March 17, 2022
Colorado schools receive support to improve health
A second round of donations from Kaiser Permanente will expand support for districts focusing on mental, physical, emotional, and social health.
DENVER — As students, teachers, and schools across Colorado continue to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for support for districts to help improve the mental, physical, and social health of their communities has never been greater. As part of its ongoing commitment to improve health in school districts in the state, Kaiser Permanente is providing a second round of funding to 10 local school districts and 2 charter school networks.
The newly announced round of support, totaling $294,000, will be used by the districts and charter networks to bolster their ongoing work to improve health in their school communities.
“School districts are at the heart of our communities and now, more than ever, they are in great need of additional resources to help their students, staff, and teachers thrive,” said Mike Ramseier, president of Kaiser Permanente in Colorado. “We are proud to continue our mission of advancing health in our schools through this new round of donations which will help bolster mental, physical, emotional and social well-being in school districts along the Front Range.”
This funding is part of Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools work, which recognizes the critical importance of health for successful teaching and learning. The funds will help schools launch or expand their use of “Planning for the Next Normal at School” playbook, which is intended to support school districts with actionable steps to prioritize health and well-being for their students, staff, and teachers.
The playbook, created in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente and more than 30 nationally recognized and trusted school health organizations, includes 6 chapters that each include 5 actionable steps, called “Starter Plays” for schools and district leaders to improve health both in-person and in virtual school environments.
The chapters include:
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- COVID-19 Prevention
- Social Drivers of Health (institutional racism, food insecurity, access to health care, homelessness, financial security)
- Physical Activity, Physical Education, and Health Education
- Staff and Teacher Well-Being
- Funding and Family Engagement
Each district was awarded $24,500 to activate or expand one or more of the Starter Plays in their schools. Here is a list of the districts and charter schools receiving funding:
- Adams 12 Five Star School District
- Adams County School District 14
- Denver Public Schools
- El Paso County School District 49 (D-49)
- DSST Public Schools
- Arapahoe County School District 1 (Englewood)
- Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8
- Harrison School District 2
- Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco)
- Pueblo School District 60 (Pueblo D-60)
- Sheridan School District 2
- STRIVE Prep Charter School
This latest round of support from Kaiser Permanente is one more example of the dedication the state’s largest nonprofit health plan has for schools across Colorado. In 2021, Kaiser Permanente provided 17 local school districts $300,000 to improve food access for Colorado students. In June 2021, Kaiser Permanente also provided $1 million to create the Kaiser Permanente Colorado Equity Scholarship Fund.
Throughout its 52-year history in Colorado, Kaiser Permanente has provided more than $1 billion in support for local nonprofit agencies, school districts, and municipalities to help make Colorado healthier.
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 12.5 million members in 8 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.
