In the spring of 2013, 4th-year medical students helped organize the second annual health needs assessment conducted at Kamaile. The previous spring, the medical students on rotation surveyed Kamaile students, families, and staff to determine needs with regard to health education, health services, and general health behaviors among the student population. The Navigators’ Center supported in providing assessment tools that were adapted from those used at school-based health centers in New York City.
 
The process was greatly enhanced this year with further direction from staff at WCCHC. So that findings at Kamaile could be evaluated based upon broader trends, last year’s tools were merged with the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This tool is used in schools across Hawai‘i and the entire nation. The survey was administered to students in grades 6 and 9, with plans to survey those grades as well as grade 12 in years to come.

 

Click here to view the Survey Forms used.

Click here to view results from the 2011 survey of students from across Hawai'i.
 
The surveys brought some rich findings including the following, along with some immediate follow-up actions that results:

 

• Grade 6 and 9 students demonstrated need for attention to mental health areas such as depression, stress management, and bullying. Medical students and Kamaile staff met with mental health experts at WCCHC to plan actions to address these needs.

• Responses brought some concern regarding reproductive health. To address this need, medical students created and delivered the lesson mentioned previously on reproductive health and the WCCHC Teen Clinic.

• The survey highlighted a few alarming statistics on substance abuse. Medical students and Kamaile staff met with substance abuse experts at WCCHC to plan actions to address these needs.

• Students expressed interest in bringing more direct health services to the Kamaile campus.