Patch People Attentive To Children

TO SUPPORT AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF CARE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HAWAII.

CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM: LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR NUTRITIOUS MEALS SERVED TO CHILDREN WHILE IN A FAMILY CHILD CARE SETTING. THIS FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY CONGRESS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN IN FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES HAVE ACCESS TO BALANCED AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING THEIR EATING PATTERN AND HABITS. THE USDA CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF DAY CARE AND MAKING IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MANY LOW INCOME FAMILIES. PATCH SCREENS THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY OF PROVIDERS AND CHILDREN AND PROVIDES MONTHLY REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS TO THE PROVIDERS DIRECTLY. PATCH PROVIDES ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL RESOURCES, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. PROVIDERS ALSO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN MENU PLANNING, BASIC SANITATION AS WELL AS KEEPING ACCURATE RECORDS FOR CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENTS AND TAX PURPOSES. IN FYE 6/30/23, 253,786 MEALS AND 143,490 SNACKS WERE SERVED TO 1,155 CHILDREN IN OUR FOOD PROGRAM, WHICH ASSIST LOW INCOME FAMILIES, AND 163 DAY CARE HOMES RECEIVED SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROMOTE CHILD HEALTH AND NUTRITION.

OTHER CHILD CARE SERVICES TO FOSTER COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. IN FYE 6/30/23, THE REGISTRY PROGRAM VERIFIED 3,116 CHILD CARE PRACTITIONER CREDENTIALS WHILE PROVIDING CAREER COUNSELING TO 130 PRACTITIONERS. AND 14,810 HEALTH AND SAFETY CERTIFICATES WERE SUBMITTED. THE FAMILY CHILD CARE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM ASSISTED 24 NEW LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, CREATING 133 ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE SPACES. PATCH RESPITE CARE SERVICES INCLUDE CONTRACTS WITH CHILD CARE AWARE THAT SERVICE FAMILIES IN THE U.S NAVY WITH CHILDREN DIAGNOSED AS MODERATE TO SEVERE (CATEGORIES IV & V FOR NAVY EFMP RESPITE CARE). PATCH PROVIDES ENHANCED REFERRALS, RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT, TRAINING AND MONITORING SERVICES TO THESE FAMILIES WITH DIAGNOSED EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS AGES 0-18 IN THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY AREA AND THEIR SIBLINGS AGES 0-12. FAMILIES MAY RECEIVE UP TO 40 HOURS OF RESPITE CARE PER MONTH. IN FYE 6/30/23 A TOTAL OF 34 CHILDREN WERE SERVED UNDER THE NAVY CONTRACT.

CHILD CARE TRAINING PROGRAM: PATCH OFFERS MORE THAN 150 DIFFERENT FREE TRAINING CLASSES TO CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL TYPES OF CHILD CARE SETTINGS INCLUDING LICENSED EXEMPT PROVIDERS AND PARENTS. ALL CLASSES ARE ALIGNED WITH STANDARDS OF THE STATE'S ASK CORE AREAS, DHS HEALTH AND SAFETY TOPICS AND THE SUBJECT AREAS OF THE NATIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL. EACH QUARTER, PATCH PUBLISHES A TRAINING CALENDAR FULL OF CURRENT CHILD CARE INFORMATION AND SCHEDULED CLASSES, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED TO PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC. IN FYE 6/30/23, 1,203 PARENTS AND EARLY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED 224 FREE TRAINING SESSIONS ACROSS THE STATE. THERE WERE ALSO 17 COURSES THAT WERE AVAILABLE IN THE SELF-PACED FORMAT. THROUGH THIS FORMAT, THERE WERE 1,426 PARENTS AND EARLY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS WHO COMPLETED THESE COURSES. $75,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO HELP 89 PEOPLE TAKE COLLEGE COURSES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.