Family Strengthening Center
The Family Strengthening Center at Family Programs Hawaii, in affiliation with the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University, is a non-profit Community Mental Health Center that provides services to culturally, socially, and economically diverse children and their families. The mission of the Center is to promote healthy development of children by strengthening their families through a multidisciplinary approach.
Dr. Steven J. Choy
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Total Number of Children and Adults Served Annually
Number of Psychological Evaluations Completed Annually
Number of Group Therapy Sessions with Children at our Shelter Annually
Innovative Ways to Serve the Community
This year has been full of challenges due to the ongoing pandemic and ensuring that our Family Strengthening Center (FSC) clients and staff remained safe and healthy. With our continued mission of facilitating the healthy development of children though the strengthening of families, the FSC expeditiously returned to a hybrid working environment where staff worked remotely, utilizing telemedicine to provide services while allowing limited in-office clients as clinically needed. Through telemedicine, the FSC has also provided additional therapeutic services for individuals off island, particularly with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a treatment modality where FSC has been specially credentialed to train and certify other mental health providers. The FSC facilitated 13 PCIT cases in reaching completion of treatment in 2021, which meant these caregivers improved their parenting skills and decreased the likelihood of child maltreatment, as we saw significant changes in the parent-child bond during sessions when the caregiver recognized their child’s increased desire to spend time with them. The precious smiles between parent and child were good indicators of improved emotional connection, as one parent expressed shock that her child actually wanted to spend time with her, and another parent shared her children’s improved behaviors at home. The FSC averaged about 40 therapy clients at any given time, a few cases were taken as special requests from Family Court and Child Welfare Services, while others were self-referred from the community.
Appointment Request
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Services
EVALUATIONS
- Comprehensive Clinical Psychological Evaluations (Infant, Child, Adolescent, and Adult)
- Psychological Family Risk Evaluations
- Developmental Psychological Evaluations
- Family Systems Psychological Evaluations
- Child Parent Relationship Assessments
- Psychoeducational Evaluations
- Developmental Disabilities Evaluation
- Forensic Psychological Evaluations
- Placement Psychological Evaluations
TREATMENT SERVICES
- Trauma Informed Care Treatment Services
- Individual, Couples, Family and Group Services
- Infant, Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapy
- Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
TRAINING SERVICES
- Practicum, Internship and Post Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy
- Health Professional Practicums
- Community Trauma Informed Care Workshops
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Training Center
- Child Maltreatment, Interpersonal Violence & Trauma Informed Care Trainings
- Child Development & Developmental Disabilities Trainings
OTHER SERVICES
- Expert Court Testimony & Consultation
- Visitation and Transitional Services
- Mentoring and Support Services Research
Eligibility
Department of Human Services
Children, Youth, Adults, Couples, & Families
Location
Statewide
Training Opportunities
Are you interested in training opportunities with Family Programs Hawaii’s Family Strengthening Center? In association with Chaminade University, we are an internship or post-doctoral training program affiliated with the APPIC and our Psychologists are Nationally Credentialed as Health Service Psychologists. Please see our training opportunities listed below.
Training Manuals
What is a Health Service Psychologist?
Health Service Psychologists have the education, training, and experience for the independent delivery of healthcare services. Health Service Psychologists are licensed practitioners who provide preventive, consultative, assessment, and treatment services in a broad range of settings, including independent or group practice, multidisciplinary clinics, counseling centers, or hospitals. Health service psychologists differ from health psychologists in that their practice is not confined to the treatment of problems associated with physical health or well-being, and differ from other specialties in that their services are delivered in the context of the doctor/patient relationship, rather than fields such as forensic psychology.
The National Register of Health Service Psychologists identifies psychologists who have met the highest education and training requirements. The HSP credential positions them for success in healthcare delivery systems and independent practice.
Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers
Family Programs Hawaii’s Family Strengthening Center is affiliated with the APPIC, meaning that we are an internship or post-doctoral training program that has met all of the relevant APPIC membership criteria and is in good standing. The list of criteria can be found at APPIC.org.
Dr. Steven Choy
PROGRAM DIRECTORMahalo to Our Funders & Changemakers
