Kehala is a research analyst whose work is driven by a passion for promoting the well-being of children and youth in the foster care system. Kehala is particularly dedicated to working with public agency staff to improve outcomes for child welfare-involved families. She is highly skilled in building rapport with research participants and designing implementation instruments.
Kehala has a background in social service program implementation in the fields of child welfare, youth behavioral treatment, and criminal justice reform. Prior to joining HSRI, Kehala was a case manager at the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC), where her work addressed expanding employment opportunities for youth and adults returning to the community from incarceration. Prior to that, Kehala worked as an administrator on projects related to behavioral health treatment for children and youth in state care. Kehala volunteers regularly with the University of Oregon Prison Education Program whose work promotes the expansion of educational opportunities in Oregon prisons and jails.
When not at work, Kehala enjoys walking in the woods, learning about plants, and practicing aerial acrobatics.
Education
- Bachelor of arts in Spanish and social science from the University of Oregon