Child & Family Service celebrates grand opening of first Infant and Toddler Center

Child & Family Service — a nonprofit that has been strengthening Hawai’i families since 1899 — officially opened its new Līhuʻe Head Start Infant and Toddler Center this month.

This milestone expands Child & Family Service’s capacity to serve more of Kaua‘i’s youngest keiki and their families through Early Head Start services in a dedicated, center‑based setting.

“This is the first Head Start Infant and Toddler Center on Kaua‘i,” explained Child & Family Service Director of Kauai Programs Novelyn Hinazumi in an announcement about the opening. “This program is critical to building a strong foundation for lifelong learning, health and success of our keiki.”

A blessing and opening ceremony took place today at its new location at 3343 Kanakolu St., on the Immaculate Conception School campus, bringing together families, community partners, staff and local leaders to mark this important new resource for Kaua‘i.

“By opening the Līhuʻe [Infant and Toddler] Center, [Child & Family Service] will now be able to serve more infants and toddlers in a center‑based format, while also augmenting existing home‑based [Early Head Start] support,” Hinazumi said.

Expanding early childhood opportunity on Kaua‘i

Child & Family Service has long operated Head Start programs on Kaua‘i, serving children ages 3 to 5 years old and offering family and community supports since 2000.

The new Līhuʻe Head Start Infant and Toddler Center focuses specifically on infants and toddlers — keiki from birth through 3 years old — under the framework of the Early Head Start program, which is designed to promote healthy development for pregnant women, infants and toddlers in low‑income families.

It provides:

• Center‑based early childhood education.
• Home visiting.
• Family support and case management.
• Health, nutrition and developmental services.

Why this matters for Kaua‘i families

Greater access to quality early care: The Līhuʻe Head Start Infant and Toddler Center expands access to licensed, structured early learning environments for infants and toddlers in the Līhuʻe area and around Kaua‘i.

Comprehensive support for families: In addition to early education, children and their caregivers will benefit from health screenings, developmental monitoring, nutrition services and connections to community resources.

Stronger school readiness: Research shows early interventions during the first years of life yield long-term benefits in cognitive, social and emotional development.

Workforce and economic support: With a reliable, high-quality early childhood care option, more parents can pursue employment, education or training opportunities.

Enrollment, eligibility and next steps

The new Līhuʻe Head Start Infant and Toddler Center is accepting applications.

Eligibility aligns with federal guidelines for Early Head Start: children from birth to 3 years old, pregnant individuals and families meeting income or other criteria (e.g., receiving assistance such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, homelessness, foster care, etc.).

Families interested in applying or learning more should contact Child & Family Service at 808-245‑5914 or visit the Child & Family Service Head Start website.

Visit the Child & Family Service website for additional information about the new center and all of the nonprofit’s services.