June 2024

Central Coast Public Affairs

Our commitment to quality healthcare for all

Kaiser Permanente is proud to be recognized for the 13th consecutive year by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The foundation awarded us the highest possible score on the 2024 Healthcare Equality Index. It also gave all 39 of our participating hospitals the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization focused on equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. The Healthcare Equality Index is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates health care facilities on their policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and employees.

The 2024 Healthcare Equality Index evaluated nearly 2,400 health care facilities nationwide for their dedication and commitment to equitable and inclusive care for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. It is one of seven equity, inclusion, and diversity benchmarking surveys that Kaiser Permanente participates in annually.



Learn more about our equity, inclusion, and diversity commitments and leadership.

Community Health grantee highlight:

Gateway Center

Gateway Center Executive Director Robert Freiri (right) with Gateway Center client.

Pacific Grove-based Gateway Center is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to put health at the forefront of life for adults with different abilities who call the community home.

A $25,000 Kaiser Permanente Community Health grant will be used to launch "Gateway to Fitness" - a program that will develop a fitness and nutrition plan for residents and staff.

"Our goal over the next three years is to be in tune with the health of our residents and clients as well as our staff," said Executive Director Robert Freiri. "We have many developmentally disabled residents and clients who have been with us for 30 plus years. As they age it is doubly important that we monitor their health and make sure they stay active."

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 $5.8 million to support local nonprofits and partners working to build healthier communities in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. As part of our commitment to improve health and health equity in our community, every three years we conduct a rigorous and collaborative community health needs assessment. 

Kaiser Permanente teams up with partners for food security

Kaiser Permanente Central Coast teamed up with the Santa Cruz Warriors and Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County to bag nearly 700 food care packages during a morning of volunteering. Watsonville-based Second Harvest sources more than 10 million pounds of food each year from farms, grocery stores, food manufacturers, distributors, and individuals. That food is then distributed to 150 food pantries, schools, soup kitchens, group homes, youth centers and Second Harvest program sites.

Kaiser Permanente is a proud supporter of Second Harvest through both Community Health grant funding and our volunteer time.

(left to right) Kaiser Permanente Central Coast: Valarie Lomax, Director of Health Plan and Business Development; Joe Foster, Senior Manager Public Affairs, Oscar Cruz, Shop KP; Sarah Bell, Group Sales Manager; Cristina Medina Dirksen, Senior Public Affairs Representative

A "Get EQ Fit" school - Kammann Elementary in Salinas

Shea Salinas, San Jose Earthquakes midfielder, leads students through warmups at a recent EQ Fit graduation in Salinas.

Kammann Elementary in Salinas is the latest school to participate in the San Jose Earthquakes/Kaiser Permanente 'Get EQ Fit' program. This free, five-week course gets third and fourth grade students 'fit' with physical fitness activities, as well as nutritional and healthy lifestyle lessons.

*Banner Photos/Del Monte Beach Monterey by Robby Fabry/Monterey harbor photo by Robert Montanez