Kokua Mau Named Semifinalist in Harvard University's Innovations Award program

For the second year in a row the State of Hawaii's Executive Office on Aging's Kokua Mau program has been named a semifinalist in the Innovations in American Government Awards.

Kokua Mau's innovation is a model for integrating no/low-cost resources to improve end of life care into the Aging Network both in Hawaii and in several Western States. The Aging Network consists of the federal, state and local programs that help older persons throughout the nation to live independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their own homes or other places of residence as long as possible, emphasizing the lessening of isolation and prevention of unnecessary institutionalization.

Selected from a pool of almost 1,000 applicants, the semifinalists range from local school districts to federal efforts, and include one-of-a-kind programs that encourage recycling, provide healthcare for the rural poor, improve crime scene investigations, ensure food safety, eliminate family violence, and recruit and train new teachers. For more information visit www.innovations.harvard.edu.

Four criteria are used to evaluate each application: originality of the approach; effectiveness in addressing important problems; value of services to clients; and the potential for replication in other jurisdictions.

Fifteen finalists will be named from the pool of semifinalists in 2003. The National Selection Committee on Innovations in American Government, chaired by David R. Gergen, editor-at-large, U.S. News & World Report, will select five winning programs after a full day of presentations in May 2003 in Washington, DC. Winners will be announced the following day, and each will receive a $100,00 Award. The remaining 10 finalists will each receive $20,000.

For additional information about Kokua Mau, contact Marilyn R. Seely, Executive Director at 808/586-0100 or mrseely@health.state.hi.us.

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