Helping Maui’s Youngest Keiki and Families Heal
In the wake of the devastating Maui wildfires, there are many local organizations that have been working tirelessly from day one to ensure that Maui’s youngest keiki and their families receive the support and resources they need. Commit to Keiki’s Maui Recovery Spotlight Series, will highlight the Maui organizations and nonprofits that are truly making a difference.
Q&A with Carol Wear, Interim Executive Director
People Attentive to Children (PATCH) is a community service organization established in 1976 with the mission to support and improve the quality and availability of care for the young people of Hawaiʻi. As Hawaiʻi’s only statewide agency specializing in child care resource and referral services, PATCH has been supporting Hawaiʻi’s families and early childhood education professionals for more than four decades, reaching more than 50,000 individuals annually.
People Attentive to Children (PATCH) is a community service organization established in 1976 with the mission to support and improve the quality and availability of care for the young people of Hawaiʻi. As Hawaiʻi’s only statewide agency specializing in child care resource and referral services, PATCH has been supporting Hawaiʻi’s families and early childhood education professionals for more than four decades, reaching more than 50,000 individuals annually.
Q: What is your organization’s role in helping families with young children who have been affected by the wildfires on Maui? What was your immediate response after the fires?
A: PATCH Hawai’i’s immediate response efforts included the following:
Q: What are the current needs of families with young children on Maui?
A: Children are resilient, but coming out of COVID and the devastation of the fires has impacted us all, and the trauma these children will face will be long-lasting. The current needs of Maui families include the following:
Q: What are your needs in order to continue to provide services to families with young children on Maui in the long term?
A: PATCH is always willing to provide as much support as possible to assist with the relief and recovery efforts. It would be very helpful to have a dedicated staff to coordinate these efforts, as it will take the community awhile to recover. The funding to support this position would be key.
The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: Care Advocates Deborah Zysman and Ai-jen Poo
The Civil Beat Editorial Board recently interviewed Deborah Zysman, executive director for the Hawaii Children’s Action Network and Hawaii Childrenʻs Action Network Speaks!, and Ai-jen Poo, executive director of Caring Across Generations and president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
CLICK HERE to read the article.
The holiday season is the perfect time for families to make cherished memories with their keiki. From DIY crafts to family-friendly events, there are a myriad of ways to make this holiday season truly magical for the whole family. Click on the links below to see what holiday events and experiences are happening in all four counties:
Commit to Keiki – December 2023 Newsletter