Understanding Pasifika and Community Health Center Strategies for Improving Preventive Services

This training will describe effective quality improvement and prevention strategies centered around the patient experience and community voice, including healing-centered care and addressing health-related social needs. It will also offer a compendium of resources, including lessons learned, promising practices, resources, and recommendations for health centers to develop and implement preventive services interventions and strategies for health center patients.

Nia Aitaota, PhD, MPH
Executive Director, National Association of Pasifika Organizations
Senior Consultant, Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence
Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah College of Health
Adjunct Faculty, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine
Principal Investigator, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research in Transforming Health and Health Care Systems

1. Describe unique experiences of Pasifika patients that impact access to care, non-medical factors of health, and community-based needs. 
2. Explore tools, resources, and recommendations for health centers to develop and implement preventive services interventions and strategies for Pasifika health center patients.
3. Share quality improvement and prevention strategies to advance healing-centered care and address health-related needs. 

Community Health Workforce Role in Preventive Services Outreach to Address Environmental Drivers of Health

Community health workers (CHWs) are key stakeholders for advancing health center excellence and improving outreach and engagement to meet patients where they are to address health-related social needs. This in-person training will improve access to training for the health center workforce through case studies demonstrating considerations, practical tips, and resources for improving preventive services access and outcomes among health center patients. This session will also promote training, certification, and continuing education opportunities for CHWs.   

Ailing Gideon, CHW
Special Programs Coordinator and Community Health Worker, Community Clinic
Board Member, Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese

1. Explore case studies demonstrating impacts, considerations, and tips for Pasifika patients navigating environmental and structural barriers to accessing care. 
2. Explain the CHW's role in addressing patient needs through patient-centered service delivery.
3. Discuss practical tips and resources for improving preventive services and outcomes by addressing transportation and other DOH needs.

Health Center Supports for Patient-Centered Diabetes Prevention

Given the high prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, there is an increased need for early detection, prevention, and management efforts. This training will address diabetes through the lens of social interventions. The training aims to share social, medical, and structural health needs and how the built environment, language access, mental health, and maternal health impact diabetes prevention and management. This session will also promote resources to support health center performance improvement and transformation efforts that help health centers manage diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Nia Aitaota, PhD, MPH
Executive Director, National Association of Pasifika Organizations
Senior Consultant, Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence
Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah College of Health
Adjunct Faculty, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
Principal Investigator, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research in Transforming Health and Health Care Systems

1. Describe diabetes prevention through the lens of non-medical interventions. 
2. Explore community-based, medical, and structural health needs and how the built environment, language access, and mental health impact diabetes prevention and management.  
3. Promote Pasifika-specific resources (PI-DPP) to support health center performance improvement and transformation efforts that help health centers manage diabetes.

Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Health Centers as Access Points

This training will equip healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge to enhance maternal and child health for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (Pasifika) communities, who often access healthcare for the first time during crucial periods like pregnancy and early childhood. For many in these communities, health center visits may be their first interaction with the healthcare system, making it essential to offer relevant and supportive care during this pivotal time. Community health centers also have a unique opportunity to address non-medical drivers of health, like housing and education, leading to better long-term health outcomes. This training will empower health centers to play a vital role in fostering better health outcomes through comprehensive, culturally sensitive care and community engagement.     

Rebecca Delafield, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine
Research Awardee, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Institute

1. Explore strategies to leverage programs such as the WIC program, Well Baby Clinics, and Medicaid reimbursement to improve access to essential care for Pasifika families. 
2. Explain how to implement preventive health screenings, deliver effective patient education, manage complex care, and address health-related social needs in a culturally sensitive manner. 
3. Discuss pathways for providers to promote healthier pregnancies, improve early childhood development, and contribute to long-term positive health outcomes for Pacific Islander communities.

Small Group Discussion, Brainstorm, and Share Out Swim Lanes