REACH Program

Rural Engagement and Advancing Community Health

REACH Program CNA/MA Scholarship Open, Apply Now!

Are you attending or planning to attend a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or Medical Assistant (MA) course in Hawai’i? The REACH Program is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $1,000 scholarships to support those becoming CNAs and MAs. Strong preference will be given to applicants from, residing in, or having strong ties to the Puna area on Big Island. Email john@hsrha.org for any additional questions.

Apply Today

Goals & Objectives

The goal of the REACH program grant is to increase digital health literacy and expand utilization of telehealth technologies in order to improve health in four distressed, rural and underserved communities.

Telehealth-Training — Digital literacy class at Pahoa Library.

Objective 1

Train community members in telehealth practices and digital literacy to demonstrate a sustained increase in comfort with telehealth and improvement in self-efficacy over the course of the grant.

Objective 2

Provide individualized education, supplies and support to 200 patients over the course of the grant resulting in a 10% increase in telehealth use in target regions.

Objective 3

Enhance the quality of care in the area by training a total of 18 new healthcare providers who live near or within, and are knowledgeable about these communities, COVID prevention, and are able to assist patients with telehealth and provide peripheral health monitors, such that telehealth household utilization will increase by 10% over the course of the grant.

The REACH Program aims to enhance the telehealth experience by providing participants with essential tools and resources to monitor their health from the comfort of their homes. Through this program, we hope to better understand the needs of our community members and refine our approach to delivering telehealth services effectively.

This program aims provides free health monitoring tools and telehealth training. Qualifying participants will receive personalized training and support to monitor their health from home using Bluetooth-enabled weight scales and blood pressure cuffs.

REACH Program Resources

Digital Literacy

Digital Ready Hawaii – A statewide initiative promoting digital literacy and resources for communities in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi State Public Library System – Free access to eBooks, online courses, and digital tools for residents.

Telehealth

Hawaiʻi U Telehealth – Telehealth services, guidance for patients, and educational resources to promote virtual healthcare access.
Queens Health Systems Virtual Care – Instructions and resources for using virtual health services.

Digital Equity Initiatives

Broadband Hui – A collaborative initiative focused on improving broadband access and digital equity in Hawaiʻi.

2024 Staff

John Desfor
Program Coordinator

Cynthia Crabtree
Community Health Worker

Key Partners

Pahoa Library

Digital Ready Hawaii

Community Centers