By Staff Reports
(Honolulu) – Kaiser Permanente Hawaii announced five nonprofits receiving more than $243,000 to implement community health programs throughout the state. These organizations are working to increase access to healthy foods, safe pedestrian paths, and improved health care standards with a special focus on Hawaii’s low-income and vulnerable populations.
“We stand behind these organizations and applaud their commitment to improving the health and wellness of everyone in Hawaii. Addressing shortfalls among our most vulnerable populations is particularly important in ensuring our community as a whole can thrive,” said Joy Barua, director of Community Benefit and Health Policy at Kaiser Permanente. “We will continue to support their efforts to improve access to programs across the state.”
The following programs have been selected to receive funding:
- The Hawaii Department of Health will receive $75,000 in support of Baby-Friendly Hawaii Program, which aims to increase the rate of breastfeeding among new mothers in the hospital. The grant will support two state-run health care facilities, Kona Community Hospital and Hilo Medical Center, in attaining Baby-Friendly designation, a nationally recognized status based on guidelines developed by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund. Through staff training, education and technical assistance, the hospitals will improve maternity care policies in alignment with national standards of quality care. Kaiser Permanente’s Moanalua Medical Center is currently the only hospital in the state honored with the Baby-Friendly designation.
- The Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA) was awarded $64,545 to implement its Social Determinants of Health Initiative, a two-pronged approach to increasing awareness and addressing issues related to health inequities. HPCA will partner with the Hawaii Department of Health, schools and community health centers to screen “Ike — Knowledge is Everywhere,” a documentary illustrating the impact of social determinants of health among school-aged children, to 74,000 students and community members statewide. HPCA will also provide Design Thinking training to community health leaders, in an effort to foster innovative ideas on delivering health care to vulnerable individuals and communities.
- People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (PATH) will receive $45,000 for its Queen’s Lei project, the planning of a 17-mile pathway connecting North Kona in a safe, shared-use pedestrian and cycling loop. PATH will mobilize numerous diverse stakeholders on the county and state level to advocate for the Queen’s Lei project, promoting active living and a pedestrian-friendly community.
- The Food Basket, the Hawaii Foodbank branch serving the people of Hawaii County,was awarded $39,947 to support Ho‘olaha Ka Hua, a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. The program improves access to healthy foods in low-income and rural Big Island communities through a CSA food box model, which distributes fresh, seasonal produce to program participants. Ten thousand Hawaii Island residents will benefit from food box distribution in the next two years.
- The North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) will receive $19,000 for its advocacy of healthy and accessible food systems on Oahu’s North Shore. While presently only 5 percent of agricultural land on the North Shore is used for farming, NSCLT and its stakeholders will establish a data-driven plan to increase utilization and create a stronger and more sustainable food system for its community members. NSCLT works in collaboration with North Shore Food System Resiliency Network and North Shore Food Council.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information. Become a fan of good health with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii: Like our page at Facebook.com/KPHawaii and follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.