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Health & Fitness

Southern Alameda County Community Groups Receive Kaiser Permanente Grants for 2013

Funding for programs to reduce obesity and teen pregnancy rates, chronic disease management, youth violence prevention

Kaiser Permanente has awarded $536,000 in grants to 34 programs serving local communities in southern Alameda County as part of its annual Community Benefit grants program.

“Our approach to community involvement is more than funding,” said Arleen Carino, Community Benefit Manager for the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program in southern Alameda County. “We work side-by-side with community organizations and safety net of community clinics and public health systems to improve health, share our experience and expertise.”  

Among local organizations and programs that received grants this year include:
  • REACH Ashland Youth Center: A new center in the unincorporated community of Ashland, received a grant for a Peer Health Education project addressing reproductive and sexual health needs of youth in unincorporated Alameda County
  • Davis Street Family Resource Center (San Leandro): Awarded a grant to establish a Saturday pediatrics dental clinic twice a month for uninsured or underinsured children
  • City of Fremont Parks and Recreation Department: Received a grant to conduct water safety and swimming skills for children and adults
  • Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont (LEAF): Awarded a grant to host 10 raised bed gardens for Fremont’s ethnic groups from Afghanistan, China, India, Mexico and the Philippines  to engage them in discussions and dinners about healthy eating
  • Alameda County Deputy Sheriff’s Association: Awarded a grant to build a community-wide effort that will teach young people pro-social behaviors to prevent youth violence
Using data from various Alameda County cities and communities, an advisory group of physicians, other health providers and medical administrators, helped establish a list of some of the community’s most pressing needs. This year’s funding priorities are: 1) reduce obesity and overweight rates in children and adults; 2) reduce teen pregnancy rates; 3) improve access to prevention and primary care services; 4) improve prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease; 5) increase violence prevention and education programs.

Based on these priorities, the Community Benefit Program awarded 34 innovative grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 and collaborative grants ranging at $15,000 to $30,000. In the fall, Community Benefit strategic grants will be announced for organizations in southern Alameda County.   Each year, Kaiser Permanente provides funds to the local community to help improve the health of its members and the community it serves. In 2012, the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit program awarded $462,000 in grants and sponsorships to 30 community organizations in southern Alameda County.

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 9.1 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: kp.org/newscenter.
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