Community Organizations Receive $17.3 Million in Grants From Kaiser Permanente

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Nov 03, 2011, 02:00 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 675 organizations working for better health in their communities have received a big boost from Kaiser Permanente, which awarded $17.3 million in grants during the third quarter of this year.

"There are tremendous programs and initiatives underway in local communities that are addressing immediate health care needs. Kaiser Permanente is proud to be able to provide funding to these organizations to continue their valuable and much-needed work, which improves the overall health of communities," said Raymond J. Baxter, senior vice president, Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy.

Kaiser Permanente awards grants in distinct categories including, but not limited to: promoting healthy communities; expanding access to health care; and developing and disseminating knowledge.

Kaiser Permanente Contributions

This is a sampling of the grants awarded by Kaiser Permanente in the third quarter of 2011.

A $75,000 grant was awarded to the Partnership for Children and Youth in Northern California. This grant provides direct technical assistance to increase the overall quality of summer learning and enrichment programs for low-income children—with the goal of curbing disparities in academic learning loss and summer weight gain.
The Child Obesity Prevention Project received a $200,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente. This two-year grant funds the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health project to create healthier communities by working closely with officials and staff to enact policies and environmental changes that promote healthy eating and active living in 10 cities with high rates of childhood obesity.
The Clark County (Wash.)Public Health Department was awarded $180,000 over three years to improve access to healthy foods by working with stakeholders to increase healthy offerings at a variety of retail establishments; increase Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program participation at local farmers markets and farm stands; and expand its healthy corner store program.
The HO'ALA Initiative, a comprehensive approach to fostering active living among children and families in Hawaii by increasing physical activity through Safe Routes to School, received a $42,000 grant. Safe Routes to School is a sustained effort by parents, schools, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.
Cleveland-based Providence House, a crisis nursery offering shelter for at-risk children as well as education, mentoring, case management and aftercare, received a $15,250 grant for its Trauma Intervention and Therapy Program. The Trauma Intervention and Therapy Program will not only help children and their families deal with the trauma of past experiences, but also aid in the transition to the crisis nursery setting, which requires a family to temporarily separate.
The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine was awarded a $300,000 grant to Reduce Health Disparities by Improving Mental Health in Atlanta. This project will train postdoctoral health fellows to advance health equity and promote policies and practices that improve health outcomes by reducing mental health disparities related to access, quality of care, and primary care and behavioral health integration. As part of the grant Kaiser Permanente is building special training opportunities for fellows at both the Regional and National level.
A $40,000 contribution was made to Washington, D.C.-based Everybody Wins! for its Power Lunch Program, which promotes children's literacy in low-income neighborhoods. Power Lunch, a signature reading and mentoring program, pairs professional adults with an elementary school student to read together. Kaiser Permanente employees are investing one hour each week this school year to serve as mentors to students at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. The goals of the program are simple: to encourage a child's interest in reading; expand a child's opportunities for success; and facilitate meaningful volunteer contributions.

For more information about Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit programs visit www.kp.org/communitybenefit. The 2010 Community Benefit Annual Report can be found at www.kp.org/communitybenefit/annualreport.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We serve approximately 8.8 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

Contact: Patrice Smith, 510-271-6813, [email protected]

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente