Kaʻū Calendar Article – Nāʻālehu Health & Wellness Fair, February 24, 2024
“REP. JEANNE KAPELA MET WITH HEALTH AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS and the public at Nāʻālehu School Gym on Saturday. Among presenters was Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association and its founder Jessie Marques. The KRHCA team asked for public support of a bill before the Hawai’i Legislature, Senate Bill 2483, which would direct the state Department of Health to launch a three year community health worker pilot program in Kaʻū. Testimony can be submitted through the Hawai’i Legislature’s website www.capitol.hawaii.gov.
The summary of the Kaʻū pilot health care worker bills says the program would “provide outreach, education, training, and navigation to individuals residing in Kaʻū” and “address social determinants of health, by a community health worker.”
The text in the bill says that “The legislature finds that community health workers connect rural, underserved communities with health care, prevention, outreach and training. Often serving in rural underserved communities, community health workers spend a significant portion of their time doing telehealth and behavioral health, outreach such as assisting individuals to apply for medical insurance, providing health education resources, and locating work opportunities. Other community health workers may serve as translators, assisting their communities to navigate health care and social service systems.”
The language describes community health care workers as “a critical intermediary between residents and health care and social services,” with “a unique understanding of their community needs and accessibility to services.”
During the pilot program, community health workers would promote health awareness, disease prevention and healthy lifestyle practices, along with info on health care services, resources and programs. “Community health care workers shall demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competence in their interactions with diverse populations within their community.”
Kapela said rural communities like Kaʻū need to come together for needed funding from the legislature, particularly given the overwhelming need among victims of last year’s Lahaina fire and the COVID disasters. She said places like Kaʻū, which has its own needs, could be overshadowed by funding for disasters.”
Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association, Inc. 