The RYSE Outreach team continues to strengthen community partnerships to expand services and reach more youth in need. Through conferences and collaborations, they’ve built key connections to enhance service delivery for vulnerable populations.

Partnerships with Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center and Hale Kipa have made it possible to host Mobile Crisis Outreach (MCO) Pop-Up Events, boosting visibility, trust, and access to critical services where they’re needed most.

A major milestone this year was successfully housing two youth directly from street homelessness, bypassing the need for shelter stays. This achievement required significant trust-building and coordination, demonstrating the strength of our outreach efforts and our commitment to securing stable housing solutions for young people in crisis.

n 2024, RYSE’s Empowerment Team made significant strides in supporting youth on their paths toward stability and self-sufficiency. Through the RYSE to Hana internship program, 27 youth gained meaningful job training, with an impressive 22 securing employment after completion of the program. Our Earn & Learn initiative offered hands-on field experiences that helped youth develop essential workplace skills and build connections with potential employers.

Additionally, many participants earned certifications in CPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Food Handling Safety, each an important credential that not only promotes safety and well-being, but also increases a young person’s employability.

At RYSE, we believe every young person deserves a second chance. Our Diversion Program helps justice-involved youth navigate the legal system, connecting them with resources that prevent deeper system involvement and create pathways to stability.

With strong partnerships across District and Circuit Courts, the Office of the Public Defender, and Adult Client Services Branch, RYSE is a trusted advocate for youth who often face overwhelming barriers. Recognized by the Youth Policy Project as a one-of-a-kind program on Oʻahu, our work is especially critical for BIPOC, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ youth, who are disproportionately affected by the justice system.

RYSE continues to expand its behavioral health services, offering vital support through substance use counseling, anger management, poetry and art therapy, and physical wellness activities like yoga and hiking. These programs provide youth with healthy coping strategies, emotional support, and opportunities for self-expression.

In addition to group sessions, our team ensures that youth receive individualized care through supportive counseling and connections to essential services. This year, RYSE made significant strides by securing credentialing with all five Med-QUEST insurances, obtaining reimbursement for critical services, and expanding our team with a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). These milestones enhance our ability to provide sustainable, high-quality care and empower youth on their journey toward healing and stability.

This year, RYSE provided safe, supportive housing to youth across all of its properties. At our Makiki transitional home, four youth moved into permanent housing, while all residents steadily built life skills through monthly workshops and activities. Manu O Kū welcomed chronically homeless youth into a stable, welcoming space, with two residents consistently paying rent on time. At Rycroft, one youth with serious mental illness successfully transitioned into permanent housing, and the home was refreshed to create a more comforting environment. In Haleʻiwa, 10 youth entered deeply affordable housing—five moved on to independent living, while others found stabilization through support. Apapane, RYSE’s sober living home, offered a recovery-focused environment where youth worked on their sobriety, rebuilding confidence and self-sufficiency.