The Health Center should provide training and scholarship opportunities in its service mix, for both staff and community.
Board of Directors: Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center Planning Criteria

Programs include:

HO`OLOKAHI Health Professions Education

Training and Education Programs

The WCCHC Board and Staff are committed to providing community residents with education and training in the healthcare field and “Growing our own Healers”.  We believe that a good Education and meaningful Employment are vital to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of the individual, the family, and the community; and

As part of its commitment to meet the needs of the community for culturally competent health care providers, meaningful employment, and increased educational opportunities,

the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center’s Ho`olōkahi Department has developed a Health Career Education pipeline that provides education and training opportunities in the health professions.

The Ho`olōkahi Department is committed to:

ü      Developing a seamless academic pipeline  - the Health Careers Pipeline – that helps  underrepresented and economically disadvantaged people become health professionals in their own community;

ü      Increasing the knowledge of Wai`anae Coast area youth and other residents regarding  health professions opportunities and the resources available to help enter those professions;

ü      Assisting participants to access the Health Careers Pipeline leading to health professions and health-related careers.

The education and training programs offered through the Ho`olokahi Department are described below:

Youth Health Corps   ~  TeenBEAT

The YHC~ TeenBEAT (Teens Being Educated About Tobacco) program is an opportunity for participants from Wai`anae schools and the community to spend time at the Health Center as a part of its Health Careers Pipeline. YHC~ TeenBEAT members participate in educational, training and volunteer service opportunities through the Ho`olokahi Department.

The YHC ~ TeenBEAT program components are designed to increase awareness of health issues, involve participants in community education, assist them in learning new skills, provide them with support to access higher learning opportunities and to introduce them to career opportunities.

In the Tobacco Education component, participants focus on tobacco use, a specific health concern that significantly seriously affects the Wai`anae community. TeenBEAT participants provide peer health education about the effects of tobacco through a variety of community education activities.

In the Health Careers Shadowing/Mentorship component, participants have the opportunity to explore a variety of health careers.  Participants are assigned to a clinic or department where they observe and assist health care providers from a variety of health care professions. Their site mentor, a practicing health professional, will provide instruction and hands-on activities, and will evaluate the participant’s performance at end of the placement.

In the Higher Education component, participants receive significant support to help them access higher education opportunities, specifically college application and financial aid.

For more information on the TeenBEAT ~ Youth Health Corps program, call Rachelle Enos or Karma Sanchez-Garcia at 697-3446.

THE WAIANAE HEALTH ACADEMY

Ke Ola Loa Ka Na`auao (Lifelong Learning)

The Waianae Health Academy was formed in 1992 as a partnership between Leeward Community College, Kap`iolani Community College and the WCCHC. It began in response to a request from the WCCHC Board of Directors that the Center provide training opportunities for Wai`anae Coast residents.  Since that time, the WHA has been providing health career certificate programs such as Nurse Aide, Medical Assisting, Practical Nursing, Community Health Worker, Phlebotomy, Dental Assisting, Medical Reception, Medical Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Plant Landscaping, Agricultural Technology, and Pre-Health/Bridge courses.

The Waianae Health Academy also offers comprehensive Haumana Kokua (student support services) to assist people enter and succeed in the programs they choose.  This support includes assistance in completing the application process, applying for scholarships and financial aid, and having access to an assigned Education Specialist who is available to help the student find resources which address other barriers to education.

We are currently accepting applications for the following programs and classes:

• Medical Terminology (HLTH 110)
• Introduction to Health Professions (HLTH 120)
• Intro to Composition (ENG 22)
• Composition I (ENG 100)
• Intro to Algebra w/Geometry (MATH 22)
• Self Exploration (HSER 100)
• Employment Preparation (IS 197)
• Nurse Aide
• Community Health Worker I
• Community Health Worker II
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Pharmacy Technician

The Waianae Health Academy is located at 86-880 Farrington Highway next to LCC Waianae. The phone number is 697-3215. Please call or visit WHA for more information.  

Graduated Competencies Program:

Through a new grant from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the Hitachi Foundation, the Health Center, in partnership with Leeward Community College, has developed an innovative work based training program for its employees. The goal of this ground-breaking program is to establish a training and professional development initiative for frontline healthcare workers by developing, implementing, and sustaining a collaboratively designed WCCHC – LCC workforce training model that is reward based and  provides career advancement pathways and career sustainability. Employees in the program receive their education and training at their worksite, while performing their daily tasks, under the supervision of a training preceptor.  Upon successfully completing the assignments, participants will receive college credit from Leeward Community College.

A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE at WAIANAE
(ATSU-SOM-W)

The Health Center is part of an exciting new medical education initiative.  A.T. Still University (ATSU) opened a new osteopathic medical school in Arizona this past July 2007.  This school is dedicated to training future doctors who will go into primary care and treat those living in underserved communities.  The Health Center is one of ten “Hub Sites” around the country where the medical students will learn.  The first year of medical school will be spent at ATSU in Arizona.  Years two, three and four will be at the hub sites so the medical students will learn and train with health center doctors and staff, while taking care of members of the community who they will hopefully serve in the future.

Beginning September of 2008, the Health Center will be welcoming ten second year ATSU students every year.  The learning facilities for the medical students will be located on the first floor of the Health Center’s new 3-Story Clinic that should be completed by July 2008.  To learn more about ATSU-SOM-W go to www.atsu.edu.  For further questions please contact Dr. Ricardo C. Custodio at 808-697-3444.

Here’s the first class of medical students that are currently training at A.T. Still University, who will be on our campus in September 2008.

Left to right:  Dodds Simangan, Michael Allard, Versha Srivastava, Russ Henriet, Veronica Robinson, Nancy Law, Shannon Harrelson, Levon Basso, Maren Ness and Adam Cohen.

Annual Health Career Community Scholarship Program

The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center's Health Career Scholarship program was instituted in 1990 through generous donations provided by Chevron USA and other private foundations, including the Health Center.  In 2006, it was renamed the Chuck Wothke Scholarship.  Chuck was one of the founder's of the Health Center, a long-time board member and an advocate for health care and training opportunities for community residents.
Over 120 residents have benefited from the scholarship program that has helped finance their education through attending colleges or health-related programs in Hawaii and on the mainland.
Applications are available in January of each year with the deadline typically falling at the end of April.  For an application, email wcchc@wcchc.com or call 697-3440 or 697-3446.

2007 Scholarship Awardees

2006 Scholarship Awardees (with lei) and Health Center Board of Directors

2003 Scholarship Awardees (with lei) pose with Health Center Board of Directors which includes Chuck Wothke (far left) for whom the scholarship was renamed for

HO`OLOKAHI Health Professions Education

Health Professions Education Program - University (undergraduate and graduate):  In partnership with the Waianae Coast community, the University of Hawai'i and the Health Center, students from the School of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing and Social Work participate in community-directed, multiprofessional learning on site.  Under the supervision of a clinical preceptor, students provide intensive case management services for patients.  Students receive training in group process, development of community and cultural competence, and case management.

Health Professions Education Program - High School

High School students are exposed to a range of available health professions careers, and are helped to develop skills necessary for successful academic achievement.  Activities include shadowing/mentoring programs, training and educational workshops, etc.

Teen Smoking Prevention and Cessation Program:  Project to increase teen awareness of consequences of smoking related health and to conduct teen-appropriate smoking cessation programs in the community.  An advisory council of teens, will develop and implement a unique anti-smoking campaign that is appropriate for the community.

For more information, visit Ola Loa Ka Na'auao: The Waianae Health Academy