Maui To Receive $1,402,255 For Early Childhood Development

Today, US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i announced that the US Department of Health and Human Services will award a total of $9,694,638 to Early Childhood development programs across the state, which prepare young children for school and offer quality health services.

The funding includes:

• $1,402,255 to Maui Family Support Services. MFSS was founded in 1980 and provides a range of services to families on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi;
• $6,836,796 to Honolulu Community Action Program. HCAP was founded in 1965 and runs the largest Head Start program in the state, serving over 1,500 children a year; and
• $1,455,587 to Kauaʻi’s Child & Family Service. CFS was founded in 1899 and operates four Head Start locations across Kauaʻi.

“Every family should have the support they need to prepare young children for the next step, and Head Start is there to make that a reality,” said Sen. Schatz who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This funding will help put more preschoolers on the right track and give Hawai‘i families tools and resources to help their kids succeed.”

Head Start programs promote school readiness for children up to age five from low-income families by supporting their development in a comprehensive way. These programs support children’s growth in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include early learning, health, and family well-being.