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Big Island Good Beginnings Alliance Community Council
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The Big Island Good Beginnings Alliance Community Council (BIGBACC) is part of the statewide Good Beginnings Initiative.  BIGBACC is a voluntary council of parents, early childhood providers, and community groups established to work together for quality early childhood education and care for Hawaii’s families with children, from birth to five years.  BIGBACC has prioritized increasing the quality of early childhood programs and bringing more families into the system as this year's focus. Raising the educational levels of early childhood practitioners and providing more information to parents about child development are two ways to help move our Big Island children closer to being "safe, healthy and ready to succeed".

Big Island Good Beginnings Alliance Community Council’s Vision:

Through using the four “C’s”, the Big Island Good Beginnings Alliance Community Council envisions:

• A place where families can afford quality care in convenient locations;
• An increase in licensed infant care;
• An improvement in professional training options for its early childhood workforce;
• Greater access to early childhood information for parents, families and other consumers; and
• Better coordination of early childhood resources and services throughout the island.

The Community Council meets every other month throughout the year.

Community Council Committees:

• Families in the System
• Assuring Quality Programs and Services
• System Coordination and Accountability
• System Financing and Resource Development
• Public Education and Engagement

The Community Council Committees meets every other month throughout the year.

How Does Big Island Good Beginnings Help Parents and Communities?

By Supporting:

• Play + Learns Groups
• Safe, healthy, high quality early care and education
• Nurturing and trained caregivers in centers and home
• Leadership development and training for parents, community leaders and service providers.

By Providing:

• Child development technical assistance and information
• Neighboring networking opportunities

Everyone plays a role in the development of a child:

• A parent, grandparent, uncle, auntie, relative, foster parent or guardian.
• A caregiver, teacher, doctor, police officers, social worker, or concerned professional.
• A community member, concerned advocate, neighborhood association member or faith community member.

By participating in Big Island Good Beginnings you can:

• Learn more about child development
• Share and encourage others to understand the importance of the first five years of a child’s life
• Provide support and direction for your community
• Be informed about the latest trends and issues relating to early childhood, health and family
• Provide support for legislative issues and become an advocate for our keiki

Play + Learn Groups

Good Beginnings Play + Learn Groups:  Our Play+Learn Groups provide an interactive environment for young children and their parents and/or care givers to play and learn together.  These groups offer parents and caregivers the opportunity to share ideas and concerns, and to learn from each other.  Our Keiki Contacts (leaders) are knowledgeable about the health, protection and developmental needs of children.  They meet weekly with parents and caregivers to answer their questions, make referrals to resources and provide follow-up with the participants.

Imua Puna Good Beginnings Play+Learn Group:
Mondays, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at Scared Hearts Church, Pahoa
For more information please contact Julie Ann Deguair at 961-3877, ext 103

Imua Puna Hilo Good Beginnings Play+Learn Group
Fridays, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Living Waters Church, Hilo
For more information please contact Julie Ann Deguair at 961-3877, ext 103

Toddler Prep Playgroup
Mondays 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Waimea Community Center
For more information please Contact Lena Oakes at 885-9889

YWCA Healthy Start Playgroup
Third Friday of every month.  This playgroup group moves around. Please contact Julia Ann Deguair for more information at 961-3877, ext. 103

HIPPY, Alu Like and Healthy Start Playgroup
Wednesdays Old Kona Airport Toddler Play ground.
For more information please contact Shannon Ramirez at 334-4111

Leadership Development Program is a community initiative that grew out of the community playgroups and our Play+Learn Groups.  Leaders are self-identified parents and caregivers actively involved in the playgroups.  These individuals have expressed an interest in taking a leadership role.  They are invited to assume leadership roles on a gradual basis and to participate in the Leadership Development Program.  The training curriculum includes

• Keiki development stages,
• The importance and relationship of play and learning,
• How to identify and access community resources and support systems,
• How to become an advocate for young children and their families.
• Their role as a their keiki’s first teacher
• And Helping them to understand school readiness and how it relates to keiki and their families, schools and communities.

Upon completion the Leadership Development Program, these parents and caregivers are better prepared to become a cadre of community volunteers who support and educate others, share information, lead playgroups, and move public policy in support of keiki and their families. 

Our Leadership Development Program is held throughout the year. 

For more information, please contact:

Angela Thomas
Big Island County Coordinator
P.O. Box 6376
Kamuela, HI 96743
Tel: (808) 887-1228                                                               athomas@goodbeginnings.org