HAWAII DELEGATION ANNOUNCES $9.4 MILLION FOR CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Washington, D.C. –The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today announced that the Hawaii Department of Health will receive $9.43 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support programs for pregnant mothers and families with young children.

“The steps we take to support our youngest keiki often create a foundation for success in school and in life,” said Senator Mazie K. Hirono. “These grants will be paid back many times over as families who participate in home-visiting programs enter school better prepared. I was proud to vote to create the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting grants as part of the Affordable Care Act, and am pleased that Hawaii families continue to benefit from this valuable program.”

“A child’s development is more critical in the first few years of life than at any other time,” said Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “These funds will provide more Hawai‘i families with access to in-home visits from nurses and social workers, ensuring parents have the support they need for their child’s healthy development.”

“This grant from the Department of Health and Human Services will help working families in Hawai’i by providing the resources necessary to improve child health in a cost-effective way,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. “By funding local home-visit programs, we are helping families prevent child injuries, reduce emergency department visits, and improve economic self-sufficiency. The programs sustained by his DHHS grant promote the well-being of our keiki.”

“I am happy to join the other members of Hawaii’s Federal Delegation in announcing over $9,000,000 in new grants to the State of Hawaii Department of Health,” said Congressman Mark Takai. “These grants will be directed towards programs that provide for maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting and education services. These programs have improved the outcomes for many children and families and I look forward to a greater expansion of these services to serve our community here in Hawaii.”

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program supports pregnant women and families with children up to five years old. The Hawaii Department of Health first received an MIECHV grant in 2010. It was used to establish the Hawaii Home Visiting Network, which is made up of ten community based organizations that offer various home visiting programs.

The Hawaii Department of Health will use the funds to provide voluntary home visits to low-income parents to learn about health, child development, school readiness, and referrals to other services.