Benefit, Employment & Support Services

The Hawaii Head Start State Collaboration Office (HHSSCO) is funded by a federal grant through the Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau, to ensure coordination and delivery of services in eight national priority areas: health care, welfare, child care, education, community service activities, family literacy services, activities relating to children with disabilities, and services for homeless children. Multi-agency and public/private partnerships are developed and facilitated at the State level to effect school readiness, enhance access to comprehensive services, and improve quality of life for low-income children and their families, including those enrolled in Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) programs.

Program Goals:  To help build early childhood systems and enhance access to comprehensive services and support for all low-income children; encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programs, services, and initiatives, augmenting Head Start’s capacity to be a partner in State initiatives on behalf of children and their families; and facilitate the involvement of Head Start in State policies, plans, processes and decisions affecting the Head Start target population and other low-income families.