OAKLAND, Calif., July 29, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Kaiser Permanente announced today that it has approved more than 415 community benefit grants and donations totaling approximately $22 million in the second quarter of 2008. The quarter's contributions continue to support the organization's commitment to programs that will make a measurable impact on the health of its communities.

"Kaiser Permanente has a long history of funding programs that extend good health practices beyond the doctor's office and into the community," said Raymond J. Baxter, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy. "We are extremely pleased to contribute to programs nationwide that include collaborative efforts to provide quality care, support programs that improve community health and bolster our commitment to our non-profit partners."

Care and Coverage for Low-Income People

In its continued support of providing uninsured families with ongoing access to comprehensive care, Kaiser Permanente awarded $150,000 over two years to Maternal and Child Health Access, an agency that works to improve the health of Los Angeles County's low-income women and families through advocacy, education, training and direct services.

Funding of $100,000 over the next two years will also go to the Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County to establish a Medical Legal Community Partnership. The partnership will focus on issues of housing, environmental health, immigration, access to public benefits, domestic violence prevention and health care rights.

Safety Net Partnerships

The "Tools for Quality" Program is among the projects Kaiser Permanente has targeted to receive a two-year $750,000 grant for Safety Net community clinics and health centers. This funding is to enable the clinics and health centers to adopt technology to improve chronic disease care. Kaiser Permanente is committed to supporting the Safety Net which serves California's uninsured and low-income populations who often live in underserved communities that are especially vulnerable to health disparities.

Community Health Initiative

As part of its commitment to fighting obesity, Kaiser Permanente has pledged $750,000 over two years toward a study by the Institute of Medicine titled, "Evidence Framework for Obesity Prevention: Integrating Action and Evidence." The study will establish appropriate scientific criteria for assessing the evidence-base for community- and policy-level obesity prevention efforts and develop practical recommendations to make evidence-informed decisions.

Other grants addressing obesity prevention in local communities include a $220,000 contribution to the California Medical Association Foundation for the "Physicians for Healthy Communities-Obesity Prevention Project" to develop a web-based registry which will connect physicians to local organizations engaged in obesity prevention activities. A $300,000 grant was also awarded to the California Task Force on Youth & Workplace Wellness to support programs such as the development of the "California Fit Business Award" recognizing workplace wellness programs; the "School Wellness Challenge" to assist schools in developing and implementing their school wellness policies, and legislative luncheons to educate state legislators and the public about various healthy eating, active living topics such as food stamps, menu labeling and access to water in schools.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, the program is headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 159,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and 14,000 physicians representing all specialties. The organization's Labor Management Partnership is the largest such health care partnership in the United States. It governs how more than 130,000 workers, managers, physicians and dentists work together to make Kaiser Permanente the best place to receive care, and the best place to work. In 2007, Kaiser Permanente proudly directed an estimated $1 billion to support community benefit programs and services through research, community-based health partnerships, and direct health coverage for low-income families and collaboration with community clinics, health departments and public hospitals. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit the KP News Center at: http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente

http://www.kaiserpermanente.org 

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