KANEOHE, Hawaii — People interested in launching a business that provides child care may take free classes through Windward Community College.

What You Need To Know

  • A free 17-week course at WCC will help people launch a child care business in their own home 

  • Free course materials are offered to those enrolled in the class

  • Students may receive a total of $900 for completing the course

  • And those who complete the course may apply for a $1000 completion grant

Free course materials are also offered to those enrolled in the class through a donation from the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Hawaii Resilience Fund and the Omidyar Ohana Fund.

Students may receive a total of $900 for completing the course — $300 for each 10 sessions of the 30-session program — through funding from Kamehameha Schools. 

And those who complete the course may apply for a $1,000 completion grant. 

The 17-week course is aimed at people interested in starting a child care business in their own home. It includes training from PATCH (People Attentive to Children), non-credit online courses from Windward Community College, and group and individual coaching sessions. 

Hawaii is currently facing a shortage of child care services. The Early Childhood Action Strategy estimates that current child care capacity for Hawaii children below the age of 5 is available for less than a third that need these services, causing stress for parents and employers.  

The course launched in 2011 in order to meet this need. 

For more information, call 808-235-7363. Course information, registration and sign ups for information sessions can be found at windwardcce.org/efcc.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.