Low to No-Cost Early Childhood Development and Learning Programs Resource List
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Scholarships, Subsidies, and Resources
PARENT-PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS
Come…With Me!
Come…With Me! (YMCA of Honolulu) is a demonstration pilot of the Y of USA’s efforts to develop an early learning readiness program model that outreaches to pre-school age children who are cared for at home by a family, friend or neighbor caregiver.
Website: www.ymcahonolulu.org/youth-programs/preschool/come-with-me
O’ahu: (808) 541-5470
Email: dtabangay@ymcahonolulu.org
Ka Pa’alana
The Ka Pa’alana Homeless Family Education Program (Partners in Development) serves homeless and at-risk families on the Leeward Coast of O’ahu and in Hilo.
Website: www.pidf.org/programs/ka_paalana/about
O’ahu: (808) 596-8711
Hawai’i Island: (808) 934-8711
Email: pid@pidfoundation.org
Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Family Learning Centers
Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Family Learning Centers help children prepare for success in school by supporting parents as their child’s first teacher, providing educational experiences for parents and children as they play and learn together.
Website: www.koka.org/parent-participation-programs/
Oʻahu: (808) 843-2502
Email: contact@koka.org
Keiki Steps
Keiki Steps is a FREE program focused on parent–child interactive learning experiences from birth through five years of age. Adult participation is required. We are located in communities with high concentrations of Native Hawaiians but are open to all families and children within those communities, regardless of ethnicity.
Website: www.inpeace.org/early-childhood-education/keiki-steps/
O’ahu: (808) 620-9043
Hawai’i Island: (808) 933-2933
Kūlia I Ka Nu’u
Kūlia I Ka Nu’u (Keiki O Ka ‘Āina) integrates Hawaiian culture, values and language and empowers parents to be their child’s first and best teacher! Parents learn how to give their child an early start on literacy, math, art, social studies, science and more.
Website: www.koka.org/keiki-childrens-programs-kulia/
Oʻahu: (808) 843-2502
Email: contact@koka.org
Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana
Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana (Partners in Development) is a comprehensive family education program. The program is located at Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimānalo where the family comes to school to learn together.
Website: www.pidf.org/programs/na_pono_no_na_ohana/about
O’ahu: (808) 259-0243
Tiny Tots Early Childhood Programs
(City and County of Honolulu)
Playgroups for young children, age varies from 18 months to 5 years old. Parent and/or guardian must remain for the entire duration of the class.
Website: parks.honolulu.gov/sdi/home.html
O’ahu:
Hawai’i Kai to McCully- (808) 373-8013
Makiki to ‘Aiea- (808) 522-7070
Pearl City to Wai’anae and Wahiawa- (808) 675-7130
Waialua to Waimānalo- (808) 233-7300
Call local parks for more information.
Email: parks@honolulu.gov
Tūtū and Me
Tūtū and Me (Partners in Development) aims to identify, recruit, and service this underserved segment of the Native Hawaiian population through an innovative traveling preschool program done in cooperation with churches and community organizations serving the Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian community.
Website: www.pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/about
O’ahu: (808) 524-7633
Email: pid@pidfoundation.org
HOME-VISITING PROGRAMS
Early Head Start (EHS)/Head Start (HS)
EHS and HS are federally-funded programs providing comprehensive health, education and family support and family engagement services and resources to income-eligible children, as well as children who are homeless or in the foster care system. EHS serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers and their families. HS serves preschool children and their families. Part-day programs are offered at no cost to families, and full-day programs are offered at affordable rates. Children with special needs are given priority in the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
Here are the locations as follows:
O’ahu:
Parents and Children Together (PACT)
Website: pacthawaii.org/our-work/early-headstart-programs/
Phone: (808) 842-5996
Email: hs-ehs@pacthawaii.org
Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP)
Website: www.hcapweb.org/headstart/
Phone: (808) 847-2400
Email: hcap@hcapweb.org
Maui:
Maui Family Support Services (MFSS)
Website: mfss.org
Phone: (808) 242-0900
Email: keikimatters@mfss.org
Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO)
Website: www.meoinc.org
Phone: (808) 249-2990
Email: ecs@meoinc.org
Kaua’i:
Child and Family Service (CFS)
Website: www.childandfamilyservice.org/kauai/
Phone: (808) 245-5914
Hawai’i Island:
Parents and Children Together (PACT)
Website: pacthawaii.org/our-work/early-headstart-programs/
Phone: (808) 961-0570
Email: hs-ehs@pacthawaii.org
Family Support Hawai‘i (FSH)
Website: familysupporthawaii.org
Phone: (808) 334-4123 or (808) 334-4138
Email: info@familysupporthawaii.org
Healthy Families America (HFA)
(Child and Family Service)
Healthy Families America (HFA), formerly Healthy Start, provides comprehensive home visitation services to prenatal families or families with newborn infants for three full years, until baby turns 3 years old. Families must reside in the Wai’anae area on O’ahu and Līhu’e area on Kaua’i and on Lāna’i.
Here are the programs as follows:
O’ahu:
Child and Family Service (CFS)
Website: www.childandfamilyservice.org/programs/healthyfamilies/
Phone: (808) 681-1555
Maui:
Maui Family Support Services (MFSS)
Website: mfss.org
Phone: (808) 242-0900
Email: keikimatters@mfss.org
Kaua’i:
Child and Family Service (CFS)
Website: www.childandfamilyservice.org/programs/healthyfamilies/
Phone: (808) 245-5914
Hawai’i Island:
YWCA
Website: www.ywcahawaiiisland.org/what-we-do/healthy-start-program/
Phone: (808) 961-3877 extension 101
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) (Keiki O Ka ‘Āina) program offers home based early childhood education for three, four and five year old children working with their parent(s) as their first teacher.
Website: www.koka.org/hippy
O’ahu: (808) 843-2502
Maui: (808) 868-4143
Hawai’i Island: (808) 339-7979
Email: contact@koka.org
Parents as Teachers (PAT)
Parents as Teachers (PAT) empowers and supports pregnant women and families in Wai’anae and Moloka’i to become their child’s first teacher. Parents meet with a certified PAT educator for FREE regular home visits to gain knowledge in healthy births, early childhood and brain development.
Website: www.inpeace.org/early-childhood-education/parent-as-teachers-pat-program/
O’ahu: (808) 620-9043
Moloka’i: (808) 560-0335
CENTER-BASED PROGRAMS
Early Head Start (EHS)/Head Start (HS)
EHS and HS are federally-funded programs providing comprehensive health, education and family support and family engagement services and resources to income-eligible children, as well as children who are homeless or in the foster care system. EHS serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers and their families. HS serves preschool children and their families. Part-day programs are offered at no cost to families, and full-day programs are offered at affordable rates. Children with special needs are given priority in the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
Here are the locations as follows:
O’ahu:
Parents and Children Together (PACT)
Website: pacthawaii.org/our-work/early-headstart-programs/
Phone: (808) 842-5996
Email: hs-ehs@pacthawaii.org
Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP)
Website: www.hcapweb.org/headstart/
Phone: (808) 847-2400
Email: hcap@hcapweb.org
Maui:
Maui Family Support Services (MFSS)
Website: mfss.org
Phone: (808) 242-0900
Email: keikimatters@mfss.org
Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO)
Website: www.meoinc.org
Phone: (808) 249-2990
Email: ecs@meoinc.org
Kaua’i:
Child and Family Service (CFS)
Website: www.childandfamilyservice.org/kauai/
Phone: (808) 245-5914
Hawai’i Island:
Parents and Children Together (PACT)
Website: pacthawaii.org/our-work/early-headstart-programs/
Phone: (808) 961-0570
Email: hs-ehs@pacthawaii.org
Family Support Hawai‘i (FSH)
Website: familysupporthawaii.org
Phone: (808) 334-4123 or (808) 334-4138
Email: info@familysupporthawaii.org
Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL)
The Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) offers Hawai’i’s first state funded pre-kindergarten program at no-cost to families who meet eligibility requirements. The program provides high-quality early learning experiences for students in the year prior to kindergarten eligibility. In order to qualify, children who must be 4 years of age on or before July 31st of the school year. Priority is given to those who are considered “at-risk” or “underserved.” Applications are accepted year-round. See website for the listing of all schools.
Website: earlylearning.hawaii.gov
O’ahu: (808) 586-3811
Email: eoel_info@notes.k12.hi.us
Hawai’i Public Charter Schools
In 2014, the Hawai’i State Public Charter School Commission applied for the U.S. Department of Education Preschool Development Grant. Hawai’i was one of 18 states awarded this opportunity. This grant allows Hawai’i to continue to build on statewide efforts to support Hawai’i’s early childhood system. Each participating school can serve 20 eligible pre-kindergarten students in each class. See website for the listing of all schools.
Website: www.hawaiicharterschools.org
O’ahu: (808) 380-6403
Kamehameha Schools Preschools
Kamehameha Schools delivers high quality Hawaiian culture-based preschool education to over 1,600 3-5 year old keiki at 30 preschools statewide. The focus of the program is to promote each child’s overall well-being by addressing the child’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, language, cultural and spiritual development through learning experiences that are grounded in the cultural values of aloha, mālama and kuleana.
Note: Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
Website: blogs.ksbe.edu/preschool
O’ahu: (808) 534-8305 or Toll-Free (800) 842-4682 extension 48305
Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Preschools
Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Preschool is NAEYC and WINHEC accredited and offers a dual language environment rich in Hawaiian culture. Literacy-driven curriculum is firmly grounded in Hawaiian values, traditions, culture and language. Children attend monthly field trips that help reinforce our educational themes.
Note: Preschool for ages 3-5
Infant-Toddler Center for ages 6 months – 36 months
Website: www.koka.org/preschool
O’ahu: (808) 843-2502
Email: contact@koka.org
Keiki Steps to Kindergarten
Keiki Steps to Kindergarten is a FREE two or three week summer transition program for children entering kindergarten with little or no preschool experience. This summer transition program provides an academic and social orientation for children allowing them to ensure a smooth transition into kindergarten. Programs are offered at various DOE Elementary School locations.
SCHOLARSHIPS, SUBSIDIES, AND RESOURCES
SCHOLARSHIPS
Pauahi Keiki Scholars (PKS) – Scholarship
Pauahi Keiki Scholars (PKS) is a need-based scholarship for eligible keiki who are planning to attend a participating PKS preschool in Hawai’i.
Note: Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
Website: apps.ksbe.edu/financialaid/preschool/pks/
O’ahu: (808) 534-8080
SUBSIDIES
Child Care Connection Hawai’i (CCCH) – Subsidy
The Child Care Connection Hawai’i (CCCH) subsidy program helps low-income families to sustain their employment, educational efforts and job training by paying a subsidy for their children who are in the care of DHS-approved child care providers. Unless child care is required for protective purposes, families must meet income and activity requirements to qualify for this subsidy program.
Website: humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/child-care-program/ccch-subsidies/
O’ahu: (855) 643-1643
Email: dhs@dhs.hawaii.gov
Maui Family Support Services (MFSS) – Subsidy
Quality Care for Hawaiian Keiki (QCHK)
QCHK offers child care subsidy program services to Native Hawaiian families on Maui and Moloka’i.
Website: mfss.org/qchk
Maui: (808) 793-2816
Email: qchk@mfss.org
Preschool Open Doors (POD) – Subsidy
The Preschool Open Doors (POD) program is a separate subsidy program with limited funds that provides services state-wide to families sending their children to a licensed preschool during the school year prior to kindergarten entry. The goal of POD is to promote school readiness for children, and the program focuses on meeting the needs of the child. Parents are not required to have an eligible activity, unlike the CCCH Subsidy program, but they must meet income and other eligibility requirements. For POD, there is a time-limited application period established and published each year.
Website: humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/child-care-program/ccch-subsidies/
O’ahu: (808) 791-2130 or toll-free (800) 746-5620
RESOURCES
Family Hui Hawai’i – Resource
The Hui Program coordinates parenting support groups that allow families and children to come together and learn about child development and mindful parenting strategies. Groups are led by a trained peer facilitator and meet once per week for 12 weeks in the community where they reside.
Website: familyhuihawaii.org
O’ahu: (808) 230-7112
Email: info@familyhuihawaii.org
Ho’āla – Resource
Ho’āla, a program by INPEACE, is designed to connect families with children ages prenatal to 5 to provide valuable information and guidance about early childhood education programs, improve outcomes and prepare your child for future success in school.
Website: www.inpeace.org/early-childhood-education/hoala/
O’ahu: (808) 696-9300
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Hawai’i State Department of Education
(Preschool Special Education)
A child, ages 3 to 22, who is identified with a disability and demonstrates a need for specially designed instruction can receive special education. Special education is specially designed instruction and can include, but is not limited to, academic services, speech-language services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling services, and parent education.
Contact your child’s home school, which is the neighborhood
school that your child would attend and request an evaluation.
The request can be made by one of the following:
• Verbally, in person, or by phone
• In a written letter, faxed, or e-mailed; or
• On the “State of Hawai‘i Request for Evaluation form” obtained from the school
For more information about Special Education, visit the website noted below.
Website: www.hawaiipublicschools.org/teachingandlearning/specializedprograms/
SpecialEducation/Pages/home.aspx
O’ahu: (808) 305-9806
Hawai’i State Department of Health – Children with Special Health Needs
Children with Special Health Needs Branch (CSHNB) is working to assure that all children and youth with special health care needs (CSHCN) will reach optimal health, growth, and development, by improving access to a coordinated system of family-centered health care services and improving outcomes, through systems development, assessment, assurance, education, collaborative partnerships, and family support.
Website: health.hawaii.gov/cshcn/ulu/
O’ahu: (808) 733-9055
Hawai’i State Department of Health – Early Intervention Section (EIS)
Services are provided to infants and toddlers below three years of age who have a developmental delay or are at biological risk (for example: have a diagnosis or condition with a high probability of resulting in developmental delays) and their families. A child is evaluated to determine eligibility for services. Service providers support families through coaching and strategies to help their child in all areas of development within the child’s daily routines and activities.
Website: health.hawaii.gov/eis/
Main Office – O’ahu: (808) 594-0000
Early Intervention Referral Line – O’ahu: (808) 594-0066 or toll-free (800) 235-5477
Email: doh.eis@doh.hawaii.gov
Poli’s Place
Poli’s Place (Keiki O Ka ‘Āina) is specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of infants and toddlers with special needs. All keiki are welcome at Poli’s Place. The unique environment provides opportunities and experiences for children to develop their social skills. Along with a daily routine, mākua and keiki enjoy developmentally appropriate activities enriched in Hawaiian ideals and culture.
Website: www.koka.org/
O’ahu: (808) 843-2502
Email: contact@koka.org
School Readiness Project (SRP)
(Learning Disabilities Association of Hawai’i-LDAH)
School Readiness Project (SRP) provides services for families of two through five year old children on O‘ahu. We provide developmental, social-emotional, hearing, vision and autism screenings. For children with a possible concern, we provide case management to help resolve that concern.
Website: www.ldahawaii.org/programs-and-services/
O’ahu: (808) 536-9685 or (808) 696-5361