Hawai‘i’s Healthy Start program (HHS) began as a demonstration child abuse prevention project in July, 1985. A nationally recognized program, HHS has been replicated in the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines. Starting at one location on Oahu, a para-professional service model was developed to support at-risk families with newborns through home visits. The program was expanded statewide in the fall of 2001 in order to identify and intervene with eligible environmentally at-risk families.

Previously a statewide model, due to budget restrictions, home visitation services are now limited to one site in Leeward Oahu, and one site in Hilo on the Big Island.

Home visiting services foster family functioning, promote child health/development, and enhance positive parenting skills to address the risk of child maltreatment through linkages with community resources. These resources include health and mental health services, early childhood education, childcare, family literacy, employment, social services, development