GWEP programming efforts are made possible through collaborations with a variety of academic and community partnerships.
The PI-GWEP works in partnership with 12 academic, 5 clinical, and 12 community-based entities (Table 1 and Figure 1). Based within the Department of Geriatric Medicine in the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), the PI-GWEP partners internally with other JABSOM departments and collaborates with other UH Schools for allied health training and interprofessional education (IPE) activities. Palau Community College (PCC) and Yap Area Health Education Center (AHEC) are important US Affiliated Pacific Island partners.
Clinical partners have been engaged to facilitate the spread of AFHS in Hawai‘i. Important community clinical partners are AlohaCare, The Queen’s Health System, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association (HPCA), and Mountain Pacific Quality Health (MPQH). These organizations support training and implementation of AFHS amongst their providers and members. These partners work closely with selected Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other primary care providers in Hawai‘i (eg, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV) and Pali Momi Family Medicine Clinic). The Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i (HAH) and MPQH assist in providing AFHS training to the network of Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) providers in the state (eg, nursing homes and family/foster care homes). The goal is to help clinical sites achieve AFHS recognition from IHI.
The PI-GWEP works with community partners on the mutual goal of improving care provided by family caregivers of older adults. The partners providing direct outreach include Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, the Alzheimer’s Association Hawai‘i Chapter, AARP, and Kula No Na Po‘e Hawai‘i at Papakōlea (Kula). PI-GWEP also works with the Hawai‘i Department of Health (HDOH) and Executive Office on Aging (EOA) to extend resources for family caregivers.