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:
- 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
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.
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
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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
GBA Receives HCF Funding
The Pacific Business News reported in December that the Hawai`i Community Foundation awarded $1,572,000 in grants to seven intermediary nonprofit organizations. Intermediary groups unite nonprofits that otherwise would be isolated.
Among the seven organizations awarded was GBA. GBA will receive $300,000 spread over three years. Thank you, HCF!
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
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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
- 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.
Download SKIPP Brochure 2008 (pdf)
Volunteer Opportunities
- Contact Database Assistant (download pdf)
- Events Assistant (download pdf)
- General Office Assistant (download pdf)
- Photo Archive Assistant (download pdf)
Terry Lock
Philanthropy Representative
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.
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
Louise Iwaishi, MD
American Academy of Pediatrics Representative
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.)
Lisa Uyehara
Early Childhood Education & Care
Keriann Osada
Consumers Representative
Kanoe Nāone
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.
Debbie Amaral
Maui Representative
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.
Dana Davidson, PhD
University of Hawai`i RepresentativeDana 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 & Business Representative
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 K. Cabato
Secretary & Head Start RepresentativeLynn 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.
Elisabeth Chun
Vice President & Executive Director
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.
Jean Johnson
Vice-President & Early Intervention Representative
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.
Elila Levinson
Public Policy Coordinator808-531-5502 x 310
Elila Levinson is Public Policy Coordinator for Good Beginnings Alliance. Her work with Good Beginnings focuses on policy and advocacy efforts to help improve the safety, health and early learning opportunities for Hawai’i’s youngest children. Elila moved from Hawai’i after graduating from Punahou School. While away from Hawai’i, Elila’s experience included teaching first grade in Los Angeles and serving as an elementary Assistant Principal in North Carolina. Prior to joining Good Beginnings, Elila was Director of Lower School Admission at Maret School, a K-12 independent school in Washington DC. Elila is a graduate of UCLA and holds a Master’s degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
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
My interest in the field of Early Childhood Education was sparked as a Sunday school teacher out in Wahiawa. My Pasteur told me about this field at H.C.C. and there I began my journey. I completed my Associates in ECE within 2 years and continued onto my Bachelors in Family Resources. Being a mother of 3 young children and going back to work full time I was finally able to complete my Baccalaureate degree within 5 years. Within that time frame I had the opportunity to work at an infant and toddler center, St. Timothy’s preschool, a Montessori school and finally ending up at the U.H. lab school as a substitute teacher while completing my degree. I did my internship with GBA and after graduating did a 6 month contract as a Good Beginnings Coordinator for Oahu with City and County at that time.
I moved to Kauai and did a 6 month position as Head Teacher with Head Start then moved into a 4 year position as Education Manager with Head Start. I’m currently the Good Beginnings Kauai Coordinator and have been for the last 3 years.
My current position consists of conducting community council meetings in planning, and coordinating, with various ECE agencies and state agencies on events and public relations issues related to the field of early childhood. And, of course, I am always garnering funding to support ongoing projects and developing partnerships with other community members to implement ongoing initiatives.
Angela Thomas
Hawai`i County Coordinator
808-887-1228
Michael C. Fahey
P-3 Professional Development 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
Track current local legislation
Recent Legislation from Other States:
Federal Legislation
Amy Ng
P-3 Program Coordinator808-531-5502 x316
Amy Ng is the Program Coordinator for the W.K. Kellogg P-3 Grant. She is responsible for the promotion and development of community teams focused on improving student learning so all children will be able to read by grade three.
Ms Ng has served in the Hawaii State Department of Education as an elementary teacher, elementary school principal and state educational specialist. Her experiences also include teaching preschool at a small church and teaching in the state of Washington. She holds a Masters Degree in the teaching of reading and has worked with children and families during her 30+ years as an educator. Family involvement and the social emotional development of young children are priority interests for Ms. Ng.
Sharon Taba
President & Resource and Referral Representative
Sharon Taba is currently President of the Board of Directors for the Good Beginnings Alliance and has served on the board for the past six years. She is committed to developing integrated community systems of care in early childhood including health, education and family support.
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.
Corinne Ono
Office Manager
808-531-5502 x 301
Kit Wynkoop
Manager, Special Projects
Webmaster
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
"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:
- 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 2007-08 results by state, complex area, and school.
About Us
Good Beginnings Alliance (GBA) is the leading policy advocacy organization in the State of Hawai`i ensuring that all keiki are safe, healthy and ready to succeed. GBA is a member of Voices for America’s Children
The Good Beginnings Alliance (GBA) is Hawai`i’s early childhood “convener” created to ensure that the general public understands the issues, that communities are involved, efforts are connected, and that policy makers are informed on behalf of young children birth to age 8 and their families.
Good Beginnings Alliance works to raise public awareness and understanding of the importance of early childhood. Increased public investment requires data, media coverage, family and community buy-in, and business leaders’ and policy makers’ investment and involvement. GBA is Hawai`i’s policy advocacy organization acting on these needs and committed for the long-term to increase the quality of early childhood education in the state.
Good Beginnings Alliance leverages and links existing public and private investments and must continue to do so. We connect Hawai`i’s P-3 Initiative with other public and private early childhood funding efforts and will do the same with the formative work to support Hawai`i’s new Early Learning Council. We enhance existing leadership capacity and resources within each county by bringing individuals and programs together that will be essential for the expansion of Hawai`i’s early learning system and as increased resources are garnered.
We are Hawai`i’s early childhood “convener,” ensuring the general public understands the issues; communities are involved, efforts are connected, and policy makers are informed on behalf of young children. We work closely with the many public and private groups and systems – political, community, family, business, funders, and early childhood providers – to cultivate leaders and focus attention on improving results for all of Hawaii’s young children. GBA continues to build public-private partnerships to encourage the pooling of resources that support state and community action focusing on young children. We collaborate to help develop policy, working to build a sustainable base and advocating for comprehensive services – health, safety and education – for children and families.
History
GBA is a 501 (c) (3) organization that was legislated into existence to act as a focal point for policy development and be dedicated to enhancing, developing, and coordinating quality early childhood education and care services in the State of Hawai`i.In 1997, The Hawai`i State Legislature recognized that early childhood education and care are critical to the public good and that assisting the private sector in the development of a coordinated system of early education and care would serve the public purpose.
Rather than create another public entity, the Legislature created Good Beginnings Alliance; a sustainable, effective, participatory coordinating structure that cuts across existing social service systems to coordinate early childhood services for families with young children.
The staff at GBA is made up of professionals committed to ensuring all children are safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
Each of the GBA Board of Directors represents an area that possesses knowledge of the educational and developmental needs of young children as well as the support needs of their families.
As a component of our legislated responsibility, GBA established and implemented four councils to represent each of the main counties: Kaua`i, O`ahu, Maui, and Hawai`i. Each community council is responsible for developing and implementing a community plan that includes:
1. A description of incremental and collaborative community strategies to provide early childhood education and care services to children and families.
2. A description of new local financial resources which can be used to enhance services in those communities, outcomes to be achieve, and steps to ensure compliance with GBA’s fiscal accountability requirements.
To assist GBA in the implementation of its duties as delineated in the early childhood education and care master plan, an Interdepartmental Council was mandated and is regularly convened by the office of the Governor.
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
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Monetary
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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
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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
Keiki First
Keiki First Steps (Act 14, Special Session 2008) is a Critical Step Forward for Our State and Our Children.
Key points about what the new legislation means
What SB2878 CD1 can mean for Hawai`i:
Comprehensive
- This Act creates the Early Learning Council (ELC), responsible for developing and administering the new state early learning program, Keiki First Steps.
- The long-range goal is to establish a comprehensive, quality early learning system for Hawai`i’s children, from birth to the time they enter kindergarten, offering quality early learning opportunities to all of Hawai`i’s keiki.
Public & Private Synergy
- The ELC will have 13 members from the public and private sectors and the administrative and fiscal authority to affect the real change that needs to happen to develop a statewide system.
Funding
- The strong network of local and national philanthropy that already invests heavily to support early childhood efforts in Hawai`i stands poised and committed to help the ELC move forward, especially important given the near term budget projections for the state.
- Hawai`i may access proposed new federal funding with the ELC and an established, cohesive system for young children.
Helping our Keiki
- The ELC should build upon the framework of the Act 259 Early Learning Educational Task Force’s final report which recommends services for young children in center-based, family childcare, family child interaction learning, and home-based instruction programs.
- Phased implementation would begin services with at-risk children.
ELC FAQs and answers written from GBA’s perspective in consultation with the Department of Education:
1. Who does the ELC work for?
- The ELC will be an independent operating body attached administratively to the Department of Education (DOE). The ELC will operate similar to the Hawaii State Teachers’ Standards Board which is also independent and attached administratively only to the DOE. The ELC does not report to the Superintendent. Note: the ELC will appoint an executive director whose duties shall be set by the council.
2. What positions on the ELC are nominated by the Governor, and how are nominations made?
- There are four ELC positions that are filled by nominations by the Governor:
- a. Center-based provider representative.
b. Family childcare provider representative.
c. Family Child Interaction Learning provider representative.
d. Philanthropic representative.
Nominations forms can be downloaded at: http://hawaii.gov/gov/team/boardscommissions A mailing address can also found on this website.
3. Can other organizations not named in the Act serve as members of the ELC?
- Organizations not named in the Act can serve on subcommittees established by the ELC but not as voting members of the ELC itself.
4. Will the ELC fund direct services and/or professional development over the course of this fiscal year (FY2008-2009)?
- No, as no money was appropriated for direct services and professional development in Act 14, Special Session 2008. There is only funding for the ELC to convene and also hire an Executive Director and staff.
5. What happens to Act 77 of 1997, which created the Interdepartmental Council (IDC) and the Good Beginnings Alliance now that Act 14, Special Session 2008 is law?
- Act 77 currently has a termination date of June 30, 2010. Technically at that time, the IDC will no longer exist. Regarding Good Beginnings Alliance, the nonprofit organization will continue to exist.
6. Will the ELC fund direct services and professional development in FY2009-2010 (starting July 1, 2009)?
- We don’t know at this time. The ELC must first convene and determine its initial priorities. Once the ELC makes this determination, it must then convince the Legislature to fund its proposals during the next legislative session that starts in January 2009.
7. How can I best support the ELC?
- By attending ELC meetings and volunteering to serve on ELC subcommittees.
8. Will Act 14, Special Session 2008 result in preschools becoming part of our public schools?
- No, Act 14 states that early education services will be built upon current private programs. Additionally, the DOE is fully committed to a public–private partnership in providing quality early childhood education to all of Hawai`i’s keiki.
9. Is the ELC really a step forward for quality early childhood education in Hawai`i?
- Yes, as most of the 38 states that have publicly-funded early childhood education program also have some type of Early Learning Council as its governance structure.
10. How can communities make their needs known to the ELC?
- Communities should communicate their needs through ELC members or through participation on one of the ELC’s subcommittees.
US Should Embrace Pre-Schooling - Reuters Article 8/28/08
Keiki First Steps Takes Stepping-stone Approach to Pre-K - Pre-K Now Article 07/21/08
Early Learning Bill is Fiscally Responsible - Bob Peters Letter to Editor, Advertiser 07/07/08
Isles' Early Education Needs Improvement - Suzanne Yamada Letter to Editor, Advertiser 07/05/08
Early Education Effort Merits Public Support - Kathy Matayoshi Letter to Editor, Advertiser 07/02/08
Early Education Bill a Step in the Right Direction - Kanoe Naone Letter to Editor, Advertiser 07/03/08
Vetoes Could Slow Progress Toward Key Isle Goals - Advertsier Editorial 06/29/08
Scientific research has proven that the development of a child’s brain in the first 5 years of life is critical in their ability to learn and succeed in future years.
40 other states have public- or public/private-funded preschool systems.
Dollars and Sense: A Review of Economic Analysis of Pre-K - Pre-K Now Research Series, May 2007
Early Childhood Education: A Wise Investment - Legal Momentum's Family Initiative
Pre-K: A Smart Investment - Pre-K Now Presentation
Act 259 Final Report
Keiki First Executive Summary
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
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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 FAQ
GBA Scholarship Brochure
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.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.
Strategies for giving children emotional support
- 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.
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:
- 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.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and its Hawaii Chapter (HAEYC) state that quality early childhood programs should provide:
- 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
*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:
- 1:8 for two-year-olds