SPIN Conference 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
8:30am - 3:30pm
UH Campus Center
Staying Alive with SPIN
GBA is co-sponsoring the annual conference for the Special Parent Information Network where families of children with disabilities have an opportunity to gain valuable information and meet and network with other parents and professionals.
For additional information or to register for this event, please contact the folks at SPIN: or 808-586-8129.
Hawai`i Island Early Childhood Conference
April 23 & 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, 2010, 7:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (69-275 Waikoloa Beach Drive)
The Power of Purpose - Intentional Teaching
Registration fee for Friday evening includes a light buffet. Registration for Saturday includes continental breakfast and a buffet lunch. To download a registration form visit http://www.fofhawaii.org/BabySTEPS.html If you have any questions, please contact Angela Thomas at
ONE VOICE for Children Meeting
March 30, 2010; 9:00am - 11:00am
Community Church
2345 Nu`uanu Avenue at Wyllie
One Voice Mtg Minutes - February 19, 2010
Position Statement - as of February 19, 2010
Email Form
This is a test email form page
Board of Directors’ Reference Materials
GBA Articles of Incorporation
GBA By-Laws
Conflict of Interest Policy
BOARD MEETING MATERIALS
GBA BOD Meeting Schedule 2009-2010
- January 20, 2010
- October 28, 2009
- July 16, 2009
- June 30, 2009
odd Nitta
Todd Nitta is Vice-President and Business Lending Manager of the Dealer Center Division for First Hawaiian Bank, Honolulu, Hawai`i. In this position he is responsible for management of a sizable portfolio. His position requires analysis of financial statements as well as staff supervision.
Todd was born on Kaua`i, received his bachelors in accounting from Pepperdine University and is an honors graduate of the University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking School.
Beyond his work life, Todd finds time for his family and has been a basketball coach from the intermediate to the varsity levels.
The nominating committee was impressed with Todd’s knowledge of the financial and banking arena as well as his commitment to children and interest in further serving the community by joining the GBA board of directors.
Children & Youth Day
2009 marks the 16th annual Children & Youth Day and promises to be as exciting as past years. This is a one-day free event of fun games, educational experiences, hands-on activities, entertainment and surprising adventures for Hawaii’s children and youth and the young at heart - great fun for the whole family! Watch a video of last year’s event by clicking here.
GBA is the fiscal sponsor for Children & Youth Day. The event kicks off a month long celebration of children and youth that involves over 2,300 volunteers and is a remarkable example of collaboration pulling together all segments of the community. The purpose of Children & Youth Day is to educate children, youth, parents and other family members about the issues facing Hawai`i’s children. This event offers learning opportunities around creating stable, healthy, and safe environments in which children can succeed.
Outstanding Parent Friendly Business Nomination Form
Children & Youth Day 2009 will be held on Sunday, October 4th from 10:00am to 3:00pm on the grounds of the State Capitol. Last year, the event attracted 37,000 attendees – we expect even more this year! If you’re interested in participating in one way or another, please let us know by completing any of the forms below:
Belfield Economic Study
NEWLY RELEASED by Good Beginnings Alliance: The Economic Benefits of Investments in Early Education for Hawai`i
Investing in early childhood education has proven economic returns, especially in Hawai’i. The Economic Benefits of Investments in Early Education for Hawai’i report, commissioned by Good Beginnings Alliance, presents a viable solution to positively impact the economy through long-term savings to taxpayers and government, and also by generating more jobs in the field of early education.
Belfield Economic Benefits Study - Summary
Belfield Economic Benefits Study - Full Report
- Promotes change for the well-being of children and youth
- Provides a forum for sharing information among members
- Identifies gaps and seeks better services for children/youth
- Provides Hawaii’s decision-makers and the general public with information on issues affecting children
- Coordinates advocacy efforts of its members
- Proposes and supports legislation affecting children, youth, and families
- All parents want their children to be healthy, happy, and successful.
- Babies and young children need parents/caregivers who are nurturing to form attachments critical to healthy emotional, social and cognitive development.
- Parental resilience requires skills for managing crises as well as everyday challenges of family life.
- To support parents in increasing their knowledge of parenting and child development we must start with honoring the individual’s cultural beliefs and values and existing knowledge and parenting practices.
- Parenting activities that support parents as first teachers expand and enhance their understanding of child development and how to support healthy growth and development that includes opportunities to learn developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant discipline and guidance methods.
- Parents and children learn best through parent-child interaction in conjunction with modeling and coaching.
- Reducing social isolation gives families the ability to engage with others in a positive way and to develop a network of support with others who are caring for children.
- Parents benefit from knowing where and how to access information, referrals and support in times of need.
- Strengthening family relationships supports successful transitioning back into the community and reduces the chance of recidivism.
- Supporting successful transitioning back into the community must begin from the day of sentencing.
- Children and families impacted by an incarcerated family member have unique needs. Promising practices that support and strengthen children of incarcerated parents need to be comprehensive and coordinated and serve the family as a whole.
- Contact Database Assistant (download pdf)
- Events Assistant (download pdf)
- General Office Assistant (download pdf)
- Photo Archive Assistant (download pdf)
- 20 percent of Hawaii DOE kindergarten teachers had an Early Childhood Endorsement in 2007—which signifies these teachers have been formally educated and trained to work with young children with a focus on instruction during the primary years.
- What can we do? What can be done to help ensure that more teachers have the training and resources they need to best address the social, emotional and instructional needs of children entering kindergarten?
- 18 percent of elementary schools had well-established parent involvement programs (as self-rated by kindergarten teachers and principals) in 2007.
- What can we do? For a child to succeed in school, parents/family and schools must work in partnership. How can we collaborate with the DOE and better support schools as they strengthen their parent involvement and parent communication?
Read more about HSSRA and see the results by state, complex area, and school.
About Us
Good Beginnings Alliance (GBA) is Hawai`i’s leading independent voice dedicated to ensuring young children are safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
Every day, we strive to ensure a safety net exists so all children have the support and opportunity to grow into thriving, successful adults.To this end, GBA remains in a heightened state of awareness to call attention to the needs of our children; we use data to support and bring that awareness to business, community, education, healthcare, and government; and we develop recommendations and comprehensive solutions so those in power can make decisions that ensure the safety, health and readiness of all Hawai`i’s children.
GBA is a member of Voices for America’s Children
Good Beginnings Alliance:
- raises awareness and understanding of the issues facing Hawai`i’s young children,
- informs community leaders of the early childhood data that affects their decisions,
- leverages public and private investments to work cohesively for early childhood, and
- connects public and private efforts to build a comprehensive early childhood system for Hawai`i.
HistoryGBA is a 501 (c) (3) organization originally established in 1997 as an independent focal point for early childhood policy development. GBA was created to be a sustainable, effective, participatory coordinating structure that cuts across existing private and public systems to enhance and develop quality early childhood services in the State of Hawai`i.
Today, GBA is Hawai`i’s leading independent voice dedicated to ensuring all young children are safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
Testimonials
“GBA has been an integral partner to Hawaii’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) work as we are both working together to enact the vision of the Hawaii State Legislature that “All of Hawaii’s Children will be safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.” As a partner in our system building efforts, GBA has been critical to ECCS efforts working in the areas of parenting, medical home, social emotional competence of young children, early care and education, and family support. We’ve been fortunate to have GBA as our partner to improve the system for the children and families of Hawaii!”
- Keiko Nitta, DOH“Thank you to the Board, advisory and staff who are working together to advocate for this [Keiki First] bill. Appreciate all the effort to submit testimony and talking to your legislators and colleagues. Thank you, Dave and Liz for working tirelessly to support Keiki First. We ask for continued guidance as to how we can strategically plan our next steps for the crossover. We appreciate the coordinators as point of information and contact and all the staff’s work to be one voice on behalf of our youngest children!!”
- Sharon Taba, GBA Board President“I hear about all the many great things GBA is doing and when I walk into the GBA offices I always expect to see a staff of 60 or more… How do you all do it?!” - Saskia Trail, Early Childhood Professional
“Our children are our future and no one understands this better than Good Beginnings Alliance. Through the efforts of the Big Island Good Beginnings Alliance Community Council, early childhood education is getting the attention that it deserves. We need someone to focus on early childhood education and Good Beginnings Alliance is meeting this need.”
- Cindy Evans, Hawai`i State Representative“Good Beginnings Alliance has had a great impact on my life. It has incorporated my family into the community by providing me a network of information, people, and activities. It also provided a smooth transition from the playgroups to preschool for my older daughter.”
- Marnie Crawford - Kaua`i Parent
Early Childhood Data
At Good Beginnings we believe it is essential to provide the answers to many questions affecting the well-being of young children. We’ve collected data on children, families, and the Early Childhood system that answer many questions including:
- How many children are in need?
- How much money does the state allocate for preventive early childhood programs?
- How many teachers in early childhood programs have their degrees?
If you would like to support our efforts at collecting data toward ensuring all children are safe, healthy and ready to succeed, please consider making a donation to Good Beginnings Alliance.
Wish List
content here
Monetary
Content Summary Here
Volunteer
Volunteers are integral to every successful nonprofit organization and there are always opportunities for extra hands at Good Beginnings Alliance; from answering phones to inputting data to maintaining document control to assisting with events.
In each volunteer, we seek a commitment of between 2 and 6 hours of time per week for a span of 2 consecutive months. Check out the volunteer opportunities below to see if there is something that fits your desire to help out. If you have specific skills you would like to volunteer, please let us know what they are and we’ll look into creating an opportunity for you to use them.For more on volunteering, please contact Kit Wynkoop at 808-531-5502 or via email:
Get Involved
There are many opportunities to be involved in helping ensure every keiki is safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
Directly Advocate for Children
For Policymakers
Summary content here
Annual Fact Sheet
Good Beginnings Alliance compiles key information on children, families, and early childhood education in Hawaii each year. We are in the process of updating this fact sheet with 2008 data.
IDC Grid
Staff
A strong cohesive staff is the backbone of any outstanding organization. The staff at Good Beginnings Alliance is a caring team of experienced professionals committed to ensuring Hawai`i’s keiki are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.
“I hear about all the many great things GBA is doing and when I walk into the GBA offices I always expect to see a staff of 60 or more… How do you all do it?!” – Saskia Trail
Media
Community Events
content here
HAEYC
HAEYC, as the state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is committed to becoming an increasingly high perfroming and inclusive organization, As a member you may take advantage of a wide array of resources offered through NAEYC and HAEYC to help improve your work with children.
Resources include:
- the award-winning journal, Young Children
- discounted prices in the NAEYC catalog of hundreds of books, videos, brochures, and posters
- access to the Members Only area of the NAEYC Website
- and the world's largest early education conference
To learn more about HAEYC, visit their website www.hawaiiaeyc.org or contact them via email at .
Professional Development
Helping early childhood teachers, aides, directors, providers and care givers to be their best goes hand-in-hand with ensuring that Hawai`i's keiki are safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
Our Professional Development programs represent our deep commitment to the many individuals who tirelessly work to improve the well-being of Hawai`i's keiki.
GBA Scholarship
GBA offers a scholarship to cover the cost of non-EC credits to students who are early childhood education and care providers working directly with children. See details in the documents below. Check this site often for the announcement of the next round of scholarships to be awarded.
GBA Scholarship Appllication
Monthly Income Worksheet
GBA Scholarship FAQ
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
University of Hawai‘i Mānoa Master of Education in Early Childhood Education 3rd Cohort begins Summer 2009. Application deadline is January 31, 2009. UHM’s Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education program innovatively develops leaders to serve in the fields related to early childhood education and care. The program focuses equally on early childhood education, child and family development, and special education.
This 30-credit cohort program is designed to be completed in three years through a combination of three-week mandatory sessions for three consecutive summers and a variety of on-line, condensed or semester long on-campus classes to complete electives. A new cohort begins every three years and the maximum amount of students accepted into a cohort is 32. Scholarships are available. For more information please contact Dr. Sheri Schonleber at or call 956-0337.
Master of Education in Early Childhood Fact Sheet
Family Child Care Recruitment
PATCH provides assistance to individuals opening a new child care program and guides them through the state licensing process. Contact your local PATCH office to find out more about his program or to obtain an application form or visit http://www.patchhawaii.org
Hawaii Careers with Young Children
Hawaii Careers with Young Children serves as a resource for anyone concerned about the quality of early childhood education and care programs in Hawai`i. Our goal is to ensure that all of Hawai`i's children are safe and healthy, and that they are provided with ample opportunities for growth during their most critical years of development.
To achieve these goals, our mission is to enable and empower teachers and caregivers who have demonstrated a passion for nurturing and educating our keiki. We strive to set the highest standards for educators and mentors, and compensate them for the vital role they play in all our futures.
The Kids Page
The Kids page is for kids! Parents you can see what's here but get your kid's permission first.
- Environmental Kids Club
An EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) site where kids can learn about their environment and how they can do their share to protect the environment. There is a game room and an art room and a place where kids can ask the questions that concern them the most. - Use caution in exposing young children to media discussions and images of war as well as adult conversations that are charged with emotion. Talking about being afraid is a good thing when it is done calmly and in lets the child know you are still strong and in control.
- Observe behavior and listen in order to understand your child. Avoid speaking in unnecessary detail prematurely. Respond appropriately to your child's developmental, level, understanding and interest.
- Give reassurance, physical comfort and a sense of security. Children need extra hugs, smiles. Reassure them that they are safe and that there is someone to take care of them. Young children have great faith in adult powers and are responsive to adult reassurances. Model and demonstrate healthy coping skills because children will imitate adults in reacting to any situation.
- Keep routines consistent. Small children take comfort and find security in the normal sequence of the day, waking up, eating breakfast, going to school or to play, eating lunch, taking a nap, having a snack, story time, bath and bed are important anchors for a child and valuable learning opportunities.
- Encourage children to talk about what they see and hear. Children regain a sense of control by talking about things that bother them, and talking with a supportive adult can help them clarify their feelings. At the same time, children should not be pressured to talk; they may need time to absorb experiences before discussing them. To help children feel comfortable parents and other adults can share their own feelings of fear and anxiety, but should always do so in a calm, reassuring way. Listen and respect a child's words. Reflect what you have heard. Resist correcting misinformation or giving your own opinion until it is clear that the child feels understood.
- Focus on experiences that help children release tension. Give children more time for the relaxing, therapeutic experience of playing with sand, water, clay and play dough.
- Provide plenty of time and opportunity for children to work out their concerns and feelings through play. Create props that children can use to pretend they are firefighters, doctors, rescue workers or other helpers. In dramatic play, children can pretend that they are big and strong to gain control over their fears and to overcome feelings of helplessness, without acting out aggression towards another. Spend more time in settings that give children opportunities for physical activity and that provide emotional release.
- Model peaceful conflict resolution. Peaceful resolution to conflict is one way to give children a stronger sense of power and control. Children need to see alternatives to using violence to solve problems. Be prepared to talk about retaliation, revenge and forgiveness. Using realistic examples appropriate to a child's experience can help. "If one child in the preschool class takes someone else's cookie, is everyone who goes to a preschool bad?"
- Avoid thinking in stereotypes. Making assumptions and using labels about groups of people based on their race, ethnicity, religious background or national origin, is inappropriate and not helpful. Sometimes adult words spoken in anger or as a joke influence a child's attitudes for a lifetime.
The most important outcome of the days to follow will be children who are confident, resilient and able to move toward a world in which conflicts are solved in a different way. - If the childcare center or home is accredited and licensed.
- If you can come for a visit anytime.
- The number of children that are cared for by the provider or teacher in charge.
- What activities will be available for your child each day.
- The center or home has a list of references (and make sure you call them.)
- If the provider has training in early childhood development.
- Safe and nurturing environments.
- Settings that promote physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children.
- Frequent, positive, warm interactions among adults (caregiver) and children.
- Planned learning activities that are age and developmentally appropriate (block building, painting, reading, and tell stories, dress-up, quiet and active play and outdoor play.)
- Trained teachers or providers, who specialize in early childhood development, early brain development, and early care and education.*
- Ongoing professional development for staff and director.
- Low adult to child ratio.**
- Nutritious meals and snacks.
- Regular two-way communication with parents and parents are always welcomed.
- Effective and responsive administration
- 1:8 for two-year-olds
- 1:12 for three-year-olds
- 1:16 for four-year-olds
- The First Five Years brochure discusses the importance of a keiki’s first five years and how to ensure healthy development.
- At the Beach is a brochure which provides parents with ideas on how to turn a trip to the beach into a day that is filled with learning.
- Hawaii is a gorgeous place to raise your children. GBA’s Outside brochure provides parents with information on how the beautiful outdoors can provide children with a wealth of learning opportunities.
- Keiki o Hawai`i
Local directory and resources.
- Parent Guide: A Resource for Families
This publication focuses on parent and family involvement and provides information on effective parenting practices, as well as examples of successful partnerships between parents, schools, and community organizations.
- The Parent Line
Information on health, nutrition, and family planning; child care, preschool, and play activities; and parent education and family support.
- ParentsPlace.com
Find other interesting features on beauty and style, health and well-being, and diet and fitness at ParentsPlace.com
- pacthawaii.org
Respite Care (Time-out) Programs with PACT (Parent and Child Together) provides a much needed break from child care responsibilities for parents who are under stress and cannot afford childcare.
- workingmother.com
Working moms can appreciate help and resources meant to make their job a little easier. Motherhood.org is a resource website and WorkingMother magazine offers articles of interest to working moms.
- motherhood.org
- fatherhood.org
There is a nation-wide movement to re-emphasize the role of fathers and increase their involvement in the lives of their children. Fatherhood.org is a website devoted to that purpose.
- Learn more about individual donor levels
- Learn more about corporate donor levels
- View Study: Financing Strategies to Support a Coherent Early Care and Education System in Hawaii (July 2003) (872KB)
- View Study: Executive Summary (651 KB)
- View Study: Full Report (738 KB)
GBA Newsletter
GBA newsletters are about the ways in which GBA is ensuring all keiki are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.
Champions for Children
In 2000, Good Beginnings Alliance took the lead in creating Champions for Children, a group of organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of Hawaii’s children and families.
Champions for Children:
To facilitate Champions for Children, Good Beginnings tracks key legislation that impacts Hawaii’s keiki and their families. We may email hearing notices and talking points to our Champions for Children partners throughout the legislative session. We work to ensure that Hawaii’s advocates for children have current information and will use this information to make positive changes for Hawaii’s keiki.
Participating Organizations
Over 30 organizations continue to be Champions for Children.
For more information or if you are interested in joining Champions for Children, please contact Elila Levinson at .
Communities
Get involved in the early childhood scene in your community by contacting the Early Childhood Council Coordinator for your county:
HSSRA O`ahu
HSSRA Hawai`i
HSSRA Maui
HSSRA Kaua`i
HCYC
Hawaii Careers with Young Children serves as a resource for anyone concerned about the quality of early childhood education and care programs in Hawai`i. Our goal is to ensure that all of Hawai`i’s children are safe and healthy, and that they are provided with ample opportunities for growth during their most critical years of development.
To achieve these goals, our mission is to enable and empower teachers and caregivers who have demonstrated a passion for nurturing and educating our keiki. We strive to set the highest standards for educators and mentors, and compensate them for the vital role they play in all our futures.
Meeting Documents
HCYC_Core_Mtg_Agenda - October 30, 2009
HCYC_Core_Mtg_Minutes - October 2, 2009
HCYC_Steering_Cmte_Minutes - October 8, 2009
HCYC_Anne_Mitchell_Notes - October 2, 2009
Misc. Documents
Air and Ground Transportation Procdures
Check Reimbursement Request Form
2007: “Entering Kindergarteners and Schools They Enter: Making a Difference”
View Issue Brief: Entering Kindergarteners and Schools They Enter: Making a Difference
“Ready or Not: Hawaii’s Keiki Enter Kindergarten”
Does it really take a village to raise a child? SPARK Hawaii thinks so. This well funded, multi-year effort seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable children in two communities. The strategy is twofold: (1) connecting parents, community based services, and elementary schools, and (2) changing policy at the district and state level...View Issue Brief: Ready or Not: Hawaii's Keiki Enter Kindergarten"(293.7KB)
“Behind Before they Begin: Does Hawaii Prepare our Youngest Children for School?”
At the beginnings of 2003, Good Beginnings produced our second issue brief, "Behind Before they Begin: Does Hawaii Prepare our Youngest Children for School?"View Issue Brief: "Behind Before They Begin: Does Hawaii Prepare Our Youngest Children For School?"
“Quality Preschool Helps Parents Work and Children Learn”
Over a decade of scientific research conclusively demonstrates that that the human brain develops more rapidly between birth and age five than during any other subsequent period. High quality pre-school programs play a critical role in this development… Good Beginnings 2004 Legislative Policy Brief.
View Issue Brief: Quality Preschool Helps Parents Work and Children Learn” (82KB)
“A Wise Investment: Spending for Young Children”
In 2000, our first issue brief was research and compiled by Hawaii's Kid Watch Children's Budget Analysis and was entitled "A Wise Investment: Spending for Young Children".The brief covers school readiness efforts, programs that aid young children, the cost of early childhood programs and child care costs.
View Issue Brief: A Wise Investment: Spending for Young Children
banner4
banner2
Banner3
banner1
Kids Count
The annual KIDS COUNT Data Book is published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation and provides national and state-by-state information and statistical trends on the conditions of America’s children and families. This report shows information on Demographic Data, Child Health, Education, Economic Conditions of Families, Children Living in Vulnerable Households, and Children in Low-Income Households Where No Adult Works. It also provides each state’s ranking on 10 key indicators of child well-being. For further information beyond the annual reports, visit www.kidscount.org
2008 Kids Count Data Book
2007 Kids Count Data Book
2006 Kids Count Data Book
2005 Kids Count Data Book
2004 Kids Count Data Book
2003 Kids Count Data Book
Policy Makers
Information Coming Soon
ONE VOICE for Children Meeting
One Voice for Children will meet again on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 9:00am to 11:00am in the Choir room at the Community Church at 2345 Nu`uanu Avenue at Wyllie.
One Voice Mtg Minutes - February 19, 2010
Position Statement - as of February 19, 2010
Audio & Video
Hawaii’s Early Education in the Spotlight • KHNL 8 • 4/22/08
watch video
PRIVACY POLICY:
The Good Beginnings Alliance fully respects your rights to privacy and utilizes the following practices in regards to any information we are provided or obtain about users of this website. In order to provide service to you as a customer of the Good Beginnings Alliance , we may require you to provide certain information to us. Common items may include, but are not limited to, your name, address, email, and phone number.
By providing this information to the Good Beginnings Alliance, you are agreeing to allow us to utilize this information to complete all transactions you request through this website and to disclose that information and details of all such transactions to the Good Beginnings Alliance various subsidiaries and affiliates. Because of the nature of the Internet, such data may need to pass through any country.
Email
If you authorize us to send you promotional materials, we may do so using either the email or the mailing addresses you provided on the Contact Us form. From time to time we may notify you of special promotions, meetings, training, conferences, new products or services, or other information that may interest you.
We do not share any information you provide to us, including your email and mail addresses, with any companies outside the Good Beginnings Alliance, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
About Cookies
When you visit the Good Beginnings Alliance website, we place a text file called a “cookie” in the browser directory of your computer’s hard drive. A cookie is a small piece of information that a website can store on your web browser and later retrieve. The cookie cannot be read by any website other than the one that set up the cookie. Cookies enable this website to recognize the information you have consented to give to this website and help us determine what portions of this website are most appropriate for your professional needs.
We do NOT use cookies to examine your surfing behavior before or after leaving the Good Beginnings Alliance website. If at any time you believe that the Good Beginnings Alliance has not followed the above policy, or if you would like your information to be removed from our system, please email us at . We will make reasonable efforts to identify and correct any problem.
Disclaimers
THIS WEBSITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND THE GOOD BEGINNINGS ALLIANCE EXCLUDES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE FUNCTIONS EMBODIED ON, OR IN THE MATERIALS OF, THIS WEBSITE ARE NOT WARRANTED TO BE UNINTERRUPTED OR WITHOUT ERROR. YOU, NOT THE GOOD BEGINNINGS ALLIANCE, ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION DUE TO YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE.
Except as specifically stated in these Terms and Conditions of Use, the Privacy Policy, or elsewhere on this website, or as otherwise required by applicable law, neither the Good Beginnings Alliance, nor its directors, employees, content providers, affiliates or other representatives will be liable for damages of any kind (including, without limitation, lost profits, direct, indirect, compensatory, consequential, exemplary, special, incidental, or punitive damages) arising out of your use of, your inability to use, or the performance of this website or the Content whether or not we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
The Good Beginnings Alliance uses reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy, correctness and reliability of the Content, but we make no representations or warranties as to the Content’s accuracy, correctness or reliability.
There may be links to other websites from the Good Beginnings Alliance website; however, these other websites are not controlled by the Good Beginnings Alliance and we are not responsible for any content contained on any such website or any loss suffered by you in relation to your use of such websites. You waive any and all claims against the Good Beginnings Alliance regarding the inclusion of links to outside websites or your use of those websites.
Some US states and foreign countries do not permit the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for certain categories of damages. Therefore, some or all of the limitations above may not apply to you to the extent they are prohibited or superseded by state or national provisions.
Governing Law and Venue
This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed by the laws of the State of Hawaii, USA, without reference to its laws relating to conflicts of law and not including the provisions of the 1980 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Venue for all disputes arising under this Agreement shall lie exclusively in the Superior Courts of the State of Hawaii or the Federal District Courts of Honolulu (as permitted by law) and each party agrees not to contest the personal jurisdiction of these courts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the Good Beginnings Alliance shall have the right to commence and prosecute any legal or equitable action or proceeding before any non-US court of competent jurisdiction to obtain injunctive or other relief in the event that, in the opinion of the Good Beginnings Alliance, such action is necessary or desirable.
No action of the Good Beginnings Alliance, other than an express written waiver or amendment, may be construed as a waiver or amendment of any of these Terms and Conditions of Use or Privacy Policy. Should any clause of these Terms and Conditions of Use or Privacy Policy be found unenforceable, wherever possible this will not affect any other clause and each will remain in full force and affect.
Links to Other Websites
The sites to which we link, including but not limited to the sites of subsidiaries and third party content providers, may have different privacy policies and practices from those disclosed here. We assume no responsibility for the policies or practices of linked sites and encourage you to become acquainted with them.
Other Sites MAY:
Point or link from a site directly to content within the Good Beginnings Alliance website.
Other Sites MAY NOT:
Copy, modify, or display the Good Beginnings Alliance name, logo, text or graphic images in any way without explicit written permission from the Good Beginnings Alliance. Redeliver any of the pages/text/images/content of the Good Beginnings Alliance website using “framing” technology without the express written permission of the Good Beginnings Alliance.
Children
We do not intend to collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are under 18, you should not enter information on this website and should ask a parent to do so for you.
Changes to This Online Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to change these Terms and Conditions of Use, the Privacy Policy, prices, information and available contractual license terms featured on this website without notice, but will not do so without posting the revised policy on this website. We encourage you to review this privacy policy whenever you visit our website to make sure you understand how we use the information we collect. These conditions set out the entire agreement between the Good Beginnings Alliance and you relating to your use of this website.
Strengthening Keiki of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (SKIPP)
SKIPP’s mission is to strengthen, support, and collaborate with community partners of the Strengthening Keiki of Incarcerated Parents Partnership.
Guiding Principles
Download SKIPP Brochure 2008 (pdf)
Volunteer Opportunities
Sue Entz
Hawai`i Representative
Sue Entz has been involved in early childhood care and education on Hawai`i Moku since 1976. Sue received a BS in Special Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a Masters in Brain Function & Learning and Diagnosis & Remediation of Learning Disabilities from Columbia University in New York.
Since 1989, Sue has been an instructor in early childhood education and child development at the University of Hawaii at Kona. She has also been the National Early Childhood Education Specialist for the Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence (CREDE) as well as the Developmental Specialist/Special Educator for the North Hawai`i Child Development Program.
Sue has written numerous children’s books together with Sheri Galarza
Sharon Taba
As a parent, early childhood teacher and director, school-aged director, children’s program administrator, project director of several federal and national foundation grants, Sharon’s career spans nearly four decades, progressively promoting early childhood and the Medical Home. Sharon actively worked at the local and national level with pediatric leadership to implement Medical Home models of care for children who are at risk for environmental, biological and developmental delay. Ms. Taba has particular interests in advancing early childhood systems of care and understands the complexities of building integrated systems of early childhood health and education and family support through the culmination of experiences in bottom up and top down approaches.
Recent publications: Medical Home & Early Childhood Development: Advancing New Systems of Care (Monograph with Calvin C. J. Sia, MD, and Lynn B. Wilson, 2006, Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Medical Home Family Stories (Co-Producer, Video DVD, 2005, Hawaii Medical Home Implementation Project); and, Early Child Development in Primary Care (International Conference Report, 2003, Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa).
Sharon applies her new passion producing educational media to build training capacity for inter professional collaboration toward increasing positive child and family outcomes. She co-produced the Medical Home Family Story Series 2—“Social and Emotional Issues in Early Childhood” (Video DVD, 2007, Medical Home Works! Community Pediatrics Institute, Department of Pediatrics, UH John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa). Sharon is currently involved in several training contracts including Healthy Child Care Hawaii, Hilopa`a and the Community Pediatrics Rotation promoting the Medical Home.
Sharon serves on several early childhood health and education state, national and international initiatives including P-20 and P-3, Center for Social Emotional Foundations in Early Learning Leadership Team, Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Strategic Management Team, and the Asian-US Partnership Conferences in Early Child Development in Primary Care Planning Team. And she has served on several early childhood boards including People Attentive to Children (PATCH), Seagull Schools and past president of Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children.
Naoi Yuen
Naoi Yuen is currently the Chief Operating Officer for The Cole Academy. In this position he provides strategic direction and leadership to that organization as well as oversees general operations and human resources.
Previous to joining The Cole Academy, Naoi was the Vice-President of Human Resources for Easter Seals of Hawaii. During his over nine-year tenure at Easter Seals, Naoi provided strategic direction and leadership as well as being responsible to ensure a high level of motivation for the 410 employees of that organization on 5 different islands.
Naoi is a member of the board of the Society of Human Resource Management and has been a guest lecturer for the Hawaii Pacific University’s Master of Business Administration and undergraduate programs.
Naoi is a father and will bring to the GBA board a strong commitment to quality services for all young children of Hawaii, as well as a knowledge of human resource management.
Louise Iwaishi, MD
Dr. Iwaishi has been active in supporting the connection between pediatricians and the early childhood field for many years. She had been in private practice for 10 years in a multi-specialty group before joining the faculty of the University of Hawai`i John A. Burns School of Medicine in 1991. In the Department of Pediatrics, her focus has been residency training in primary care and developmental pediatrics. She is Director of the Community Pediatrics Institute, coordinator of the residency Continuity of Care Program, principal investigator of the Maternal Child Health Bureau interdisciplinary graduate training grant (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities), Director of pediatric education at Shriners Hospital for Children – Hawai`i unit and Medical Director of the Hawai`i Department of Health, Family Health Services Division
Dr. Iwaishi is immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics – Hawai`i Chapter and participates in a variety of community advisories, task forces and committees where she advocates for child health issues related to Title V and AAP initiatives (e.g. Family Voices, Early Intervention and Transition projects, the Medical Home primary care provider, Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) services, Medicaid child health financing, Healthy Start home visiting and Oral Health care.)
Liz Stone
Since 2008, Liz Stone has been a Deputy Attorney General, State of Hawai’i in the Tort Litigation Division. She is a graduate of the Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai`i. From 2006-2008, she served as Executive Director, The Baby Hui: Infants and Toddlers.
In the community, Liz has been on the Advisory Board: Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiimoms.com (2007-2008); the Junior League of Honolulu, 2009-2010 Community Vice-President; the Hawai`i State Bar Association, CLE Committee (2008-present);the , Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association (MAMA) V.P., P.R. Chair (2008-present); the Hawaii State Theatre Council, Board Member (1995-1996); and, the Hawaii Council of Economics Education: Teacher E-mentor (2008-present).
Ms. Stone will bring to the GBA board a commitment to children, experience in non-profit management; as well as legal expertise. She and her husband are the proud parents of two young children.
Lisa Uyehara
Keriann Osada
Keriann Osada is the co-creator and executive producer of Building Blocks for Tots - Hawaii’s Award Winning Play and Learn TV series that airs weekly on KHON2 and Hawaii’s CW. She also owns and manages Vim N
Vigor Organic Foods and Natural Marketplace with her family. She also served as the CEO of a start-up company with an innovative poi-based, easily digestible functional food for infants and children, acted as the Director of Operations of a social networking internet start-up, and was the Vice President of a company formed to facilitate the transfer of technology from the University of Hawaii.
Keriann graduated from Sacred Hearts Academy and cum laude from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. She also obtained her Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii. She currently volunteers as Treasurer of The Baby Hui and serves on Board of Directors for Kids Hurt Too. Keriann enjoyed helping start-up companies succeed, but finds that nothing compares to “starting up” her family with husband Nate and their two sons Zack (4 yrs) and Jake (1 yr).
Kanoe Nāone, PhD
O`ahu Representative
As CEO of INPEACE, Kanoe Nāone manages all programmatic, grant writing and reporting activities. Ms. Nāone is a member of the Act 259 Legislative Task Force and the Na Lau Lama Planning Committee as well as a board member for Good Beginnings Alliance and the Kamehameha Publishing Board. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa campus and will graduate in May of 2008. Her area of study is Indigenous Politics and her dissertation is titled: The Dialectic of Place: land, community, language and place as sites of reclamation for indigenous education.
Prior to her work with INPEACE, Kanoe was the Community Relations and Development Director for Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Family Learning Centers, where she was responsible for the agency’s self sustainability efforts that included land purchase, the development and implementation of a cultural outdoor classroom and construction of a learning center and preschool. In addition she advised on Hawaiian language and culture in programs. Kanoe also served as the Executive Director of The Pa Lehua Project on the Big Island and before that, she taught for five years in the state Department of Education’s Hawaiian Immersion program.
Frank Ranger
Kaua`i Representative
A retired psychologist, moved to Kauai in 2002, with his wife Carol; became the director of the Child and Family Service/Kauai Head Start program in the fall of 2006, serves as the President of the Head Start Association of Hawaii and Vice President of the Region IX Head Start Association. Frank serves as Co- Chair person of the Kauai P-3 Committee and is active in community and governmental activities involving children in Kauai and the state. An author and lecturer on Conflict Resolutions/Mediation he enjoys traveling, board surfing, hiking and work. A life long advocate of child growth and development Frank’s interest in literacy through the development of music in early learning is being demonstrated in Kauai with the P-3 initiative to include pre-school children and Kindergarten children in a three year pilot program of literacy/music development. Frank brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in children’s growth and developed as well as leadership skills which he readily makes available, to his position on the GBA board.
Debbi Amaral
Maui Representative
Dana Davidson, PhD
Dana received her BS in Elementary Education from Northwestern University, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and a PhD in Early Childhood Education from Claremont Graduate University. She is currently a professor at the University of Hawai`i in the department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Dana has received the ACE Freshman Instructor of the Year award, the PACT Board of Directors Community Service Award, and the UH Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Her community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for PATCH and as a member of the Hawai`i State Lieutenant Governor’s Methamphetamine Task Force.
Gregg Yamanaka
Treasurer
Gregg is a great asset to our board as he brings both legal and business management experience. He is founder and CEO of TeraBiz Training Center of the Pacific and Learning Biz, LLC. Previously, Gregg was President of MC&A, Inc. Hawai`i’s largest destination management company, handling in-bound corporate meetings, conventions and incentive groups.
Currently, Gregg is Chair of the State of Hawai`i Workforce Development Council, Department of Labor & Industrial Relations; appointed by the Governor in December 2004. Gregg is a member of many business and community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Advisory Council, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; a member of the Aloha United Way Board of Directors; a member of the Hawai`i Executive Conference, Board of Advisors.
Gregg possesses the knowledge and appreciation as to the importance of workforce training and its connection to positive outcomes for children and adults. He and his wife, Ruthann Yamanaka, are the proud parents of a teenage daughter and appreciate the importance of a good start for all children
Lynn Cabato
Secretary
Lynn K. Cabato was born and raised in Hawaii. She graduated from Waipahu High School and then attended the University of Hawaii, Manoa receiving a BS degree in Human Resource Development.
Lynn’s relationship with HCAP O`ahu Head Start program spans 30 years. In 1976, she was first hired as a Social Service Aide I (now known as Family Advocates). Thereafter, Lynn’s growing experience and accomplishments coupled with the many opportunities provided by the program, allowed for professional development and upward mobility. Lynn sought the most challenging positions in the organization which further honed her skills, knowledge, and abilities in the area of early childhood development, program development, program management, fiscal management, collaboration and networking. She has held several positions including Teacher, Program Manager, and Assistant Director. Lynn is passionate about and committed to the mission and philosophy of Head Start. She is the representative of the Head Start Association of Hawaii (HSAH) on Good Beginnings Board of Directors.
Terry Lock
Vice-President
Terry Lock has been in the early childhood field for the past 32 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Development with a specialization in early childhood education and parent/ community work. Terry has been a preschool teacher/ director, infant-toddler specialist, parent educator, community college instructor, curriculum/ training specialist, consultant, and family literacy site coordinator and trainer.
Terry was a National Head Start Fellow from 2004-2005 with a focus on Head Start Collaboration Offices and their leadership in building state-level professional development systems. Terry was the Maui County Early Childhood Resource Coordinator from 1994–2005, and was a founding member of the Good Beginnings Alliance. She is currently the Director of the Community-Based Early Childhood Education Division at Kamehameha Schools.
Jean Johnson
President
Dr. Jean Johnson is the Associate Director of the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai`i and is the Principal Investigator on a number of grants. She has been actively involved in issues involving newborn hearing screening, early intervention services, and early childhood issues for many years. She had worked as a preschool teacher of the deaf, audiologist, and health services administrator prior to becoming a professor at the University of Hawai`i, where she also teaches in the MCH-Lend Program. She holds graduate faculty appointments in the Department of Early Childhood and the Special Education Department of the College of Education at the University of Hawai`i.
From 1987 to 1999, Dr. Johnson directed the Early Intervention Part C program for infants and toddlers with special needs in Hawai`i. In that capacity, she was active in 1990 in Hawai`i’s passage of the nation’s first legislation mandating newborn hearing screening. She has directed a large-scale research project in newborn hearing screening and published extensively in the field of early childhood and newborn hearing screening. Dr. Johnson serves as a grant reviewer for a number of federal agencies.
She is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and represented Hawai`i between 1992 and 2005 on the Legislative Council of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. In 1996, she was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to serve on the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council. In Hawai`i, she has been appointed by the Governor to serve on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Special Education Advisory Council, and the Hawai`i Early Intervention Coordinating Council. She is a member and past Chair of the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Hawai`i and the Easter Seals Hawai`i Foundation. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Learning Disabilities of Hawai`i Board of Directors and also Vice-Chair of the Good Beginnings Alliance.
Jan I`i
Program Assistant808-531-5502 x 308
Jan I‘i is a Good Beginnings Alliance Program Assistant for the Community Development Block Grant Projects. Her role at GBA is to mentor other parents on the importance of early childhood education and care. She facilitates Family Child Interaction Learning Programs, conducts home visits, provides SPAFT (Supporting Parents as First Teacher) sessions, leads various workshops as well as manages administrative responsibilities. She is currently working on her CDA certificate toward becoming a Lead Teacher in Early Childhood.
Jan has built on her background in the service industry and is currently the Vice-President of the Palolo Valley Homes Ohana Residents Association Board. In this role, Jan advocates for tenant rights, develops partnerships between the community and businesses, and brings to light the importance of early childhood issues.
Nalani Galariada
O`ahu Partnership Coordinator808-531-5502 x 313
With more than fifteen years of experience working with families and young children, Nalani Galariada has developed specific strategies to support parents in their role as first teachers. Nalani’s part in strengthening parent and child relationships through Family Child Interaction Learning Programs, Home Visits and Parent Education has motivated her to build awareness for the importance of the early years. Nalani is currently working toward a BA in Family Life Education.
As the O‘ahu Partnership Coordinator/Program Specialist for the Community Development Block Grant Project, Nalani is responsible for providing direct services to the targeted communities. During her time with Good Beginnings Alliance, Nalani has solidified community partnership with the Institute of Human Services, Palolo Valley Homes Federal Public Housing, Waiphahu II Hawaii Public Housing Authority and TJ Mahoney & Associates (The Home of Reawakening For Women).
Celia Chang Takahashi
808-531-5502 x 304
O`ahu Coordinator
Celia Chang Takahashi has a BS from Creighton University in Omaha, NE and a MEd in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Early Childhood, from the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa. Ce has over 15 years of experience working with young children including working at Kamehameha Schools as a Program Specialist with their Safe and Drug Free Program.
Celia joined Good Beginnings in 2002 as the Program Manager for the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® HAWAII Scholarship Program where she provided scholarships and professional development counseling to early childhood professionals. Over the past five years she has also chaired Ho‘olaulima and has written and produced various Good Beginnings for Your Keiki segments on KITV. She is also works closely with Aloha United Way in their promotion of their Born Learning Campaign through print, media, community events, and public presentations which includes workshops for both early childhood professionals and parents of young children.
Using her background in early childhood, curriculum development and insight as a parent of two young children, Ce created a culturally and developmentally appropriate child-parent curriculum for GBA’s play groups and home visiting programs.
In the Fall of 2007 Celia became the Oahu Coordinator where she provides motivational leadership to the early childhood community councils in Wai‘anae, Punalu‘u, Kahuku, and Windward O‘ahu. She also convenes and facilitates the Good Beginnings Oahu Council (GBOC) which is comprised of early childhood professionals who provide direct services to young children, and their families, on the island of Oahu. GBOC meet six times a year to identify common programs and services, as well as the needs of early childhood education and care professionals, families, keiki.
Ka`ina Bonacorsi
Maui County Coordinator
808-270-5557
Anna Peters
Kaua`i County Coordinator808-632-2114
Angela Thomas
Hawai`i County Coordinator
808-887-1228
Michael C. Fahey
P-3 Coordinator
808-531-5502 x 311
Mike joined Good Beginnings in January of 2008 as the Professional Development Coordinator for the P-3 (Provisions of Early Childhood to Third Grade) movement of the state’s P-20 initiative. He comes to GBA with over 35 years of experience as an early childhood/special education teacher and administrator in Massachusetts; Sydney, Australia; and here in Hawaii with Pali Preschool, United Cerebral Palsy Association, and the Department of Education. His position for the last 17 years had been as the Hawai`i 619 Coordinator for Preschool Special Education Programs.
Mike was one of the original members in 1997 of the State of Hawai`i Interagency Transition Team for the STEPS (Sequenced Transition of Education into the Public Schools) in which he remains very active. He helped develop many of the transition tools made available through the Readiness Taskforce which he co-chaired with UH Professor Emeritus, Stephanie Feeney. He is a past president of the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children (HAEYC) and is still very active in the coordination of the annual Hawai`i Early Childhood Conference every fall.
David A. Tom
Public Policy Director
808-531-5502 x 312
David Tom is the Director of Public Policy with Good Beginnings Alliance (GBA). He joined GBA in August 2006 after completing a 27.5-year career in the United States Air Force as a Military Personnel Officer. During his military career, he was very involved with K-12 education as a school liaison officer, Department of Defense Dependent Schools Japan District Advisory Council Member, United States Pacific Command Military Liaison Officer to the Hawai`i Board of Education, and Pacific Air Forces’ Member of the Joint Venture Education Forum, a partnership between the military community in Hawai`i and the Department of Education.
He supports the Executive Director in development of public policy recommendations related to young children’s health, safety, and early education. He also engages with the Early Childhood Community, Early Childhood Funders, Legislature, and the Business Community to advocate for public policies and laws on quality early childhood
Legislation Tracking
Here are early childhood bills currently on the dockets in Hawai`i for the 2010 session:
2010 Hawai`i EC Bills - As of March 11 2010; 9am
Track all current local legislation
Federal Legislation
Kit Wynkoop
Information & Communications Technology Specialist
808-531-5502 x 317
Kit Wynkoop brings to Good Beginnings Alliance 15+ years of experience in project management and business administration. With his administrative team, Kit managed the internal business process for the Automation & Process executive team and 60 Engineers at Genentech in South San Francisco. While at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School, Kit managed the residency and fellowship training programs in Radiology, Radiation Oncology, the VAMC Medical Service, and the School of Nursing’s Social & Behavioral Sciences.
At GBA, Kit uses his business acumen and organizational skills in many ways including business process development & management, internal communications, document control, and website management. Kit grew up in Honolulu and is very happy to have moved back home and to be working at GBA. Kit spends his free time giving motivational workshops based on his personal experiences with mind over matter.
Darcie Scharfenstein
Communications Consultant
808-531-5502
Lloyd Kaneshige
Chief Financial Officer
808-531-5502 x 315
Ed T. Yonamine
Associate Director808-531-5502 x 303
Ed T. Yonamine serves as the GBA Associate Director. He oversees GBA operations and state planning functions as well as supervises the work and direction of the Oahu and Community Partnership Coordinators. Ed started his early childhood career as a Head Start teacher in Wai'anae and for the last thirty-three years served in varying capacities in the areas of training and technical assistance, higher education, state and federal early childhood development programs, and program administration. He joined GBA in 2005 as the State Planning/Oahu Coordinator and as Associate Director in 2007 after living in Washington State for fifteen years. His last employment in Washington State was with the Booz Allen Hamilton consultant and management firm contracting with the Region 10 Administration for Children and Family's Head Start/Early Head Start Office as a early childhood development content specialist.
Elisabeth Chun
Executive Director
808-531-5502 x 309
Liz Chun is the Executive Director of the Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii’s statewide 501(c) (3) intermediary organization legislatively named to spearhead efforts to create a coordinated early childhood education and care system. Ms. Chun received a B.A. in history from Carleton College and a M.Ed. in educational psychology with a special education focus from the University of Hawaii. Her experiences range from preschool special education teacher and director, to a Head Start trainer, to developing a nation-wide business focused on providing early childhood materials and training to families and educational consultants.
Prior to joining Good Beginnings in 1997, Liz was in the Governor’s Office of Children and Youth as the program manager for Hawaii’s federal Child Care and Development Block Grant. In July 1996, she transferred to the Department of Human Service, the new lead agency for the Child Care and Development Block Grant/Child Care Development Fund.
As volunteer, Liz’ involvement remains committed to issues involving Hawaii’s children. She currently serves on the Leadership Team for the Act 259 Task Force (Keiki First) as well as on the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Advisory Board; the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund Advisory Council; and the Ho`okako`o Corporation supporting conversion charter schools and early education in Hawaii.
GBA in the News
Childcare Co-Pay Increases - Hawai`i News NowChildcare Co-Pay Increases Video - Hawai`i News Now
"Investments in Education" - Honolulu Advertiser
"Early Learning Touted in a Study" - Honolulu Advertiser
"New Study Reveals Surprising Investment" - KHON2
"Early Learning Critical for Successful Future" - Honolulu Advertiser
"Here Comes Kindergarten" - Honolulu Advertiser
"Voices Forum 2008" - Voices For America's Children
"Let's Keep Sustained Focus on Concerns of Keiki" - Honolulu Advertiser
“Foundation Awards $10M Education Grant” - Pacific Business News
"Putting Our Keiki First Pays Big Dividends" (pdf)
"Quality Child Care Difficult to Find" - KHON2
"Dozens Support Early Childhood Education Bill" - KGMB9
"Investing in Early Education: Paths to Improving Children’s Success” - Committee on Education & Labor
"Hawaii Task Force Unveils Preschool Plan" - Honolulu Advertiser
Voices of Educators
Hawai`i State School Readiness Assessment (HSSRA)
HSSRA History and Development- The HSSRA was mandated in 2002 by the Hawaii State Legislature through Act 13 to measure the readiness of our young children and elementary schools. The assessment, funded by the Hawaii Community Foundation, was developed by early education experts Dr. Mary E. Brandt and Dr. Donna Grace for the School Readiness Task Force, in partnership with INPEACE/SPARK, the Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools and Good Beginnings Alliance. The instrument was designed for both school and system level use to assess whether children enter school ready to succeed and schools are ready for entering kindergarten children.
What Type of Information Can the HSSRA Provide?
Here are a couple of examples:
Strategies for giving children emotional support
The following web pages provide information to help you support healthy development in children during trying times.
NAEYC
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Psychological Association
Support Young Children Through Threatening World Events
Helping Children CopeAs an adult who is responsible for the growth and development of children from infancy through about eight years of age, you have the special challenge of dealing with your own perceptions and fears regarding unstable world events and responding in such a way that will empower children and help them to avoid developing inaccurate or damaging ideas and fears that could last a lifetime.
Children and their Response
Very young children respond to images on television as if they are real. When they see and hear the same battle scene seen over and over, they experience it as a new experience, each time. Young children do not yet have clear understanding about time and distance and worry that danger is closer than it may be. The visual images stay in a young child's mind and can cause unrealistic fears and anxiety. It is broadly recommended that children under eight not be exposed to "war news." Turn off the TV or wait until children are in bed for the evening to catch up on current events.
Children depend on daily routines and familiar friendly adults for security. When something interrupts this routine, children may become anxious. No matter what is going on or how you are feeling it is best for a child to stick to the normal daily routine. The way you react to alarming news gives children clues on how to act. They will see your fear as proof that the danger is real. If you seem overcome with worry, a child may feel this more strongly. Children need comforting and frequent reassurance that they're safe. Children's fears also may stem from their imagination. These feeling should be taken seriously. A child, who feels afraid, feels afraid. Your words and actions can provide reassurance.
During the developmental stage called early childhood, children assimilate information very differently from adults. They have not yet mastered abstract thinking. Children learn through experience and relate new information to what they know. We cannot assume that a child's is thinking or feeling as an adult. We can take our clues from their behavior, which reflects their thinking more effectively than words. Observing a young child's play and behavior in general will lead you to what they may be thinking or feeling. Observing and listening to them at play in order to assess what support they may require is preferable to giving unneeded information or asking questions that probe more deeply that necessary. When you do decide that it is appropriate to talk with a child, be sure to present a realistic picture that is both honest and manageable. Be honest and open without overwhelming a child with your own opinion or feelings. When a child asks questions, be sure to listen carefully and find out before responding just what the words mean to him. "Can you tell me more about what you are thinking?" or "What have you heard," may tell you that all you need to do is reflect what he has said and that further words would lead to confusion. Older children five - seven, are more likely to ask the dreaded WHY? "Why is this happening? Why did they do that?" It is not necessary to have an answer. You can admit that sometimes it's hard to know. Let the child know that what you are sure of is that he is loved and will be kept safe.
Feelings of fear are healthy and natural for adults and children. But as an adult, you need to keep control of the situation. Be sure you have time to think about your own feelings and share your thoughts with other adults. Children are very perceptive and will quickly recognize the fear and anxiety of those around them. Sometimes behaviors such as bed-wetting, thumb sucking, baby talk, or a fear of sleeping alone may intensify in some younger children or reappear in children who had previously outgrown them. A child may complain of very real stomach cramps or headaches and be reluctant to go to school. It is important to remember that children are not being bad; they may be anxious and afraid. You can help children cope by understanding what causes their anxieties and fears. Reassure them with firmness and love.
The most important outcome of the days to follow will be children who are confident, resilient and able to move toward a world in which conflicts are solved in a different way.
The following web pages provide information to help you support healthy development in children during trying times.
NAEYC
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Psychological Association
Recognizing Quality Child Care
Looking for child care? Go for quality! - The best way to find quality childcare is to visit the center or the home, spend time and ask questions - remember YOU are the interviewer. Chose a caregiver who will hold, hug, and play with your keiki the same way you do. Find someone who will give your keiki the nurturing and skills your child needs to learn, grow and discover the world around. Find someone who will join you as a daily partner in your keiki's individual development. Look for an environment that nurtures your keiki's healthy development. Quality means the home or center is inviting, safe and clean. Quality means age-appropriate activities are available for your child.How do you know if this is a good place for your child? Be sure to find out:
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and its Hawaii Chapter (HAEYC) state that quality early childhood programs should provide:
*Minimum NAEYC requirements for a lead preschool teacher are Child Development Associate (CDA), associate degree in early childhood or a child development. The preferred teacher or provider has a bachelor degree in early childhood or child development. For infant toddler lead caregivers they need an additional 30 hours of infant/toddler training. NAEYC Accreditation assures quality for early childhood programs. Accredited programs havesystematic reviews and on-going improvement plans in place.
** Adult to child ratio and group size should be as small as possible. Hawaii state licensing requirements require the following adult: children ratios:
Please use the following resources in your search for a quality, licensed and/or accredited childcare facility.
PATCH Hawaii
Zero To Three
I Am Your Child
Early Brain Development
Babies are born with 100 billion brain cells (neurons). These brain cells grow and connect with each other in systems that control a keiki's ability to speak, see, hear, move, touch and develop emotions. Loving touches, soothing talk, and lots of interactions encourage healthy early brain development. With the 100 billion neurons, your keiki can learn just about anything. But, your keiki cannot develop more brain cells after birth, and those that are not used will fade away.10 KEIKI BRAIN BOOSTERS
TALK
Talk soothing and often to your keiki. Your keiki may not talk yet, but loves to hear your voice A LOT! When your keiki hears your words over and over again, you are developing the language and speech part of the brain. The more you talk the more the brain will develop and grow.
READ
Read to your keiki EVERYDAY. Show your keiki lots of books with pretty and funny pictures. Point out what your keiki is seeing in the books, and make all those funny animal sounds.
PLAY
Play with your keiki. Play is pure learning for keiki. Play is fun and play is the work of keiki. You are your keiki's first teacher, so get down on the floor and start playing and teaching. Make sure you have safe, colorful toys that are right for your keiki's age.
LOVE
Be warm, loving and responsive to your keiki. Cuddle, cradle, hug, and touch your keiki often. Keiki respond to touch, which helps to keep them calm and comforts them. Keiki who are rarely touched can actually have brains that are smaller than normal.
SING
Sing, make music together, listen to silly songs and soft lullabies with your keiki. Singing is just like talking. Regardless of your music talent, singing promotes the speech and language part of your keiki's brain.
ROUTINES AND RITUALS
Establish comfortable routines and rituals for your keiki. Routines and rituals associated with a good feeling are reassuring to your keiki. Keiki that have safe and predictable interactions have been found to do better in school.
LIMIT TV
Be selective and limit TV time. Carefully chose TV programs and videos, and make sure to chose a time when you can watch too. Some images may be fun for your keiki, but many other can be confusing or frightening. Talk about the program, explain what you are watching, and do not use the TV as a babysitter.
TEACH DON'T PUNISH
Teach your keiki, but don't punish. Discipline that is constructive and positive is a teaching tool. Don't expect your keiki to do what you say all the time. Remember that keiki need clear requests and plenty of praise for positive behavior. Redirect your keiki when possible, and never hit or shake a keiki. Shaming or harshly criticizing are damaging forms of punishments as well.
QUALITY CHILDCARE
Chose quality early care environments for your keiki. While you are at work or school, make sure your keiki is with a trained and loving childcare provider. Look for a provider who has a degree or training in early childhood development. Find a family childcare home or center that is accredited, licensed, clean and safe. Make sure you can visit anytime. Once you have found someone, and stay involved!
TIME FOR YOU
Take time for yourself. Make plans to ensure that you have time for yourself. The better rested you are, the happier you feel and the less stress you have, the easier it will be for you to take good care of your keiki. The small things you do for you can make the difference.
Adapted from "The First Years Last Forever," by I AM YOUR CHILD campaign.
The First Five Years Tips
The First Five Years Last Foreverdownload The First Five Years brochure (page link to first five years).
10 Tips for Parents & Caregivers
#1 Be warm, loving and responsive.
When keiki receive warm, responsive care they are more likely to feel safe and secure with adults who take care of them.
#2 Respond to keiki's cues and clues.
Recognize and respond to the sounds, movements and expressions that your keiki makes.
#3 Talk, sing and read to your keiki.
These interactions help your keiki's brain make the connections it needs for growth and later learning.
#4 Establish routines and rituals.
Daily routines and rituals associated with pleasurable feelings are reassuring for children. For example, teach your keiki to know it's nap time by singing a song and closing the curtains everyday when it is time for a nap.
#5 Encourage exploration and play.
While many of us think of learning as simply acquiring facts, children actually learn through playing. Parents should encourage the exploration and be receptive when the child needs to return to them for questions and security.
#6 Make television watching selective.
Television by itself can't teach an infant language, and it can't teach a child how to communicate. Sit and watch television with your keiki and talk about what you are viewing.
#7 Use discipline as an opportunity to teach.
In addition to consistent and loving adult supervision, teach your child limits. Never hit or shake a keiki.
#8 Recognize that each keiki is unique.
Keiki grow at different rates. Their ideas and feelings about themselves reflect, in large measure, parents' and caregivers' attitudes toward them.
#9 Choose quality child care and stay involved.
Visit and observe how caregivers respond and interact with the babies and keiki in their care. Seek a caregiver with a clean and safe setting who responds warmly and responsively to your keiki's needs. Check the provider's references.
#10 Take care of yourself.
Parents and caregivers need care, too. When you are exhausted, preoccupied, irritable or depressed, you will probably have a harder time meeting the needs of young children. Reach out and get some help.
Parent Tips
This section contains tips for parents and caregivers.
Brochures
Articles
Parent Resources
The Parent PageA parent's job is not easy. All parents want the best for their keiki. The links here are for parents. The information is intended to help you help yourself so you can take better care of your most valuable possession - your keiki.
Born Learning
Born Learning is a project of United Way which is a public engagement and material distribution campaign that provides important information about what young children need every day to ensure quality early learning. It is designed to support parents in their critical role as their child’s first teacher.
Children and Families
Parents and families need to create safe and healthy learning environments at home so that their keiki may become strong, caring, and successful adults. We encourage everyone to learn more about the immeasurable opportunities that can enrich the lives of Hawai`i’s keiki.
Giving
Good Beginnings Alliance is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to ensuring all young children in Hawai`i have the opportunity to become thriving, successful adults. To this end, we call attention to the needs of our children; we use data to connect the dots for business, community, education, healthcare, and government; and we develop recommendations and comprehensive solutions for those in power.
Yes! I would like to show my support for GBA.
Giving through JustGive is safe and confidential.
If you prefer to mail in your donation, please send your check made to:
- Good Beginnings Alliance
33 S. King Street #200
Honolulu, HI 96813
Please indicate if you wish your donation to be anonymous, in memory or in honor of someone special. For other questions about donating to GBA, contact our CFO, Lloyd Kaneshige, at 808-531-5502 x315 or via email:
Other forms of Giving that we accept:
Bequest
By naming GBA in your will, you can create a permanent source of support for children. While the bequest is the most common form of “planned giving,” other options, such as gift annuities, are also accepted. Significant tax savings are part of the strategy for planned gifts. An estate planner or attorney can be very helpful in determining the best plan for you.
Appreciated Stock
Many donors find gifts of appreciated stock to be an excellent way to support a charity. There may be considerable savings on capital gains through a stock gift (ask your broker or financial planner).
Corporate Matching Gift
You may work for a company that matches employees’ charitable contributions. If so, you can double your giving power! Ask your employer for details.
Publications
Good Beginnings is proud to present Hawaii-based publications that provide our community with information and strategies that will ensure all of Hawaii’s children are safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
If you would like to support our efforts in publishing these documents, please consider making a donation to Good Beginnings Alliance.
Playing to Learn
Issue Briefs
Content & HI Preschool Standards
Family & Community Guidelines
First Five
Executive Guide
Transitions
Reports & Studies
Early Childhood Data
Good Beginnings is proud to present links that provide our community with information and strategies that will ensure that all of Hawaii’s children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.
Schools and Teachers
Here are a few useful resources so Schools and Teachers can stay in the now.
Business Leaders
The Good Beginnings Alliance is involved with many leaders from business and philanthropy including Keiki Funders Network from the philanthropic community, our own Business Council as well as partnerships with the Hawaii Business Roundtable and the Chamber of Commerce. Partnering with the private and philanthropic sectors is critical for leveraging investments in early childhood. Please contact us for more information.
Annual Reports
We are pleased to share with you our accomplishments through our Annual Reports. Our Annual Reports are a celebration and acknowledgement of Good Beginnings partnerships and accomplishments.GBA Annual Reports:
GBA Annual Reports to the Legislature:
The Hawai`i Early Childhood Workforce Study
The Hawai`i Early Childhood Workforce Study, ”Who Cares for Hawaii’s Keiki in Centers?” began in 2000. Good Beginnings in partnership with Ho’owaiwai Na Kamalii distributed surveys to nearly 400 center-based early childhood centers in Hawai`i. The responses have provided Hawai`i with specific and current data on qualifications and compensation levels of the early childhood workforce; training and educational needs of these specific workforce; enrollment, capacity and demands of early childhood centers; and utilization rates for early childhood services.
EC Workforce Study Executive Summary
Financing Strategies to Support a Coherent Early Care and Education System in Hawaii (July 2003)
This report provides guidance for designing and financing a coherent system that ensures access to high-quality early care and education services for all of Hawaii's young children.The author suggests a framework for such a system and features an array of strategies to support it. Specific financing mechanisms and strategies used elsewhere in the nation are explored and discussed in the context of their potential application in Hawaii. Hawaii Community Foundation commissioned this report from early childhood policy consultant Teresa Vast and provided it to Good Beginnings Alliance for use in its various policy initiatives and related efforts.
Planning a Compensation Initiative for Hawaii’s Early Care and Education Workforce
This report explores key policy and design issues for Hawaii to consider in developing a compensation initiative. The report also provides an overview of current and recent initiatives launched in other states.
The focus of this study is on statewide and local efforts that directly increase the wages, bonuses, and/or benefits that practitioners earn in the private sector early care and education workforce based on education levels. Related initiatives, such as professional development, quality improvement, and unionizing efforts, are also discussed in relationship to overall efforts to increase qualifications and compensation.
The Economic Impact of the Early Care and Education Industry in Hawaii
This study shows that early childhood education, as an industry cluster, is a critical component of healthy economies - a component that creates jobs, generates local income, and enables parents to work and local businesses to thrive.
The study is a tool to inform the business and financial sectors that working with the early childhood sector not only benefits children, but also plays an integral role in Hawaii’s economic sustainability.
