Overview
Social & Public Health Initiatives
The Social & Public Health Initiatives directorate is Ohana Foundation International's frontline community health program — addressing the public health challenges that most directly affect the quality of life in underserved and vulnerable communities. Its programs span three interconnected domains: hearing restoration and audiological health, anti-drug and substance abuse prevention, and youth mental health support.
These are not abstract policy concerns. They are the lived realities of millions of people whose access to basic health services, prevention programs, and mental health support has been limited by geography, economics, or systemic neglect. Ohana's approach is grounded in community — building programs with and for the people they serve, not simply delivering services to passive recipients.
By addressing health at the community level, the directorate creates the foundation of resilience that makes every other aspect of Ohana's mission possible — because healthy communities are the bedrock of civic engagement, educational achievement, and lasting social change.
Hearing Health
Hearing Restoration & Audiological Access
Hearing loss is among the most prevalent and most undertreated disabilities worldwide — disproportionately affecting low-income communities where audiological care is inaccessible or unaffordable. The directorate's hearing restoration program provides community-based audiological screening, hearing aid provision, and rehabilitation support — restoring a fundamental sensory capacity that affects communication, education, employment, and social participation. Mobile audiological clinics extend this service to rural and remote communities beyond the reach of fixed facilities.
Prevention & Mental Health
Anti-Drug Campaigns & Youth Mental Health
The directorate's substance abuse prevention programs combine community education, peer support networks, and family engagement to reduce drug use and its associated harms — with a particular focus on communities where drug trafficking and addiction have become entrenched social crises. Its youth mental health program addresses the growing epidemic of anxiety, depression, and trauma among young people — providing school-based counseling, community mental health resources, and training for parents, teachers, and community leaders in mental health first aid.
Areas of Focus
Community Priorities
Community Audiological Screening
Mobile and fixed-site hearing screening programs bringing audiological care to underserved communities.
Hearing Aid Provision
Subsidized and donated hearing aid programs for individuals who cannot access or afford audiological devices.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Community education, peer support, and family engagement programs targeting drug use prevention.
Addiction Recovery Support
Community-based recovery support networks and referral pathways for individuals and families affected by addiction.
Youth Mental Health Programs
School-based and community counseling, peer support, and mental health literacy programs for young people.
Mental Health First Aid Training
Training for parents, educators, and community leaders in recognizing and responding to mental health crises.