Over 200 non-profit representatives and other interested individuals filled up the room at the Kaiser Permanente San Diego Community Benefit Workshop on March 11, 2014. A presentation highlighting free health education resources, tools and a community health assessment data platform were delivered by Kaiser Permanente staff, including Senior Community Benefits Manager Shreya S. Sasaki.

The highlight was the announcement of an upcoming Community Benefit Grants opportunity. This grant opportunity is of particular interest to community-based organizations, including those organizations participating on regional Live Well San Diego Leadership Teams which are engaged in efforts to improve health, safety and quality of life for all residents across the county.

Kaiser Permanente San Diego follows a two-step grant process: first letters of inquiry will be accepted, and then selected applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application.  The letter of inquiry application will be released on March 31, 2014 and invited proposals will be due in June. The grants are small—averaging about $15,000 to $32,000 for community health centers, public schools or public entities, and non-profits—for the grant period of September 2014 through September 2015.  These grants will make possible innovative projects undertaken by non-profits and public entities, with focus on critical issues identified through Kaiser Permanente’s community health needs assessment.

“The commitment to better health is just amazing. Look at all the people here and the variety of organizations they represent. These opportunities for smaller organizations to get into the action are so important,” said Christine LaFontant, District Manager, County Parks & Recreation.

Parks & Recreation works with many partners and has also designed innovative projects to get residents to be more active and to visit County parks.

Key challenges facing San Diego County residents that Kaiser Permanente has identified through its community health needs assessment include:

• access to health care
• chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes
• mental health and behavioral health issues
• broader health care delivery system issues such as workforce development

When reviewing grants, Kaiser Permanente will be looking for proposals that address these key issues through outreach, education and disease management in a way that is culturally appropriate and reduces health disparities.

To learn more about the Community Benefit Program, contact Shreya S. Sasaki or go to the website.