Challenges With Creating a Practical Community Directed Health Literacy Programs

This presentation addresses the challenges encountered while delivering a community directed health literacy program.  Understanding the importance of using cultural and traditional healing practices for addressing health issues and improving the wellness in the Native Hawaiian community has been greatly understood, respected and practiced from the Holistic Honu Wellness Center’s early history. In our work, we are often called upon to interpret and advocate for both the western medical practitioner and their patients. Through the delivery of our services in Central California communities, we have found it necessary to augment western medical services with traditional ones and provide assistive and palliative care for many of the patients requesting treatment.  From understanding the issues of Native Hawaiian health disparities and the role health literacy plays in community health and wellness, programs were subsequently developed to address these important issues. These programs were created out of the necessity to address the needs of an aging, primarily Native Hawaiian population in Central California; however, soon after implementation, services were requested throughout the continental US. These services are not limited to translation and advocacy; it includes assistance with implementing recommended changes to diet and lifestyle that the doctors prescribe through direct observation of patients' shopping and cooking practices, explanation of medications and dosage, detailed explanations of recommended tests and immunizations. Because of the popularity of the services provided, it was clear that one traditional healer was not enough to serve all the individuals requesting services and the development of a fully immersive education program for both the western medical and cultural community was created.