Press Releases
Maui Family Support Service Celebrates 42 years
November 17, 2022 · 5:30 PM HST
WAILUKU, MAUI – Maui Family Support Services, Inc. (MFSS) is proud to celebrate 42 years of providing continuous services for families in Maui County. MFSS is a private, non-profit agency incorporated in 1980 whose mission is to promote healthy family functioning by providing supportive services that build on family strengths. Their prime directive is to utilize our collective resources toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The agency serves the islands of Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi.
The attached photo includes (L-R): Edel Baguio-Larena, CEO; Joycelyn Victorino, Board of Director; James Geiger, Esq., Board Secretary; Michael E. Kim, MD, Board President; Jorge Tirona, Vice President, Central Pacific Bank, Board Member; Giulietta Swenson, PsyD, Board Vice President; Michael Connor, PhD, Board Member; Desiree Kawasaki Abreau, Board Member. Not in photo: Steve Clark, MD, Board Treasurer; and Arliza Borja-Losano, Vice President, First Hawaiian Bank, Board Member.
MFSS’s 42nd-year celebration is marked with the blessing of the agency’s main office on November 16, 2022, at 1844 Wili Pa Loop in Wailuku. The building, which houses an Early Head Start Child Development Center, was rehabilitated in 2020-2021 through funding from the County of Maui-Community Development Block Grant. An Open House followed after the blessing, highlighting the comprehensive programs of the agency. MFSS provides home visiting programs promoting positive parenting and child development, parent-child interaction program, center-based and family childcare programs for infants and toddlers, early literacy, support for fathers and other male caregivers, outreach and navigation services, child care subsidies, and youth services. In FY22, MFSS served over 6,300 people through Maui County. During the event, the agency honored Mayor Michael Victorino and two volunteers, Tessa Coulter and Leinaala Kealoha, for their contributions to MFSS and the entire community. The MFSS Board of Directors also conducted its Annual Meeting and elected its officers.
‘Ono Stuff, a Local Children’s Book that Brings Music and Families Together
September 10, 2022
WAIKUKU, MAUI – Maui Family Support Services, Inc. (MFSS) received a federal grant for their Early Literacy Project to provide training and support in the implementation of evidence-based early literacy practices in the County of Maui. The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Early Literacy grant has three main initiatives: 1) child literacy, 2) family literacy, and 3) culture-based education. Understanding the importance of culture, and not finding the types of books that represent the children and families in Hawaii as well as intentionally imbed evidence-based early literacy practices such as dialogic reading and phonological awareness, Robello asked Kamen if she could use her knowledge of healthy eating and beautiful photos of plants from her Farm to Keiki book to create a children’s book that includes foundational reading tips on each page of the book. More …
MFSS Recieves Grant
September 22, 2022
“I am delighted that Maui Family Support Services Inc. has been selected as a recipient of this U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant, said Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02). More …