Kaiser Permanente
Fresno 2023 Community Health Snapshot

Fresno

Serving communities around our Fresno, Clovis, Oakhurst, and Selma medical facilities.

Building healthier communities

Improving health and equity in the communities we serve is foundational to Kaiser Permanente’s mission. Our charitable contributions are guided by a comprehensive assessment that helps us to identify and address community health needs.

In 2023, Kaiser Permanente provided $2.8 million to support local nonprofits and partners working to build healthier communities in our Fresno service area.

Strengthening
community mental health

With a rise in demand for mental health services and an ongoing shortage of mental health professionals, we supported programs to expand the pool of qualified, diverse mental health professionals and increase access to community services for young people and vulnerable individuals.

Kaiser Permanente’s support of The Source LGBT+ Center’s Mental Health Access Project helped connect more than 900 gender-diverse people to direct mental health services and culturally competent and affirming care. Its innovative approach ensures that LGBTQ+ individuals in the area have access to the care and community they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Improving access
to care

Millions of Californians with low incomes rely on Medi-Cal for critical medical, dental, and mental health services. We supported community partners in keeping eligible residents enrolled. Through grants, training, and technical assistance, we also helped safety-net hospitals and health centers to improve quality and expand access to care for people who need it most.

We partnered with the AMOR Wellness Center, Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, and Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc., to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to more than 2,000 high-needs residents, including health care coverage and access in rural Fresno and Madera County communities. We also supported United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley to purchase intraoral scanners and exam technology, resulting in high-quality dental care services for 9,000 underserved patients.

We are very grateful to Kaiser Permanente for its investment in the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy. Because of the partnerships that we have with health institutions, we’re able to expose youth to a variety of health professionals and help them see themselves in those roles.”  -Katherine Flores, MD, Founding Director, UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research

Supporting
economic opportunities

Reliable jobs and stable incomes are foundational to good health, helping people afford essentials such as nutritious food and safe housing. That’s why we supported organizations that work with underserved populations and communities of color to promote college and career readiness, quality jobs, and diverse small business growth.

As part of our commitment to address the health professional shortage in the Central Valley, we awarded a grant to the UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy to expose 200 underserved high school students to high-demand health careers through work-based learning opportunities, mentorships, and partnerships. Forty-seven students—100% of the graduating Doctors Academy class—will continue their education at post-secondary institutions.

Community health priorities

As part of our commitment to improve health and health equity in our community, every 3 years we conduct a rigorous and collaborative community health needs assessment. For 2023, Kaiser Permanente identified the following significant health priorities in our Fresno communities.