New Parents as Teachers State Office Launches in Hawai‘i to Support Delivery of Services to Families and Communities
Affiliates across Hawai‘i will soon have more support in providing Parents as Teachers services. A new state office in Hawai‘i has been established to provide consistent support, culturally responsive training, and sustainable systems that strengthen the state’s early childhood infrastructure. The office will also advocate for and leverage funding to sustain and expand home visiting services that currently reach nearly 800 families across the islands.
This is all through a partnership with the Association of Infant Mental Health Hawai‘i (AIMH-HI), the Hawai‘i Department of Health, and Parents as Teachers National Center.
This new office will serve as a pivotal leader in the region, offering resources, training, and implementation support for professionals and organizations involved in child development and education. The selection of the Hawai‘i office is based on its demonstrated capacity and expertise in fulfilling the roles and responsibilities outlined for state offices, as defined by Parents as Teachers National Center’s State Office Essential Responsibilities.
“This is an extraordinary moment for Parents as Teachers and for families across Hawai‘i,” said Constance Gully, President and CEO of Parents as Teachers National Center. “The new state office builds on a strong foundation of community-driven leadership and ensures that more children will have the healthiest possible start in life. Parents as Teachers is grateful for the pivotal role Hawai‘i plays in advancing our mission and impact.”
The Hawai‘i State Office was established through a unique blend of funding and partnerships. The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, administered by the Hawai‘i Department of Health, prioritized its creation in the state plan and selected AIM-HI to serve as the designated office.
The announcement follows a statewide listening tour, which engaged local affiliates, families, and community leaders with Parents as Teachers National Center leadership to identify needs and priorities. It was also the first time in Hawai‘i’s Parents as Teachers history that 10 affiliate supervisors and leaders were brought together. Insights from the tour reinforced the importance of integrating cultural practices into services and investing in local leadership to sustain and grow the model.
The Hawai’i State Office will help affiliates access federal and state funding streams while honoring the cultural traditions and strengths of Native Hawai’ian and local communities. Affiliates have already pioneered innovative initiatives such as food security programs and embedding healthcare professionals within family support networks.
“The Hawai‘i State Office represents both innovation and tradition,” said Erin Henderson Lacerdo, Executive Director at AIMH HI. “Every affiliate had a chance to share what families are saying they need. Implementing the Parents as Teachers state office will strengthen the network of affiliates while respecting the cultural values that make our communities unique.”
Parents as Teachers affiliates in Hawai‘i provide home visiting services from pregnancy through kindergarten, offering trusted relationships that help caregivers navigate challenges, connect to community resources, and support their child’s development. All Hawai’i affiliates engaged with PAT leadership, state funders and the new state office. The following affiliates took part in more in-depth conversations with Parents as Teachers National Center while showcasing their sites:
- Parent and Children Together (PACT)
- Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE)
- Keiki O Ka ‘Aina
- Maui Family Support Services
In October, the Maui Family Support Services team will present a session at the Parents as Teachers International Conference in Puerto Rico that will focus on “family voice.” They will incorporate the experiences and insights from the listening sessions, highlight the work of the parent advisory committee, and share best practices of family engagement.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe, and learning. Parents and caregivers are paired with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years in life, from pregnancy through kindergarten. The internationally recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by over 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Parents as Teachers currently serves over 188,000 families annually in all 50 U.S. states, 138 Tribal organizations, and six other countries. Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc. is located in St. Louis, MO.