July 5, 2021 at 8:43 am HST

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) announced that two early head start and head start programs in Hawaii will receive nearly $ 3 million in new federal funding through the American Rescue Plan.

The financing includes:

• $ 997,881 for parents and children combined; and
• $ 1,804,322 for Honolulu Community Action Program

Senator Schatz said funding will be critical to helping these programs recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including by making up for lost study time and rebuilding fully functional, comprehensive services in the fall. He said this will ensure Hawaiian families get the support they need as they prepare their young children for school.

“The importance of early childhood development programs to a child’s successful and healthy future cannot be overestimated, and support for these programs is especially important after the disruptions caused by the pandemic,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will help families across Hawaii get the support they need to help their children thrive in school and in life.”

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children. These programs are run by nonprofit organizations across the country and promote the schooling of children under six from low-income families. These programs, which are free to families, support children by focusing on early learning, health, and the well-being of the family.

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Parents and Children Together has provided community service to families in Hawaii since 1968 and today employs over 400 people in Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lāna’i, Maui, and Hawaii. The Honolulu Community Action Program has been supporting economically disadvantaged families on O’ahu since 1965.