Easter Seals Hawai'i received $1 million in state money yesterday toward a new $4.5 million community service center scheduled to break ground in February in Kapolei.

John Howell, president and chief executive officer of Easter Seals Hawai'i, said the project is being paid for through state, city and private donations. The center could provide services to more than 500 children and adults with developmental disabilities each year.

Gov. Linda Lingle presented Howell with the check at the group's Green Street location and said the state is committed to helping parents whose children have special needs.

The state Department of Human Services also announced yesterday that it would soon use $3.2 million in federal welfare money for Healthy Start, which helps new parents with child health and development, after learning from a successful experiment in parts of the Islands. The department said the assistance will also be available for the first time to families involved in child welfare cases.

"We want every parent that finds themselves in that situation — when they reach out, we want to be there for them," Lingle said.