Department of Human Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2018 Kailua-Kona, HI – The Department of Human Services (DHS) has temporarily closed its North Kona Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division Processing Center. This office processes applications for financial assistance and SNAP. It also houses First-to-Work and Child Care Licensing offices. First-to-Work is currently at the Goodwill First-to-Work office, ...
Read More Kailua-Kona DHS Office Temporarily Closed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Līhuʻe, HI – Some of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Kauaʻi offices will get a new home next week. Offices for the Benefit, Employment and Support Services Divisions will soon be located in one place at the former Līhuʻe Courthouse Building on Umi St. In anticipation of this move, the department ...
Read More Select DHS Kaua‘i Offices Moving This Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 15, 2018 Honolulu, HI – The Department of Human Services reminds families that they still have two weeks left to apply for its Preschool Open Doors (POD) program. The current open application period closes on Thursday, March 29, 2018.  Applications received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during ...
Read More Open Application Period for Preschool Open Doors Program Ends Soon

Honolulu, HI – Two child care providers are celebrating a unique and prestigious honor: Helen McComber and Pegeen Echavaria are the first two home-based child care providers in Hawai‘i to achieve national accreditation. The Department of Human Services (DHS) and Windward Community College’s Learning to Grow Project come together to provide funding and technical assistance ...
Read More Family Child Care Providers Achieve National Recognition through DHS and Windward Community College Learning to Grow Collaboration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 2, 2018 Open Application Period Begins for Preschool Open Doors Program Honolulu, HI – The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply for its Preschool Open Doors (POD) program, which is currently open until Thursday, March 29, 2018.  Applications received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during ...
Read More Open Application Period Begins for Preschool Open Doors Program

As a thank you to some of our O‘ahu employees, the Director’s Office served cake for our teams at the Waiakamilo and Kapolei offices. We enjoyed a sweet time with cake and camaraderie, and we hope some of our DHS team members did too!

By Judith Wilhoite, Family Advocate for It Takes An ‘Ohana and Lynne Kazama, Assistant Program Administrator for Child Welfare Services Branch Program Development Office The ‘Ohana is Forever Conference (OIF) is an annual event for current and former foster youth, as well as various adult stakeholders in the child welfare services area, to hear about various ...
Read More ‘Ohana is Forever for Foster Youth

Refugees are eligible for numerous programs under applicable federal and/or state laws, including SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, cash assistance, and child care assistance. For example, 14 refugees received State Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) – welfare for needy families with minor children – in FY 2017, and 4 refugees received General Assistance (GA) ...
Read More Refugee Assistance

For three weeks August, Speaker Emeritus Representative Calvin Say hosted three students from different regions of China for a learning exchange and internship. The students come from a variety of backgrounds including mathematics, industrial design, and travel industry management. The students’ three weeks were packed to the brim with opportunities for the students to learn ...
Read More Connections Across Oceans: Speaker Emeritus Rep. Say, DHS and Chinese Students Learn Together