MEO Head Start

*Kaukau 4 Keiki Summer Meals Program Information* A statewide keiki feeding program is starting up this month, thanks to a new program made available by USDA Summer School Food Services, Hawai‘i Child Nutrition Program, and a dedicated team of statewide Food Access Coordinators. The keiki feeding program, called Kaukau 4 Keiki, will participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) which is a federally-funded, state-administered program. SFSP reimburses program operators ...who serve free healthy meals and snacks to children and teens in low-income areas. The program is set to launch in June, running through July 31st, and is open to any child 18 and under who lives in a zip code starting with 967XX. Meals are also available to persons with disabilities, up to the age of 22, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled. Maui United Way has stepped up as a the program's fiscal sponsor for Maui and Lana'i. Moloka'i will be providing a separate meal service program through Kualapu`u Public Charter School. Kaukau 4 Keiki will provide a weekly meal kit of breakfasts and lunches for children 18 and under in rural communities. Kits will look different from island to island, as program hosts are doing their best to support local farmers, ranchers, and food producers. #Kaukau4Keiki #HawaiiSummerMeals #Keiki

Congratulations to Alexandria Domingo as MEO's January 2021 Employee of the Month! "Alex" is assistant director for early childhood services, having worked her way up during her 16 years with MEO from classroom teacher at the UH-Maui College Head Start site. The announcement was made at the virtual General Staff and Annual Recognition Awards on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.... Ashley Caris nominated Alex for the honor.

Testimony from a parent of MEO Head Start

MEO’s Debbi Amaral: A Champion For Children Debbi Amaral, Maui Economic Opportunity’s director of Early Childhood Services, accepted her Champions for Children for Early Learning as an individual award in a virtual ceremony Wednesday, April 7. Amaral was one of 11 Champions for Children, presented by Hawai`i Children’s Action Network, to receive awards in the ceremony streamed from Oahu. There were nearly 90 nominees for 11 awards in various categories.... For the last 26 years, Debbi has managed operations and supervised staff at MEO’s Head Start pre-kindergarten program for low income families on two islands in Maui County. She began with MEO in 1996 as education/disability specialist, working her way up to director of Early Childhood Services in 2005. She currently directs 13 in-person/virtual Head Start sites, serving as many as 250 children and their families, and Kahi Kamali`i Infant/Toddler and `Ohana Strengthening programs. Prior to joining MEO as an educational specialist in 1995, Amaral got experience as a teacher and teacher’s aide at Kahului Union, Wailuku Union, Iao and Kahului Baptist preschool programs. She earned her associate’s degree in human services with an emphasis in early childhood from Maui Community College, now UH-Maui College. Adjusting on the fly to the COVID-19 pandemic just showed why Debbi is a Champions for Children. Using her experience and creativity, she quickly kept her programs running, setting up health and safety protocols, developing virtual learning sites while maintaining in-person access for some working families, secured computer tablets for families without them and created a virtual curriculum. She also organized drive-thru food giveaways and weekend meals through Maui Food Bank’s Aloha BackPack Buddies for her programs' families. Debbi represents the best of MEO, said CEO Debbie Cabebe. Helping our young families, who would otherwise not be able to afford early childhood education, and changing the course of their lives. We have always considered Debbi a champion for children in Maui County. Now, she has the title. We thank the Hawai`i Children’s Action Network for recognizing Debbi.

MEO Head Start will be participating in a Drive-Through Early Childhood Community Resource Fair this Saturday, March 20th from 9am-12pm. Lots of valuable community resources right at your fingertips! We hope to see you there!

Mahalo to Mila and the Diaz ohana!!

**Teacher, former student turned teacher reunite at Head Start site**

Jeannine Gines, a Head Start family case manager, was selected MEO Employee of the Month for March. She was unable to attend the general staff meeting March 31 when the announcement was made because she had just given birth to daughter, Aleighna. Head Start staff gathered with Jeannine via livestream for a short celebration on April 19. Jeannine was praised by nominator, Dee Wilson, for her flexibility and teamwork, especially when the department faced unexpected staff shor...tages due to the pandemic and child care issues. She stepped in and volunteered to assist where needed. This department prides itself on being flexible, because we need to be; every day is an adventure, but my nominee has gone above and beyond -- exceeding expectations, said nominator Dee. My nominee has many talents and can work with so many different people and does it with a positive, can-do attitude. This individual's humble heart is open to our varied clientele, and helping people is a personal strength that my nominee shares with everyone served through our program as well as our employees. It’s not that Jeannine was immune from family issues caused by the pandemic. The mother of three had to juggle home schooling and other parental responsibilities with her job at Head Start, even bringing funny stories to tell, said Dee. The March Employee of the Month joined MEO Head Start in December 2017 as a family case manager. She is well connected with community resources and networks providing services to children and families, said Early Childhood Services Director Debbi Amaral. As an Employee of the Month, Jeannine received $150 and an extra vacation day. Nominator Dee earned a $50 cash award. Jeannine Gines and her newborn daughter, Aleighna, appeared virtually at a gathering with her co-workers at Head Start on April 19. Gines was selected as MEO Employee of the Month for March.