$1M in Federal Funds Secured for Maui Family Support Services

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard visited with staff members at Maui Family Support Services, which serves parents and children who are struggling with poverty, drug addiction, and other challenges. File photo November 28, 2013, courtesy Rep. Gabbard.

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard today announced federal funding totaling $1 million for programs offered to Native Hawaiian families through Maui Family Support Services.

The federal funding falls under the Quality Care for Hawaiian Keiki project, aimed at increasing the number of quality child care providers in Maui County.

The project will provide childcare subsidies, making services affordable and accessible for more than 200 Native Hawaiian families in need.

“Hawaiʻi families should not have to choose between their child’s safety and meeting day-to-day needs. Yet a lack of access to quality and affordable childcare, especially on our neighbor islands, makes it increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

“We are very excited and thankful for this federal grant as it will impact a lot of Native Hawaiian and Part-Hawaiian families in improving their self-sufficiency. By providing them with child care subsidies, they will be able to go to work, go to school or attend training,” said Edeluisa M. Baguio-Larena, CEO of Maui Family Support Services.

“For families who are working part-time or going to school part-time, this grant will also assist them in increasing their work hours or school credits as they will be able to afford childcare. In addition to subsidies, we will be able to assist child care providers (licensed providers as well as relatives who are providing care) in improving quality of their services by supporting their professional development,” said Baguio-Larena.

MFSS will serve families in Hāna, Molokaʻi and areas in Central and Upcountry in Maui. In addition, the MFSS QCHK project will increase the number of quality child care providers in Maui County by providing educational consumer information to promote informed childcare choices, provide activities that will improve the quality and availability of childcare, and having high-quality staff development for providers.

MFSS will post and provide more information regarding the project’s eligibility criteria and how to sign-up for services in the near future.

Maui Family Support Services was founded in 1980 with a mission to, “promote healthy family functioning by providing family support and educational services that build on family strengths.” The organization’s prime directive is to utilize its collective resources toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect.