Hawaiʻi Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSCO)
The Hawai’i Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSCO) was established in the mid-1990s – first within the State Department of Education (DOE), then within the State Department of Human Services (DHS), and since July 2013, within the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL), which is administratively attached to the Hawai’i State Department of Education.
The primary role of the HSCO is to serve as a liaison between the federal Office of Head Start (OHS) and the OHS Region 9 office with the state of Hawai’i, and between the state and the local Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) grantees. In the latter capacity, the HSCO links HS/EHS agencies with State and community partners to increase access to comprehensive services for eligible children, birth to five, and their families; establishes new and/or enhances existing partnerships for increased coordination and collaboration for service delivery as well as to support quality enhancement; brings the Head Start voice to planning and policy conversations in the State, and serves as point person for questions and data requests around Head Start in Hawai’i.
As the grant manager for the federal Collaboration grant that Hawai’i receives, the HSCO Director develops a 5-year grant and submits annual refunding applications to the OHS, in consultation with the Hawai’i Head Start Association of Hawai’i (HSAH), to address OHS, state and local grantee priorities. Plans developed as the focus of the HSCO work are aligned to the extent possible with ongoing initiatives and efforts within the State as a collective impact approach with strategic partners.
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Strategic partnerships are in place with the following agencies. In some instances, partnerships are formalized between Hawai’i Head Start and the agency through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) facilitated by the HSCO. In other instances, partnerships are supported through HSCO participation on advisory and/or planning committees.
- Early Childhood Action Strategy (ECAS): Co-convener of two sub-committees
- Early Learning Board (ELB): Former member and now logistics support
- DHS/Child Care Program Office (CCPO): Community member on Child Care Advisory Committee
- DHS/Child Welfare Services Branch (CWS): MOU in place
- DOE/Homeless Concerns Office (HCO): MOU in place
- DOE/Special Education Section (SPED): MOU in place
- DOH/Early Intervention Section (EIS): MOU in place
- DOH/Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC): MOU in place
- DOH/Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP): MOU in place; Advisory Committee member
- DOH/Public Health Nursing Branch (PHN): MOU in place
- UH Center on Disabilities Studies/Family Engagement Center: Advisory Committee member
- Head Start Association of Hawai’i (HSAH): advisory to the HSCO; HSCO is a “friend” of the HSAH
- Elevate the value and status of the Head Start/Early Head Start community in Hawai’i through strategic partnerships with state and community stakeholders
- Ensure that the needs of Hawai’i’s Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff are recognized and integrated into state and local level planning efforts and policy development for a strengthened early childhood mixed delivery system
- Evaluate and strengthen the impact of the Head Start State Collaboration Office within the Executive Office on Early Learning, with state partners, and with Hawai’i Head Start/Early Head Start grantees
Head Start and Early Head Start programs have provided critical family strengthening and comprehensive child development services for vulnerable children across the nation since its launch in 1965. In Hawai’i, 6 local grantees serve approximately 3,000 children (birth to age five) and their families annually through center-based (classroom), home-based (weekly home visits and socialization activities), and locally-designed options to meet the needs of families. Priority for enrollment include children whose families’ household incomes fall at or below the federal poverty guidelines and who are eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF); as well as children who have special needs, are experiencing housing instability/homelessness, and/or are in the foster care system.
Head Start and Early Head Start programs have provided critical family strengthening and comprehensive child development services for vulnerable children across the nation since its launch in 1965. In Hawai’i, 6 local grantees serve approximately 3,000 children (birth to age five) and their families annually through center-based (classroom), home-based (weekly home visits and socialization activities), and locally-designed options to meet the needs of families. Priority for enrollment include children whose families’ household incomes fall at or below the federal poverty guidelines and who are eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF); as well as children who have special needs, are experiencing housing instability/homelessness, and/or are in the foster care system.
HS/EHS services are provided at no or low-cost for eligible families.
If you are interested in enrolling your child into HS or EHS, please contact service providers in your area for an application and more information.
Hawai’i Island:
- Parents and Children Together (PACT) HS/EHS:
Website: https://pacthawaii.org/our-work/early-headstart-programs/
Phone: 808-961-0570 - Family Support Hawai’i (FSH) EHS:
Website: https://familysupporthawaii.org/
Phone: 808-326-7778
Maui:
- Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), Inc. HS:
Website: https://www.meoinc.org/
Phone: 808-249-2988 - Maui Family Support Services (MFSS) EHS:
Website: https://mfss.org/
Phone: 808-242-0900
Kauai:
- Child and Family Service (CFS) HS/EHS:
Website: https://www.childandfamilyservice.org/kauai/
Phone: 808-245-5914
Oahu:
- Parents and Children Together (PACT) HS/EHS:
Website: https://pacthawaii.org/our-work/early-headstart-programs/
Phone: 808-842-5996 - Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) HS/EHS:
Website: https://www.hcapweb.org/headstart/
Phone: 808-847-2400
Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, Director
Office: 808-784-5350
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
Hawai’i Head Start Collaboration Office
Executive Office on Early Learning
2759 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Website: earlylearning.hawaii.gov