Imua Family Services Expands to Molokaʻi

Imua Family Services.

By Maui Now Staff

Imua Family Services on Maui is expanding to offer services on the island of Molokaʻi.

The agency will be providing Infant and Child Development Services to families and children on Molokaʻi beginning this month.  Imua already serves clients on Maui and Lānaʻi.

Families on the island will be able to access Care Coordination Services, Speech Language Pathology, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Special Instruction, and General Education Training for keiki birth through age three.

Imua Family Services, through a contract with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health Early Intervention Section, will open an office at the Molokaʻi Community Health Center on Oki Place in Kaunakakai.

“Molokaʻi Community Health Center, the community as well as Council Member Stacy Crivello have been so gracious, supportive and helpful to us as we prepare to join their professional team of providers,” said Dean Wong, Executive Director in a press release announcement. “We at Imua Family Services are thrilled to be sharing a cumulative 144 years of early childhood expertise with Molokaʻi, ” said Wong.

Molokaʻi resident Amanda Meatyard will serve as the Assistant to the Program Director and Care Coordinator on island. Meatyard earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa and brings 10 years of experience in early intervention including a stint with MCHC’s Ikaika Program.

Joining her will be Family Trainer, Chelsea Kapuni. Kapuni graduated from Molokaʻi High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2012 from Chaminade University. The Infant & Child Development Program will be under the direct supervision of Program Director Dr. Bobbie-Jo Moniz-Tadeo Ed.D, M.Ed, BA who brings the team a wealth of resources as a Professor of Practice for Argosy University and an Instructor of Early Childhood at UH Maui College.

“It gives us great joy to know that we are doing everything we can and reaching all areas of Maui County. It is our goal to leave no rock or stone unturned, that every child born in our communities has the opportunities to reach their full potential in life,” said Wong.