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Good Beginnings Oahu Council

Working together to build an integrated early childhood system for Oahu ’s families with children prenatal to age five.

The Good Beginnings Oahu Council (GBOC) is part of the statewide Good Beginnings Initiative.  The council is based on the Hawaiian principle of Na Pua Laulima, many hands working together for the children.  GBOC is a voluntary council of parents, early childhood providers, and community groups established to work together for quality early childhood education and care for Oahu’s families with children, prenatal to five years old. 

Good Beginnings Oahu Council’s Vision:

The Council believes there is a need for an integrated early education and care system, which will:

• Promote safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate, quality environments for all children, including those with special needs.
  
  
• Advocate for programs that will assist families in accessing early education programs and public and private health and social service programs.
  
  
• Determine community and parent needs and facilitate resources to meet those needs.
  
  
• Support the improvement of working environments and promote on-going professional development of early childhood education and care providers.

GBOC Committees:

• Families in the System
• Assuring Quality Programs and Services
• Coordination and Integration of Services
• System Financing and Resources Development
• Public Education and Engagement

How Does Good Beginnings Help Parents and Communities?

By Supporting:

• Play + Learns Groups and Community Playgroups
• Safe, healthy, high quality early care and education
• Nurturing trained caregivers in centers and homes
• Leadership development and training for parents, community members, and service programs

By Providing:

• Child development technical assistance and information
• Neighboring networking opportunities

Everyone plays a role in the development of a child:

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

By participating in GBOC you can:

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

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

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

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

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

Our Leadership Development Program is held throughout the year. 

Community Calendar:

Funders:

City and County of Honolulu
Early Learning Opportunities Act
Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation

For more information, please contact:

Kathi Hasegawa, Community Partnerships Coordinator
33 South King Street, Suite 200
Honolulu, HI  96813
Tel: (808) 531-5502
Tax:(808) 531-5702