Monday, June 2, 2025
6/2/2025
Fiscal Year 2025 Expanded Hours. - Kokua Kalihi Valley (KKV) seeks to expand operating hours at two of its six operating sites: Its Na Koa Clinic at its main service site and its public housing clinic at the largest public housing project in the state, Kuhio Park Terrace (KPT). The Na Koa Clinic was created in a sub-basement parking lot in response to COVID-19 and the need to segregate infectious diseases from our larger patient population. No Koa is now evolving into an urgent care clinic that focuses on infectious and acute conditions and also provides overall primary care services for all ages. Na Koa is undergoing a renovation that will be completed by the first quarter of project year 1, moving from the sub-basement parking lot to the second floor of the same building (the third floor houses 14 exam rooms and a full service primary care staff). Current Na Koa hours will be expanded from 8am to 4pm to 8am to 9pm Monday through Saturday, for a total increase of 25 No Koa Clinic hours and 15 additional Main Clinic operational hours (Main Clinic closes at 6pm). The public housing clinic at KPT will shift its opening hours from 8am to 7am, starting two mornings a week, to accommodate working families. In total, KKV will increase its service hours by 27 hours, with a Family Practice Physician, LCSW, Pharmacist, and support and enabling staff serving an estimated 718 patients in year 1 and 945 patients in year 2, with an estimated 220 new patients (our emphasis is on existing KKV patients, who in aggregate have high levels of ER utilization). KKV was founded as a 501c3 in 1972 and designated as an FQHC in 1986 in response to a lack of health services for Kalihi's low income, largely-immigrant Asian/Pacific Islander residents. KKV’s mission is to “work toward healing, reconciliation and the alleviation of suffering in Kalihi Valley through strong relationships that honor culture and foster health and harmony.” KKV’s 260 staff care for more than 10,000 Kalihi residents a year, from nine locations, including a main health clinic, a wellness center with a commercial kitchen/café, service sites in the largest public housing community in Hawaii, an elder center, a municipal park, and a 100-acre nature and cultural preserve committed to Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander approaches to healing. KKV’s primary care services include medical, dental, behavioral health, optometry, pharmacy, maternal child health, elder care, and array of enabling and SDOH services. KKV serves Kalihi, an MUA) and HPSA for Primary Care, Mental Health, and Dental Care. Of Kalihi’s 55,000 residents, 44% are new immigrants and 40% are non-English or limited English speakers. In 2023, 56% of KKV patients were at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. Many of our patients delay seeking clinical care until they develop severe and costly health conditions. They report significant barriers to attending appointments: In 2023, other time commitments (work and caregiving duties) were identified as top obstacles to receiving care. Due to Hawaii’s astronomically high cost of living and comparatively low salaries, many Kalihi residents work multiple low-wage jobs with irregular hours, making it difficult to access healthcare services during standard business hours. The upcoming development of 304 new affordable housing units at KPT, which houses a significant portion of KKV’s patients, will only increase demand for appointments. This proposal meets the goals of HRSA-25-084 by: 1) Expanding the hours of operation of our Na Koa facility, a clinic walkable from our public housing residents, and our KPT clinic; 2) Increasing the hours of operation of our van transport service to increase access; 3) Expanding hours of our translation services to ensure Kalihi’s diverse community receives culturally-appropriate care; and 4) Reducing hospitalization rates in our service area by offering primary, behavioral health, enabling and SDOH services attuned to the most prevalent reasons for hospitalization.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).