Health Literacy
Empowering communities through Health Literacy.
Community First is committed to providing the information and support people need to make well-informed, intentional choices about their health.
At the heart of health literacy is the belief that access to accurate, reliable information makes good health decisions possible. Some people face barriers to getting this crucial information because of cultural norms, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and English language proficiency. As a result, these people experience disparities in accessing high-quality, affordable healthcare. To us, this is not acceptable.
We lead three programs to improve health literacy on Hawaiʻi Island: Kuleana Health, the Advance Healthcare Directive initiative, and Know Your Numbers.
Health Literacy Initiatives
Know Your Numbers
Our annual blood pressure awareness campaign educates Hawaiʻi Island communities about the risks of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Our goal is to end high blood pressure on Hawaiʻi Island by increasing access to the care and support needed to treat this chronic but manageable condition. Learn more.
Advance Health Care Directive
We help Hawaiʻi Island residents talk about their end-of-life care choices and create a legal document that gives them agency over their healthcare wishes. Since 2015, we have helped over 3,000 people complete their Advance Health Care Directives. Learn more.
Kuleana Health
We each have kuleana for the health of ourselves and our ʻohana. Kuleana Health is our health literacy program that takes a community-based approach to improving health literacy, well-being, and addressing disparities in health outcomes.