The $1.29 million grant will address health disparities among people living in economically and medically underresourced communities in the state. Hawaii through a project called Kapiolani Community College Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTPMore): Removing Barriers to Care in Urban Polynesia.

This is part of the university’s $11.3 million. Hawaii is received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support programs and research aimed at reducing and boosting racial and ethnic disparities. Hawaiihealth care workers.

of Kapiolani CC The project, funded by President Joe Biden’s American Relief Plan Act, Department of Health Resource Services Community Health Worker Training Program, will expand training to new community health workers (CHWMores), an extension of an existing CHWMore Acquire and deploy skills through emergency medical technician training CHWMoreAddress areas of high social vulnerability to improve health equity.

“Kapiolani‘s Community Health Worker Training Program serves as a bridge between the formal health system and vulnerable communities in the state. HawaiiThis federal grant provides resources Kapiolani We need to leverage the expertise of our health academic programs and extend their reach to the communities we serve,” said the principal investigator. Maria Bautista, Interim Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “We honor the Queen KapiolaniA vision to provide access to education and quality healthcare HawaiiThrough this project, we contribute to the most vulnerable communities. “

statewide CHWMore training

of Kapiolani The Community College Health Worker Training Program is a 16-credit training program that recruits from local communities statewide. Over 50% of students since 2019 are from environmentally, economically and/or educationally disadvantaged communities, and 100% (33 out of 33) of students enrolled in 2019-2020 and 73% (112 out of 153) of students enrolled from 2020. –21. Expansion of the program beyond 2020 will: Hawaii State Ministry of Health-hmm The staff and programs of the Contact Tracing Training Program, part of the UHealthy Hawaii Initiative, served as the foundation for this grant.

“The cohorts for this program consisted of residents from environmentally, economically or educationally disadvantaged communities, including native Hawaiians, Chuuk and Marshallese students, first generation college students, housing project residents, social Students from the most vulnerable regions will be included. LanaiMaui, Kauai When Hawaii island,” he said. Joey Dewater, Kapiolani CC Community Health Worker Program Coordinator.

The program aims to prepare 30 participants each year and includes an apprenticeship with an employer leading to long-term employment.

upon Oahu, CHWMore Participants complete Certificate of Competence training in person and through external partnerships. Waianae Coast General Health Center and Kokua Kalihi Valley.area of Waianae The Kalihi Valley ranks among the most socially vulnerable areas in the state, with large numbers of Native Hawaiian, Chuuk, and Marshallese residents living in public housing projects.

participants from the islands LanaiMaui, Hawaii When Kauai Complete the training online. Neighboring islands face unique challenges in recruiting health professionals and reaching out to remote communities that are most socially vulnerable.

Emergency medical technician training

In addition to the development of CHWMore Training, programs aim to develop 10 practice skills CHWMoreFull-time 19.6 credit Emergency Medical Technician (EMTs) training to obtain EMTs state license. After completing the course, students will be placed in a community ambulance, complete 350 hours of paid clinical training, and pursue full-time employment as a physician. CHWMore–EMTs. CHWMore–EMTss employed in ambulances to reduce the number of preventable 911 calls and transports. CHWMore Services for general 911 users: kūpuna (elderly), unprotected community members, and those in mental health crisis.

“We have worked with our community partners to come up with programs to train community members in place and address shortages. CHWMoreand trained in community emergency medicine EMTss,” said Dewater. “This program was created directly from their feedback. We are very proud of the program we have put together and excited to get to work.”

of Kapiolani The Community College Healthcare Practitioner Training Program will begin its next statewide course series in January 2023. For more information and to apply, please contact your recruitment facilitator. Hillary Hackerhackerh@hawaii.edu.