Project Hoʻoponopono: the impact of racism, sexism, homophobia/heterosexism, and colonialism on an adolescent day treatment program student service delivery team (adtpssdt) in rural Hawaiʻi

Abstract

This phenomenological case study describes the experiences of four members of an interagency, interdisciplinary team who collaborated with one another on a daily basis in order to develop and implement special education and related services for Native Hawaiian Youth with emotional disabilities and challenging behaviors at an adolescent day treatment program (ADTP) in rural Hawaiʻi. This team was characterized by ethnocultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity among team members. Each of the four team members believed that racism, sexism, and/or homophobia/heterosexism among team members significantly (and negatively) impacted collaborative processes and outcomes at the ADTP, thereby diminishing the quality and effectiveness of the special education and related services offered to the students and their families. The team members also believed that the colonization of the Native Hawaiian people by the United States government contributed to a lack of trust among team members, one of whom was Native Hawaiian, and among the non-Hawaiian team members and the Native Hawaiian youth and their families.