Partnership Brings Technology, Focus on Mental Health to Underserved Schools
Press Release – LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 27, 2017 — Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with the Chris Paul Family Foundation, awarded a $100,000 grant to refurbish and equip two computer labs at elementary schools in the Watts neighborhood. The healthcare provider also brought something just as important to the students in this underserved community in South Los Angeles: lessons on how to cope with stress, bullying and other tests of their mental health.
“Success in life requires you to train the body and the mind,” said NBA All-Star and Kaiser Permanente Total Health Ambassador Chris Paul. “The Chris Paul Family Foundation is proud to partner with Kaiser Permanente to bring vital learning technology and resiliency skills to kids in the Watts community.”
At a ribbon cutting ceremony at Compton Avenue Elementary School, Paul and Gwen Tyson, a counselor from the nearby Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center, teamed up to lead a workshop designed to teach coping skills to children in the community.
“We’re honored to partner with Chris Paul to bring the children of Watts the tools they need to maximize their minds, bodies and spirits,” said Julie Miller-Phipps, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving the total health of communities like Watts by improving the area’s educational resources as well as its health resources—and that includes mental health resources.”
The two organizations’ grant brought computers, monitors, printers and software to a pair of computer labs at Compton Avenue Elementary School and Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary School. In addition to the equipment, the money also helped the schools completely rejuvenate the labs with new furniture and paint.
“These two new computer labs are beautiful additions to our schools and our community,” said Christopher Downing, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Local District South. “Kaiser Permanente and the Chris Paul Foundation are helping us educate our children with the technology they’ll need to succeed in the workforce of the future and the mental health and coping skills they’ll need to succeed in life.”
Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to the Watts community goes back more than half a century. Just minutes away from the two elementary schools, Kaiser Permanente’s Watts Counseling and Learning Center provides mental health and educational resources for children and families in Watts and the surrounding communities. The Center, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is funded by Kaiser Permanente Southern California as a Community Benefit program. Families do not need to be Kaiser Permanente members to utilize the Center’s services.
About the Chris Paul Family Foundation
The Chris Paul Family Foundation strives to positively impact individuals and families by leveling the playing field in Education, Sports and Life. The foundation provides resources that enrich and strengthen healthy development of strong communities. Established in 2005, the foundation was created to honor Chris’ grandfather’s spirit and the dedication and love received from his hometown of Winston-Salem, NC.
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, Kaiser Permanente has a mission 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 11.8 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group 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/share
