Early Childhood Development Programs Set to Receive Federal Funding

Two Early Head Start and Head Start Programs are set to receive nearly $3 million in federal funding through the American Rescue Plan.

The funding — provided to Parents and Children Together and the Honolulu Community Action Program — will help these programs recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including by making up for lost learning time and building back to fully operational, comprehensive services this fall. This will ensure that Hawai‘i families have the support they need as they prepare their young children for school.

The Parents and Children Together program has more than 400 employees located on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island. The organization is set to receive $997,881.

The Honolulu Community Action Program is slated to get $1,804,322.

“It cannot be overstated how important early childhood development programs are to a child’s successful and healthy future, and support for these programs is especially critical after the disruptions caused by the pandemic,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will help families across Hawai‘i get the support they need so that their kids can thrive in school and in life.”

Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children. These programs are operated by non-profit organizations across the country and promote school readiness for children under the age of 6 from low-income families. These programs, which are free of cost to families, support children by focusing on early learning, health, and family well-being.

Parents and Children Together has provided Hawai‘i families with community-based services since 1968. Honolulu Community Action Program has supported economically disadvantaged families on O‘ahu since 1965.