Announcements for Wednesday, July 19, 2023

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Community participation requested taking health survey

Now through July 28, the Hawaii Island Community Health Center (HICHC) invites all residents to participate in an island-wide community health needs survey. The Community Needs Survey, conducted every three years, will help Hawaii Island Community Health Center identify the island’s priority health needs and concerns. With this needs assessment HICHC surveys the population living in the island-wide service area, both patients and nonpatients, regarding their experience accessing primary health care services and any barriers they may encounter. In addition, the health center will evaluate available health care resources, population health data, key economic factors effecting the populations access to health care, and demographic factors impacting the population’s need and demand for health care services.

“Community participation will help Hawaii Island Community Health Center gain a better understanding of our future health care needs and identify gaps in health care service in rural communities around the island,” said Hawaii Island Community Health Center CEO Richard Taaffe.

The Community Needs Survey is a valuable tool whose success depends on broad participation to assist Hawaii Island Community Health Center with the development of programs, improvement in resources and provide tools and opportunities for greater health care access on Hawaii Island.

Three years ago the Community Needs Survey identified transportation as a barrier for families accessing health care. As a result, Hawaii Island Community Health Center launched School Based Health Centers providing health care on site in local schools thus eliminating the barrier for parents who work or have limited transportation.

The online survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and will remain open until Thursday, July 28. Hawaii Island residents participating in the survey will be eligible for a chance to win a $50 gift card. With four (4) $50 gift cards being awarded. All survey responses are confidential and completely anonymous unless participants choose to share identifying information.

To take the survey, visit surveymonkey.com/r/HICHCCNA2023

Local students named to Pacific University Spring Dean’s List

Riley Sato of Holualoa, Gabe Kalama of Waimea, and Kassie Tarpley of Waikoloa have been named to the Spring 2023 dean’s list at Pacific University in Oregon. The dean’s list recognizes undergraduate students in Pacific’s colleges of Arts &Sciences, Business and Education who earn a grade-point average of at least 3.70 and complete 12 or more graded credit hours.

$139 Per Child In Food Purchasing Assistance For Hawaii Students This Summer

Summer P-EBT is a federal program that provides food purchasing

assistance to struggling families. Students who were enrolled in free or reduced-price school lunch last

school year were automatically enrolled in Summer P-EBT and do not need to apply. If a student is in

need and was not enrolled in school lunch, they still have a chance to apply for Summer P-EBT.They can apply via EZMealApp.com between July 15 and August 6, 2023.Students and their families do NOT need to be U.S. citizens in order to receive Summer P-EBT benefits. These benefits are for ALL children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Using Summer P-EBT benefits will NOT affect a parent or child’s immigration status.

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