LIHU‘E — Knowing what resources are available may not have been something of much concern until now. “With all the programs closing down, people need to know what’s available,” said Anna Peters of the Good Beginnings Alliance. She is one
LIHU‘E — Knowing what resources are available may not have been something of much concern until now.
“With all the programs closing down, people need to know what’s available,” said Anna Peters of the Good Beginnings Alliance.
She is one of 22 vendors that will be part of the Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public Schools parent/child fair that run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
Jeannie Odo, coordinator of the STEPS team on Kaua‘i, said children with special needs are part of the hidden population, but the fair is not just for families who have children who have special needs. The fair has resources and information that can benefit anyone.
Peters is a STEPS team member along with Cathy Shanks of People Attentive to Children that will be on hand with information and activities that families can engage in.
“We have a wonderful program planned for the three hours the fair is on,” Odo said. “In addition to the information and resources available, there is a full schedule of entertainment.”
Odo, whose area of concern involves children 0 to 5 years old, estimates that the number of children with special needs is increasing by about a hundred each year statewide.
When the first STEPS fair was held eight years ago, the majority of the children were youngsters from families where drug abuse was a problem. This trend has shifted to where more medically frail children and children that are not properly developed at childbirth are appearing.
Odo said the fair would not be possible without the help and sponsorship of CB Richard Ellis – Kukui Grove and the Central Drug Prevention Team and a special contribution by Grove Farm.
Among the entertainers is the Kapa‘a Middle School choir and ukulele band under the direction of Mary Lardizabal that returned from the Heritage Music Festival in San Diego, Calif., with the gold medal for its performance there.
Some of the participating vendors include the Baby Hui Baby Safe, the Department of Education Preschools, the DOE Parent and Community Networking Coordinators, the Department of Health Public Health Nursing, Easter Seals, Headstart, the Kamehameha Hi‘ilani and Preschools, Ae Kamali‘i, K.I.D.S. Preschool, the Kaua‘i Community College Na Kama Pono and Early Childhood Club, the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Mana Preschool, Tutu and Me, Read to Me.
Also participating are: the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, which celebrates the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention month, Circle of Light, the YWCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hui Ho‘omalu and more.
Other entertainers include the Suzuki Symphony featuring young violin players, the Excel Dance Studio, Punana Leo o Kaua‘i and the Tsunami Taiko.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
