the clients of our partners Malama Family Recovery Center and Maui Youth & Family Services, that number is closer to 8,000 individuals.
End of Year Giving
To continue to provide this significant impact, each year, we reach out to our community to ask for your financial support. I hope that you consider making a gift this year.
If you’re looking at using appreciated assets, some of the following information may be helpful: You may be able to make a gift with your qualified charitable distribution (QCD) by directly transferring funds from your IRA custodian. A QCD gift can often be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions for the year and is a convenient and frequently tax-free way to donate. Please consult your tax professional for more details.
If you’d like to consider providing for others in perpetuity by making a gift in your will, you can find more information on our website. And you can easily make a gift today.
Mahalo Nui Loa
Finally, I’d like to give thanks to a special Maui High School student.
Caitlin Moore was inspired to shape her senior project to support Aloha House’s Residential Treatment Program when a close family member benefited from our program services. She organized a donation drive to garner items that help clients during their stay in the program, such as stationary and stamps to keep connected with family and friends, snacks, puzzles, books, clothing and hygiene items. In the end, she collected over 400 items for our clients! Mahalo nui loa to Caitlin for all her hard work on this project!
Wishing you a happy holiday season,
Jud Cunningham, CEO
In the News
Our very own Mason Williams, board member, donor and former board president, has been awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the Maui Non-Profit Directors Association. Join us in congratulating Mason and showing our appreciation for his hard work and dedication!
Client Success
“I don’t want to kill myself anymore, I’m getting on with life. It’s working, it is.” Learn how Aloha House helped other clients like Russell with their addiction.
Make a Teen’s Holiday Merry
In the News
Maui/Molokai Drug Court celebrated it’s 76th Graduation last month, with 14 former Aloha House clients graduating from the program. The ceremony was presided over by the honorable Drug Court Judge Richard T. Bissen Jr., a long-time supporter and advocate for those in recovery.
Support Maui Behavioral Health Resources
Be an ‘Ulu Donor
‘Ulu Donors make monthly reccurring donations, and like the beautiful tree, provide sustenance to our organizations. It’s an easy, automatic way to give a little bit each month, making a significant gift over time. Sign up today.
Plan Future Gifts
You can find more information here about providing for others in perpetuity with a gift in your will.
