Filling the Need for Keiki to Succeed

A study from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) revealed that an estimated 8,092 children do not attend preschool – not by family choice, but due to systemic barriers relating to availability, location and cost. This leaves a substantial number of children across the pae ʻāina who are not receiving critical early educational opportunities.

The Head Start Association of Hawaiʻi (HSAH) is trying to do something about that.

In 1965, an outcome of then-President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty campaign was understanding the importance of education for vulnerable communities. That same year, UH Mānoa became involved in early childhood education research and began training faculty and community consultants for the first Head Start program.

Today, Head Start has grown to become the largest early childhood education provider in Hawaiʻi, serving about 2,300 preschool students, and over 720 Early Head Start students (keiki under 3 years old).

There are six Head Start and Early Head Start providers across the state: Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP), Parents and Families Together, Maui Economic Opportunity, Hawaiʻi Island Family Support Services, Maui Family Support Services, and Kauaʻi Child and Family Services. Together, these providers represent the HSAH.

HCAP Head Start operates primarily out of Department of Education (DOE) classrooms, with over 70 center-based classes.

“We strive to form collaborative relationships with our principals, with our complex areas, and with the DOE,” explained Hawaiʻi Head Start Collaboration Office Director Ephraim Schwab. “The value of early childhood education is shared by the DOE and Head Start. Principals see the value of having students be prepared for kindergarten before they begin, but also see the value of having a program that can help those in our communities with the most need.”

The Head Start program services children from all backgrounds in Hawaiʻi but has predominantly served the Native Hawaiian and Polynesian communities since it began.

“The Head Start program has become much more ingrained in the Native Hawaiian community, as our parents became our leaders and directors,” said Schwab. “The community gravitated towards being more culture-based, knowing that culture-based education enforces the identity in the communities that we serve.”

Head Start is part of the Hā Initiative that uses the framework of connecting students to the ʻāina. Head Start and Early Head Start providers all incorporate elements of culture-based learning using basic ʻōlelo in instruction, introducing food from the Native Hawaiian diet, and having guest speakers that work in culturally significant fields, such as navigation.

“When I came into this position my mindset was, ʻhow do we make this relevant, practical and meaningful to our students and what role can I play in that,’” said Schwab. “It’s been a big part to share that and see how we engage nationally as a Head Start association of Hawaiʻi in promoting our values as being uniquely Hawaiʻi.”

Head Start is federally funded, so qualifying children and families are eligible to receive quality educational services at little to no cost. “We encourage our programs to go out into the community because we know we aren’t helping everyone who can utilize these services,” said Schwab.

“We have these resources that are available, and we want families to have what they need; whether it’s with our wraparound services, with WIC or SNAP, and if receiving these resources can help lessen the stress on the family, that is huge for us.”

Head Start’s wrap-around services offer part-day, full-day, home-based opportunities and inclusion programs to help best fit the needs of each individual family and child.

“We have a program that can help your family – and it might be able to offer you things that the DOE cannot offer,” Schwab noted. “So, when parents are working to make ends meet, they have a preschool they can afford. They can go to work [knowing] their children will be taken care of in a safe environment.”

Head Start’s dedicated directors, managers, teachers, mentors, family advocates, teaching assistants, and health and maintenance staff work collaboratively with parents in the program to facilitate educational opportunities for the students.

“Our job is to empower Hawaiian keiki – and keiki of all cultures island-wide – and their families to ensure early access to education and support,” said Pauahi Leoiki, HCAP’s Head Start Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance family advocate.

“We work with families by connecting them with resources to meet their needs and become active advocates for their own ʻohana. We conduct parenting education workshops that teach families communication techniques and developmentally appropriate interactions they can use in their homes that are valuable in maintaining a healthy connection between the child and parent, as well as between the parents themselves,” explained Leoiki, who is assigned to Oʻahu’s Waiʻanae Coast.

“HCAP Head Start provides leadership opportunities for parents through our Policy Council and Parent Committee monthly meetings where families are invited to join and contribute to curriculum and activity planning with their child’s teaching staff on a weekly basis,” Leoiki added.

“Through my seven years with Head Start, I have seen families thrive to become engaging community members and return to HCAP Head Start, joining our team through various roles, whether it be as family advocates themselves or teaching staff,” said Leoiki.

“Meeting families and assisting them in reaching their goals is the most rewarding aspect of my job. Hearing feedback from our families about how much of an impact HCAP Head Start has had fulfills my purpose to continue serving our community.”

Head Start is currently working to expand its services to reach more under-served families across Hawaiʻi.

For more information go to www.hcapweb.org/headstart.