YWCA

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Oahu, through its Fernhurst Residence, provides support to women as they leave prison and transition to independence in the community. With the support of a grant from the Cooke Foundation, the YWCA incorporated the SEEDS Initiative into its existing services at Fernhurst, designed to encourage healthy lifestyle habits that enhance the women’s ability to function better and successfully reintegrate into the community. SEEDS encompasses five areas related to high brain functioning: Social Connectivity, Exercise, Education, Diet and Sleep. Fernhurst residents and their families participated in classes in nutrition and meal preparation, outdoor activities, creating a community garden and aquaponics system, exploring Native Hawaiian agricultural practices, and other wellness and social connectedness activities; overwhelmingly, they responded positively to the new initiative and reported improvements in their health habits and in their experiencing of positive social support.

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