Our Support Team
Our team at Ho’oikaika Partnership is a dedicated group of professionals who are passionate about keeping ʻohana healthy, safe, and supported. Led by our Coordinator, Deb Marois, who brings extensive expertise in facilitating collaborative action, our team works on a range of issues including poverty alleviation, maternal and child health, mental health innovation, education reform, and violence prevention. Heidi Allencastre, our System Navigator, connects families with community resources and provides family strengthening and child abuse prevention education. Together, our team is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of ‘Ohana in Maui County. Contact us to learn more or get involved.
Deb Marois
COORDINATOR
Deb Marois began work as the Hoʻoikaika Coordinator in September 2021.
As founder of Converge Consulting, Research & Training, she specializes in facilitating collaborative action to create healthier and more equitable communities.
Deb began her career as residential social worker in England before shifting to community and organizational development. She’s worked on a range of issues such as poverty alleviation, maternal and child health, mental health innovation, education reform, and violence prevention. Deb offers expertise in cross-sector community change initiatives; civic engagement; group facilitation; strategic planning; grant writing; participatory action research and evaluation.
- Providing technical assistance for non-profits seeking federal grants through a pilot program of the Hawai’i Association of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO).
- Evaluating the Youth Participatory Action Research initiative implemented by the Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with the YMCA of Honolulu.
Participating on a research team led by Skog Rasmussen, LLC to identify lessons learned from the distribution of CARES Act funding to nonprofits in Hawai’i. COVID and CARES Act: Lessons for and from Hawaiʻi’s Nonprofit Sector. - Serving as a facilitator for the Hawai’i Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) sponsored by Hawai’i Children’s Action Network.
Raised in rural upstate NY, Deb lived in Northern California for 25 years before relocating to Maui. A lifelong learner, she holds a Master of Science degree in Community Development from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Deb is a member of Hawai’i Community Benefits Consultants and volunteer with Mindful Hawai’i and Open Floor International. In her free time, she enjoys snorkeling and free form dance meditation.
Please contact Deb with any questions or reach out to say hello, talk story and share your ideas.
Heidi Allencastre
SYSTEM NAVIGATOR
As the Ho’oikaika Navigator, Heidi Allencastre connects families with community resources, facilitates communication among agency partners, and provides family strengthening and child abuse prevention education and outreach. She is also currently a student at University of Hawaii Maui College.
Heidi knows first-hand how challenging parenting can be and what a powerful difference community support makes. When her daughters were both under age five, Heidi worked with Maui Family Support Services to strengthen her parenting. Later, she served as a Parent Educator Intern with Ka Pu’uwai O Na Keiki program and as a facilitator in their Youth Services program.
Through her various community activities, Heidi shares her mana’o and voice to support the needs of our ‘ohana and the programs that serve them. As a parent, a direct services provider and a Maui native, Heidi feels a kuleana to advocate for changes that result in healthy keiki so that youth can succeed and reach their full potential. She completed the Hawai’i Parent Leadership Training Institute program in 2022 and now serves as a facilitator.
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- Read an interview with Heidi in Hawaii Business Magazine.
- Heidi serves on the board of Maui Behavioral Health Resources.
Contact Heidi with any questions or reach out to say hello or talk story.
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Jolina Bocobo
NAVIGATION SERVICES ASSISTANT
Jolina, a resilient single mother of two, exemplifies strength in her daily life. Her love shines through her cooking, a heartfelt expression of care for her loved ones. Jolina extends her compassion to others, as she expresses an extraordinary level of care. Her passion for the work she undertakes not only sustains her own family but also contributes to the well being of others in the community. Jolina’s unwavering dedication makes her strength and kindness in both her personal and professional endeavors.
Leadership Hui
Our 10 core and supporting partners of our leadership hui provide leadership, vision, strategic direction, in-kind and financial support that is essential to sustaining a thriving coalition.
Maui Family Support Services
MFSS provides family strengthening support services & work collectively towards preventing child abuse & neglect. MFSS is the fiscal agent for Ho’oikaika Partnership.
Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui
FCJC is a private, non-profit corporation, made of community & business leaders concerned with the social welfare of children & families who experience abuse & severe neglect.
Imua Family Services
Imua Family Services (Imua) is a non-profit proudly serving Maui, Molokai, and Lana’i since 1947, while connecting with communities around the world. Imua believes discovery and play are the heart that drive children’s success onwards; in fact, the word Imua in Hawaiian means to “move forward.”
Child & Family Services
Since 1899, CFS is a nonprofit strengthening families & the healthy development of children. We have counseling & therapeutic programs statewide to help those affected by trauma, abuse & neglect, & to prevent generational poverty.
Maui Family Peace Center - Parents & Children Together
Maui FPC seeks to bring peace to Hawaii’s families by offering safety, support, and empowerment to victims/ survivors & their children exposed to domestic violence, & accountability to offenders. We have provided domestic violence services on Maui since 1994.
Maui Family Guidance Center - CAMHD
The Department of Health’s CAMHD provides timely & effective mental health prevention, assessment & treatment services to children & youth with emotional & behavioral challenges, & their families. Eligibility through Department of Education (IDEA Eligible) or Med-Quest Insurance.
Hawaii Dept of Health - Family Health Services
The Department of Health’s Family Health Services assures the availability of & access to preventive & protective health services for individuals & families by providing leadership & collaboration with communities & partners. Programs: Women, Infants, Children Supplemental Nutrition, Early Intervention, Children w/ Special Health Needs, & Maternal & Child Health Programs.
Child Welfare Services
Child Welfare Services (CWS) are services provided by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Social Services Division (SSD), Child Welfare Services Branch to children and their families when the children are reported to have been abused and/or neglected or are reported to be at risk for abuse and/or neglect.
Kamehameha Schools
Since 1996, Maui enrolls about 1,100 K-12 students on an 80-acre campus in Pukalani. We fulfill Princess Pauahi’s desire to create educational opportunities to improve the capability & well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry. We champion every Hawaiian learner to explore their potential to lead our lāhui and inspire the world.
Casey Family Programs
Founded in 1966, Casey Family Programs works in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and with tribal nations across North America to influence long-lasting improvements to the well-being of children, families and the communities where they live.
Interns
Gain valuable experience and make a positive impact as an intern at Hoʻoikaika Partnership. Join our dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about keeping ʻohana healthy, safe, and supported. As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a range of issues, maternal and child health, mental health innovation, education reform, and violence prevention. This hands-on experience will allow you to develop skills, contribute to meaningful projects, and make a difference in the lives of ʻohana in Maui County. Contact us to learn more or get involved. Together, let’s keep ʻohana healthy, safe, and supported.
To become an intern, start the process by emailing all of these items:
- letter of interest
- resume or CV
Past Interns
Leina’ala Kealoha
INTERN 2022 – 2023
Leina’ala Kealoha from Maui writes the Hoʻokamaʻāina blog series for us from the perspective of a Resource Caregiver.
Dezza Santos
INTERN 2023
Dezza Santos from Maui assisted with the annual ʻOhana Fest in 2023, an child abuse prevention event.