Kaiser Permanente contributes $1 million to 10 leading public health organizations and collaborates with CDC Foundation to support COVID-19 response

Support for effective outbreak response will help share best practices based on evidence and data

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Mar 11, 2020, 06:00 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente is contributing $1 million to 10 leading public health organizations and collaborating with CDC Foundation to strengthen the United States' public health infrastructure and response systems to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The organizations that will receive this funding include, but are not limited to: American Public Health Association; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Big Cities Health Coalition; Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; County Health Executives Association of California; Health Officers Association of California; National Association of County and City Health Officials; National Health Law Program; the Network for Public Health Law; and Trust for America's Health.

These organizations work closely with state and local health officers and play an important role to support them in responding to public health threats. This contribution will help them focus on rapidly sharing emerging evidence and data, aligning on effective protocols and policies, and cascading accurate information as it becomes available — as well as quickly debunking misinformation.

"Public-private collaboration and intergovernmental coordination are critically important in creating effective outbreak response," said Bechara Choucair, MD, chief health officer at Kaiser Permanente. "These groups have immense breadth and depth of experience addressing public health issues and can ensure alignment with the health care ecosystem."

"Government support is essential in combatting health threats, such as COVID-19," said Judy Monroe, president and chief executive officer of the CDC Foundation. "But philanthropic and private sector donations, such as this generous gift from Kaiser Permanente, can be used alongside government funds to extend response efforts and meet rapidly emerging needs, including those with organizations supporting state, local, county and territorial health officials."

The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization created by the U.S. Congress to help extend the lifesaving work of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC Foundation activated its Emergency Response Fund for the COVID-19 response in late January.

A key part of Kaiser Permanente's mission as the nation's largest nonprofit, integrated health system is to improve the health of its 12.2 million members as well as that of the 68 million people who live in the communities it serves.

"As a leading health care provider with a deep commitment to community health, Kaiser Permanente is proud to support these organizations to safeguard health and mitigate the impact of the virus in our communities," said Cynthia Telles, PhD, Community Health Committee chair for the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Boards of Directors.

About the CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC's critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched more than 1,000 programs and raised over $900 million. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year. For more information, visit www.cdcfoundation.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group 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, contact:
Hilary Costa, [email protected]
(510) 406-6654

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente