Hawaii DoD Launches ‘Hawaii Civic Justice Corps’

News Release from www.Paxen.com, Aug 02, 2012

Young people in the juvenile justice system now have a new tool in their corner to help guide and keep them focused on a new, positive life direction. Based on the joint efforts of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense and Paxen Huli Ke Alo, the Hawaii Civic Justice Corps program provides a customized approach to reconnect juvenile offenders to their communities -- reducing their rate of recidivism and providing these youth and young adults with meaningful opportunities to become productive members of society.

The program is offered in Honolulu in the County of Oahu and in Hilo and Keaau in Hawaii County. It will serve 50 youth and young adults a year, ages 18 to 24, from the State's juvenile justice system.

"The Hawaii Civic Justice Corps program provides the state with a valuable resource to help ensure that young people in the juvenile justice system receive the guidance and tools they need to reconnect with their communities and live positive, meaningful lives," said Robbie Robinson, Program Manager, Paxen Huli Ke Alo. "The program helps redirect at-risk youth and young adults from falling back to past behaviors and decision-making processes."

Segmented into core services, employability skills development, and case management components, the Hawaii Civic Justice Corps program provides youth with hands-on instruction and appropriate materials related to developing life coping skills, accelerated high school diploma/GED preparation, and community service and job placement. Participants also receive academic tutoring and career counseling.

The youth and young adults also receive four months of after-program case management to help ensure they are positively reconnecting to the community and taking advantage of appropriate life and career opportunities. The goal is for participants to be successfully engaged in advanced training, enrolled in post-secondary education, or employed in a field of their interest.

In addition to the Hawaii DoD and Paxen Huli Ke Alo, other program partners involved with the community services and career development include the Hawaii Office of Youth Services, the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council, the University of Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce, local One-Stop Centers, local community colleges, Hale Kipa, the Hawaii National Guard, and the county park system.

During the past ten years, Paxen Huli Ke Alo has offered a variety of academic, life skills, and work-readiness skills development programs in numerous communities across the state.

About Paxen Learning Corporation

Paxen Learning Corporation ( www.paxen.com ) specializes in developing and delivering outcome-based educational programs that build academic and employability skills for at-risk youths and adults. Each year, thousands graduate from Paxen programs on their journey toward meaningful employment. The company currently operates more than 30 programs in 10 states. Its clients and partners include the National Guard Bureau, The Florida and Hawaii National Guards, state Departments of Labor, local Workforce Investment Boards, Department of Defense, Department of Juvenile Justice, American Hotel and Lodging Association and the Home Builders Institute. The 25-year-old privately-held company is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida.