Covid Response
Partners in Development Foundation is here for you. Our team is dedicated to connecting our communities with vital resources to lessen the impact of Covid-19 such as food and other basic necessities, at-home Covid-19 test kits, disease outbreak prevention training opportunities, and available community services.
COVID RESOURCES
During these difficult times, Partners in Development Foundation is committed to continuing our services to the best of our abilities while striving to ensure the health and safety of our staff, program families, and communities. Follow our calendar of events to find out when the next covid-19 test kit distribution will take place in a community near you. Below are services to connect you with covid-relief resources.
Keep Our Community Safe Get GBAC certified
Together with the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute (HIPHI), Partners in Development Foundation will be hosting training and certifications in infectious disease control offered by the internationally and nationally certified Global Biorisk Advisory Council (“GBAC”).
The GBAC training sessions provide educational tools to equip our families and community members with the knowledge of how to prepare for, respond to and recover from biohazards, infectious disease and COVID– whether at home, in our workplace, in our schools, and in our communities. Participants will learn up-to-date ways to prevent and control infection and contamination in situations such as the coronavirus.
Each person who goes through the GBAC training will bring increased value to keeping our community safe. They also will have a nationally-recognized certification that adds value as employees, especially in our schools, social services, food industry, etc.
Participants will learn about the latest updated knowledge regarding:
How to properly clean and disinfect for health
Standards and protocols for response and remediation of infectious disease
- Proper usage of PPE, tools, and equipment, cleaners and disinfectants based on the EPA's Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance in the United States, and more
PIDF and HIPHI are committed to investing in our people and invite our community members for an introductory GBAC training session through this grant. Now is the right time to fight back against COVID and other outbreaks by arming ourselves with knowledge and tools, especially in this unique time with newly emerging variants, fewer restrictions, and more in-person contact. Continued education will help us keep our community members safe.
ABOUT
PIDF works steadfastly to close the gap for those who need access to covid-relief resources. The Ho’opalekana Ola initiative launched after PIDF received the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute Cares Grant through the Department of Health to strengthen neighbor island communities and navigate the new norm. Hoʻopalekana Ola (strengthen and defend life) partners with existing PIDF programs like Tūtū and Me and Ka Paʻalana preschools across Hawaiʻi to provide free Rapid Antigen Test kits as well as share the latest news on health and safety guidelines for available Hawaiʻi Covid-19 resources like vaccine and testing sites.
PIDF continues its efforts in digital equity, food security, and collaborative culturally-sensitive messaging like PSAs and social media campaigns with other local community agencies to provide trust-worthy information.
In November 2020, PIDF opened the Open Arms Harbor iso-quarantine hotel in response to a call for help from individuals and ʻohana that were exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 and needed a safe place to heal. Open Arms Harbor served over 200 guests through a collaboration with the Department of Health and the City and County of Honolulu until its closing in March of 2021.
Many people in our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community live in multigenerational homes, making it difficult to isolate without endangering their loved ones safely. If you or someone you know needs care, connect with resources available to you within the community.
Accomplishments
IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Protecting the health and well-being of our program families and staff is our top priority. That's why we strive to be proactive to minimize the impact of COVID-19. We work in tandem with our leadership, program managers, and our boots-on-the-ground staff to ensure we are taking every precaution and follow all state and county guidelines.
As we journey through COVID-19 together, our thoughts and prayers go out to all our families in our program and State.
RECENT NEWS
PIDF’s New Covid Response Initiative Launches in Molokaʻi
For multigenerational households with ʻohana ranging from keiki to kūpuna, access to Covid-19 at-home test kits and knowledge about infectious disease control, will prepare families and save lives. PIDF kickstarted Hoʻopalekana Ola to bridge the gap in rural communities.
Civil Cafe: How The Pandemic Has Affected Hawaii’s Indigenous People
Honolulu Civil Beat hosted a discussion with Native Hawaiian leaders who share data, anecdotes, and more on the impact of the pandemic on Hawaiʻi’s lāhui.
Resilience Hub receives $10,000 from Hawaiian Electric
PIDF received a $10,000 grant from Hawaiian Electric to continue the Resilience Hub in Kohala, a project under the Pili a Pa‘a program that provides a safe space for keiki who are doing distance learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic and whose caregivers are unable to supervise them.
20 for the Next 20: Josie Howard
We are so proud of our mentee program, We Are Oceania’s Executive Director, Josie Howard, who was selected for Hawaii Business Magazine’s “20 For the next 20,” honoring people whose talents, accomplishments and potential set them apart as emerging leaders of Hawaiʻi for the next 20 years.