By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU)– Kaiser Permanente today announced the selection of four nonprofits to receive more than $140,000 in community benefit grants.
“We are proud to support these organizations, which align with our safety net initiative of bringing care to underserved and vulnerable communities in Hawaii,” said Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. “Through screening programs, health education and the expansion of community health services, we are working together to improve the lives of Hawaii residents.”
The following programs have been selected to receive funding:
Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA) received $60,000 to implement the second phase of its Primary Care Integration Initiative, supporting primary care and behavioral health integration for children and youth in community health centers. In partnership with the Hawaii Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, HPCA will work with federally qualified health centers to implement best practice training for behavioral health screenings, develop wellness strategies in line with school health models, and work with community health centers and family guidance centers to establish a coordinated referral system. Kaiser Permanente supported the program’s initial phase in 2013, in which four health centers began piloting primary care integration efforts. An estimated 20,000 children and youth are expected to benefit.
Project Vision was awarded $40,000 to expand its statewide Better Vision for Keiki program, which includes vision, hearing and BMI screening, to Kauai and Maui schools. Project Vision is working with the Department of Education and Department of Health to identify high-risk preschool and elementary schools, at which more than 1,000 screenings will be conducted. Since 2012, more than 8,000 children statewide have benefited from Project Vision screenings.
Wahiawa Center for Community Health received $25,000 to open its doors as a federally qualified health center in a designated medically underserved population area. The grant will be applied toward a financial feasibility study necessary for the disbursement of a federal $4.7 million USDA loan, and the renovation of the 5,500-square-foot Wahiawa Medical Building. The center, which will open in 2016, will provide clinical, behavioral, dental and ancillary services to approximately 32,000 Wahiawa residents.
University of Hawaii Maui College was awarded $15,120 to implement Keiki Dental Kits and Oral Health Outreach programs, focusing on improving the dental health of children on Maui. Maui College’s Dental Assisting Program will continue its work distributing baby dental packets for the families of every newborn at Maui Medical Center, and making dental packet information available at pediatric offices, clinics and community health centers. This ongoing initiative was recognized by Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa with official proclamations in 2013 and again last month. An estimated 4,000 children and their families in targeted communities with high health disparities will benefit from this effort.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for more than 50 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information. Become a fan of good health with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii: Like our page at Facebook.com/KPHawaii and follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.