Caring For Communities
A healthy community requires many things— committed and caring people, human and financial resources, continuing education and outreach, access to quality preventive care...
As a committed member of the communities we serve, Kaiser Permanente provides these components, along with many health-oriented opportunities, through our Community Benefit programs.
As part of Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit support for local workforce development, Karin Reese, RN, MSN, instructs visiting high-school students from the Summer Health Careers Institute.
Marin/Sonoma Needs and Focus
Through detailed assessment, Kaiser Permanente Marin/Sonoma identifies specific areas of need where we can help significantly improve and sustain the health of our local communities. As a result, our current area programs focus on:
- Supporting community clinics and other "safety net" networks of care.
- Increasing health services, including access and coverage.
- Promoting healthy eating and physical activity to reduce overweight and obesity.
Additionally, Kaiser Santa Rosa focuses on preventive services that improve the health and well-being of targeted populations, and Kaiser San Rafael focuses on breast health improvements and workforce development.
Community Partnerships
Recognizing that Kaiser Permanente can't create a healthy community on our own, we strive to create community partnerships through our Community Benefit programs.
The upcoming Neighbors in Health event (August 6) is a good example of Kaiser Permanente creating a partnership with the City of Santa Rosa, community clinics, and other organizations to provide a day of free health care for uninsured children.
In Marin, Kaiser San Rafael recently donated $50,000 to the Marin City Health and Wellness Center to repair and turn an existing office building into medical offices that provide no- or low-cost medical services for the community.
Kaiser Volunteers
In addition to organized Kaiser Permanente activities, many employees carry out Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit spirit through personal volunteerism. We salute your individual efforts!