Kaiser Hands Out $40,000 in Grants

Ten area nonprofit agencies received nearly $40,000 in Health Partnership Award grants from Kaiser Permanente that will be used to help people such as low-income families, the disabled and at-risk families, officials announced recently.

To be considered for an award, organizations were required to nominate a specific public service program that meets Kaiser Permanente’s guidelines and fits into a particular category. National nonprofit organizations with a local chapter also could apply.

The largest grants were:

* $5,000 for North Hills-based Communities In Schools for preventive programs for at-risk youths;

* $5,000 for Hathaway Children & Family Services in Sylmar to train family counselors, psychotherapists and current and prospective foster or adoptive parents;

* $5,000 for Van Nuys-based New Directions for Youth to help hire an additional full-time staff member;

* $5,000 for the Valley Family Center in San Fernando for parenting classes for Spanish-speaking families with a history of domestic violence;

* $4,000 for the Child and Family Center in Santa Clarita for bilingual education focusing on behavioral and/or mental health disorders in children;

* $2,950 to the Rehabilitation Help Center in Pacoima for a substance abuse and prevention program for at-risk youth and their families;

* $2,500 to the Foundation for Children’s Dental Health in Santa Clarita to provide emergency dental service for low-income children and oral hygiene education;

* $2,500 to the Catalyst Foundation in Lancaster for a peer HIV education, mentoring and youth employment program;

* $2,500 to Tierra del Sol Foundation in Sunland to help people with multiple medical needs and profound disabilities;

* $2,000 to the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA in Tujunga for a senior fitness program.