Community Organizations Receive $14.2 Million In Grants From Kaiser Permanente

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente awarded $14.2 million in grant funding to more than 500 community organizations in the second quarter of 2012.

"Good health starts by building healthy communities. That's precisely why we partner closely with local organizations whose work touches the critical health needs in the communities where our members, physicians and employees live and work," said Raymond J. Baxter, senior vice president, Community Benefit, Research and Healthy Policy. "These grants support efforts that are underway right now as well as initiatives to improve the health of communities longer term."

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. This is a sampling of grants awarded by Kaiser Permanente in the second quarter of 2012.

Kaiser Permanente Community Contributions

• In Northern California, Kaiser Permanente is investing $660,000 in 11 community clinics across the region to increase their ability to connect patients to important community and public resources, including food stamps, the Women, Infants, and Children program, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and job training programs. The grants will support the clinics to help their patients learn about these programs, determine if they are eligible, and navigate the enrollment and renewal processes with them.
• Kaiser Permanente supports the MUST Ministries Summer Lunch Program in Georgia with a $58,150 grant. The initiative helps ensure that children receive free or reduced lunch during the school year and get proper nutrition during the summer months. Every day for 10 weeks during the summer, volunteers pack and deliver much-needed nutritional bag lunches to school children who live in communities where a high number of students qualify for subsidized meals.
• Family Health Centers of San Diego is a community health center organization that provides medical, dental and mental health care with a special commitment to uninsured, low income and medically underserved patients. This $45,000 grant goes to support the care coordination for a primary care medical home.
• The Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network was awarded $69,215 for its Food & Play Program, which addresses the growing obesity epidemic among children, ages 2-5, through policy and community change.  Initiatives are focused on ensuring every child has access to a quality playground, collaborating with the local public school system to create healthier preschool environments, increasing the number of farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits, expanding community gardens, exploring ways to expand food assistance programs within Alexandria, and promoting breastfeeding-friendly business practices.
• A $136,320 grant to the Oregon Health Authority will engage and align diverse community voices and the Oregon Health Authority to assure the elimination of avoidable health gaps and promote optimal health in Oregon.
• North Coast Health Ministry is a free clinic providing health care services to low income, uninsured men, women and children in Cleveland.  A $40,000 grant will support NCHM to increase their capacity to see more patients, improve clinical quality and provide patients with the education and support they need. All three outcomes are in alignment with NCHM's goal to apply for recognition as a patient-centered medical home.

For more information about Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit programs visit www.kp.org/communitybenefit. The 2011 Community Benefit Annual Report can be found at http://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 currently serve more than 9 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.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente