Pathways
Pathways cohort sitting outside at Ho’oulu ‘Āina and talking about Pilinaha, the four connections framework. 2021 staff participants included: Anela Howard - HA, Kino Celestino - EA/Hui Hoaka, Cate Picardo - EA/Hui Hoaka, Mariah Tanaka - MCH/Hui Hoaka, Pearl Sheck - KPT Clinic/Hui Hoaka, Marlene Otto - HA/Medical Interpreter, Max Phillip - Pacific Voices, Christine Mabuti - EA/Hui Hoaka, Today Maddison - KPT Clinic/Hui Hoaka, Noe Aquino - Elderly/Hui Hoaka, Maricelle Shirai - MCH, Jeannie David - MCH, Dyan Bautista - MCH, Dienna Peterson - MCH/Hui Hoaka, Josh Kim - KVIBE, Austin Haleyalpiy - KVIBE, Kuulei Fried - HA, Lalo Kalahele - HA, Carol Ann Carl - Grants, Melissa Mamea - Vaccine clinic, Cherish Mendaros - MCH, Van Nakashima - MCH, Sam Foulchag - WIC, Kriselle Gines - Medical, Keala Nichols - Roots, Dil Michael - Roots, Chimgei Begzsuren - Accounting, Renz Delos Angeles - Roots/Hui Hoaka, Dorothy Lorennij - Hui Hoaka/Medical Interpreter, and Jesleen Elimo - Hui Hoaka.
Pathways cohort learning by food preparation in the Roots Cafe’. Left is Kriselle Gines (Medical Pediatrics. Right is Cherish Mendaros (Maternal Child Health).
Doing tele-exercise with the seniors at the Gulick Elder Care Center.
From August to November of 2021, Joel has overseen training of three cohorts with a total of 30 staff participants. The curriculum includes two introductory sessions. One is intended for staff to get to know each other on a personal level. The other is a kind of programmatic speed dating that has staff describe what each department does. Pathways sessions include Pilinaha Four Connections Framework training; Trauma and Resiliency Informed Care; and Waiwai immersions where staff participate in activities at different departments (Roots, Elder Care, Ho’oulu ‘Āina, etc.). Finally, the program ends with a reflection on the overall experience.
For most staff, Pathways is deeply transformative.
“The pathways program made me feel like I am part of a big family and made me realize that there are so many people who share the same passions as I do, especially when it comes to helping people. Through Pathways, I learned more about KKV and how it started. I was able to connect with my ancestors throughout (doing the aloha circles and sharing stories about my culture and my hometown). I never knew about KKV before I started working here. My life would have been very different had I never became a part of KKV. I am beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in Pathways.” Noelene Aquino, Elder Care/ Hui Hoaka
KKV’s Pathways program was restarted after a short pause in 2020 because of COVID. The program is now overseen by Joel Tome, KKV’s Education Coordinator, who is an enthusiastic champion of staff training. The idea behind Pathways is to break down department silos through a series of cross-training sessions, where staff from different KKV departments learn together in cohorts by working with different KKV departments. The program’s intention is to foster bidirectional referrals and program integration, which are key elements of KKV’s patient services. When patients come into KKV, whether it be through Elder Care or dental, the goal is to have KKV staff know how to provide a warm hand-off to colleagues they know in another department. This personal touch helps patients feel valued and it is key to KKV’s culture of healing.
Exercising together at Gulick Elder Care.
“What I loved the most about pathways was that I got to hear directly from other staff, their dreams for KKV. There were people that dreamed of being able to give more to the community, expanding KKV's reach outside of Kalihi, and there were even those that dream of expanding KKV across oceans. It was inspiring to witness that dreaming because it tells me that KKV staff are the community. They’re invested in this work and they’re invested long-term. That’s special.” Carol Ann Carl, Grants.
