Maui to Receive Over $1.3 Million to Support Early Education for Island’s Youngest Keiki

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that Maui Family Support Services, Inc. will receive $1,317,440.00 in Early Head Start funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase early education services for low-income children and families on Maui.

“Access to early, quality education has a direct impact on an individual’s future,” said Senator Hirono. “By investing in Maui’s youngest keiki, this important grant funding will help to ensure that our students have the tools they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.”

The Early Head Start program of Maui Family Support Services promotes school readiness of low income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development in a learning environment that supports their growth in language, literacy, mathematics, social and emotional functioning, physical skills, and approaches to learning. The program also provides health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services to low-income children and their families based on family and community needs assessments. This funding will allow MFSS to continue to provide comprehensive services to expectant mothers, infants and toddlers in both the center-based and home-based settings. 

“Maui Family Support Services, Inc. is thankful for this important federal funding,” said Edeluisa M. Baguio-Larena, Chief Executive Officer of Maui Family Support Services, Inc. “Building on a foundation of strong, healthy families, this grant will help to ensure that youth at our Early Head Start Centers reach their fullest potential.”

Senator Hirono remains a nationally recognized leader on early childhood issues and strong advocate for federal programs like Head Start and Early Head Start. Since 1965, Head Start grants have promoted school readiness for children and low-income families by providing educational, nutritional, social, and health services. In 2016, the program supported nearly one million children and families nationwide—including more than 3,000 families in Hawaii.

###