Press Releases: Northwest
April 12, 2004
Kaiser Permanente boosts federal health initiative with sustaining grants and services
PORTLAND, Ore. – Kaiser Permanente Northwest has committed $90,000 in grant money and services this year to support and advance promising community partnerships in the Portland-Vancouver area to promote physical activity, better nutrition, and tobacco prevention in hopes of reducing obesity, diabetes and asthma.
Nancy Stevens, project manager of Community Health Initiatives for Kaiser Permanente, says the money will be used to develop and execute a local communications campaign about the benefits of daily physical activity, healthy eating and smoke-free environments. "We're working with Multnomah County Health Department, Population Services International, and others to identify key audiences, messages, and the best channels for reaching people at risk, including non-English speakers, minorities, and parents," she says.
A $50,000 Kaiser Permanente grant will help Multnomah County continue to develop its efforts collaboratively with Community Choices 2010 of Clark County, Wash. Community Choices 2010 received federal funding through STEPS to a HealthierUS, a major presidential initiative launched last year to promote health through community and school-based prevention efforts. Multnomah County is in the process of applying for a grant from the same source this year. Kaiser Permanente supplemented the federal grant to Vancouver-based Community Choices 2010 with an additional $40,000.
Nationwide, the Kaiser Permanente STEPS Sustainment Grant Program has given half a million dollars in grants and services this year. Seven other communities across the country have also received the Kaiser Permanente STEPS Sustainment funding, including Denver, Colorado; Cleveland, Ohio; DeKalb County, Ga.; Prince George's County, Md; and San Francisco, San Diego and Santa Clara counties, Calif.
"The potential impact of these partnerships on the long-term health of our communities is significant," says Ray Baxter, Kaiser Permanente's Senior Vice President for Community Benefit. "We understand that our members cannot be healthy if they live and work in communities that are unhealthy. Community strategies are absolutely key to moving the needle on health outcomes. That is why we are delighted to support these important and exciting partnerships."
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading nonprofit, integrated health plan, serving the health care needs of over 8.2 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit program improves the health of communities through grants, partnerships, education, research and services to vulnerable populations. Over the past nine years the organization has steadily increased its community benefit spending, reaching a high last year of nearly half a billion dollars.
