#early head start

The CEOs of two major social service nonprofits on Maui claim the Trump Administration may eliminate a local program that offers preschool at no cost to low income families.

Registration is open and subsidy assistance is available for enrollment in child care programs in West Maui, following the opening of three classrooms dedicated to child care and supported by the County of Maui through the West Maui Early Childhood Collective.

The Honolulu Community Action Program will receive $15,933,000 in federal funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services to support the organization’s Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono announced.

MFSS has been providing year-round Early Head Start services in Maui County for more than 23 years. This grant will allow MFSS to serve 119 pregnant women/0-3 year old children. Early Head Start promotes early childhood education and development, school readiness, and encourages parents to be better caregivers and teachers to their children.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that two Early Head Start and Head Start Programs in Hawai‘i will receive nearly $3 million in new federal funding through the American Rescue Plan.

There are three honorees from Maui: Cristina and Devin Pagaduan, owners of Pastele House Maui; Maui Family Support Services, Inc. Early Head Start; and Debbi Amaral, Director of Maui Economic Opportunity Head Start.

The grant will support the implementation of trauma-informed approaches and practices of MFSS’ Early Head Start Program and Hale Hiʻipoi Hāna Infant/Toddler Center.