Support for Parents

The Department has developed parent support opportunities through its Community Children’s Councils (for special needs children) and its Student Support Branch (providing socio-emotional supports and training for staff in schools). Several nonprofit family service agencies in Hawaii also provide needed outreach to low-income families.

Student Bill of Rights and ResponsibilitiesOutlines rights and responsibilities for all students who attend Hawaii DOE schools; adopted March 7, 1974.


Continuity of Learning For Parents

Parents and caregivers have the responsibility to support their student's meaningful and regular engagement in learning through virtual means. The tips and tools offered here identify specific actions that can be taken to support your children in their continuous learning.

​​​​​​​​​​​​Community Children’s Councils

One of the key partnerships in the development of a full array of services to special needs children and their families, the Community Children’s Councils are led by parent and professional co-chairs and include representation from public and private child-serving agencies and other community members such as recreational services, businesses, churches and others. The collective vision goes beyond implementation of special needs services, to provide local forums statewide for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all children, families and communities. The goals of the councils:

  • Providing a focus of strong family participation in planning and decision-making;
  • Providing a vehicle for community-wide involvement;
  • Collaboratively creating a shared vision for an integrated system of care;
  • Implementing ongoing community needs assessments and strategic planning process;
  • Participating in quality assurance and improvement in the development of the system of care.

Restraints and Seclusions brochure

Please take a moment to read our pamphlet about what parents should know about the use of Restraints and Seclusions.

There are 17 councils in Hawaii that usually meet monthly. Common activities include parent support groups, workshops and informational meetings, with conferences and special events offered throughout the year.

Hawaiʻi Multi-Tiered System of Support

​With a goal of supporting success for all students, HMTSS includes an array of services to help students with myriad issues and challenges. You can learn more about this in our Behavioral Supports section.

The department also supports student well-being and mental health through the Here to Help movement

Support Agencies

  • Child & Family Service: With more than 30 programs on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island, Child & Family Service is known for embracing the total family — from keiki to kupuna.
  • Family Support Hawaii: Family Support Hawaii was founded in 1979 by members of the community who were concerned about the lifelong consequences of child abuse and neglect. They began providing prevention and early intervention services through Kapiolani Women’s and Children’s Center until 1985, when FSH incorporated and became an independent, community based, not for profit organization. Family Support Hawaii now provides supportive services to more than 3,500 Hawaii Island individuals and families each year.
  • Honolulu Community Action Program: HCAP offers a wide variety of programs and services to assist individuals and families to achieve self-reliance. HCAP offers programs and services in six major areas: Early Childhood; Employment; Education; Economic Development; Emergency & Transitional Programs; and Community Development & Advocacy.
  • Maui Family Support Services, Inc.: The mission of MFSS is to promote healthy family functioning by providing supportive services which build on family strengths. The Prime Directive is to use its collective resources toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect. MFSS has worked with thousands of families on Maui, Lanai and Molokai through a broad network and vast array of programs to assist overburdened families and provide a critical safety net of support.
  • Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.: MEO provides outreach and information, and administers human service programs to low-income persons, the youth, elderly, immigrants, ex-offenders, persons with disabilities and medical needs, and other disadvantaged individuals and families on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
  • Parents and Children Together (PACT): PACT provides a number of youth and family services throughout Hawaii, and is dedicated to serving Hawaii's socio-economically challenged individuals and families. Programs include Early Childhood Education, Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention & Treatment, Domestic Violence Prevention & Treatment, Mental Health Support, and Community Building & Economic Development.

​Parent-Community Networking Centers

The PCNCs are school-based centers for families, volunteers and community to identify their strengths, collaborate, make decisions and create partnerships. We encourage parents and the community to join their school's PCNC.

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