Local Communities Received $68 Million in Grants from Kaiser Permanente in 2011

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Feb 10, 2012, 01:30 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grants totaling $29.4 million were awarded by Kaiser Permanente in the fourth quarter to 725 organizations that are bringing meaningful and timely solutions to the communities they serve. This brings total grantmaking to $68 million for 2011.

"There is a deep connection between Kaiser Permanente and the communities where our members, physicians and employees make their homes," said Raymond J. Baxter, senior vice president, Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy. "We are proud to work with a diverse group of credible organizations in these local areas to make better health a reality."

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 fourth quarter of 2011.

A $330,000 grant has been awarded to The Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers to bring resources and opportunities for member clinics to enhance the quality of clinical care delivered to their patient populations and to strengthen operations as they prepare for the impact of health reform.

United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta received a $500,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente of Georgia to provide access to care for underserved people through partnerships with community-based organizations, clinics and health centers. The project supports issues identified through strategic health assessments, including increasing the number of babies born full-term; reducing homeless individuals' reliance on emergency rooms; providing care to uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS; establishing new primary care access points; and providing care coordination in safety-net clinics.

The Marion County Health Department near Portland, Ore., received a $170,000 grant to establish healthy corner stores in the Northern Marion County cities of Gervais, Hubbard, Mt. Angel and Woodburn, where there are a high percentage of families living in poverty.

ALL PHASE, an initiative that utilizes low-cost and generic medications and clinical interventions to reduce heart attacks, will be implemented at Community Clinic, Inc. in Rockville, Md., through a $143,949 grant. The project will benefit CCI patients age 55 and older with diabetes, and select diabetic patients ages 40 to 54 who are also high risk for heart attack and stroke. With patient involvement, the project will develop care management plans and enhance care coordination. A team-based approach, comprised of three components: treatment, psychosocial solutions and patient personal goals, will be implemented.

In support of the collaboration between the Hawaii Dept. of Health and Hep Free Hawaii, a $40,350 grant was awarded to raise awareness and encourage active participation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis and liver disease in Hawaii. Together, the two entities will coordinate with local Asian and Pacific Island populations and community groups to develop culturally appropriate and accessible educational materials. Hawaii has the highest liver cancer rate nationwide and Hepatitis is seen as a major contributing factor, affecting mostly API populations of which Hawaii has a high-concentration.

In Northern California, grants totaling $335,000 were awarded to five community clinic consortia across the region to help enroll patients in subsidized health insurance programs — and keep them enrolled— by incorporating new processes into clinic systems. The grants will help strengthen clinic capacity to keep individuals continuously enrolled in health coverage, a critical step in the successful implementation of health reform.

In Ohio, a Thriving Communities grant of $25,000 will support the Cleveland Foodbank's Children's Nutrition Initiative. CNI is designed to meet the needs of children at risk of hunger. Through the BackPacks for Kids, Kids Cafes and Summer Feeding Programs, Cleveland Foodbank ensures that participating children do not go hungry in the evenings, on weekends, or over summer vacation.

For more information about Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit programs visit www.kp.org/communitybenefit.

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 8.9 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.