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SAN FRANCISCO, CA. On Tuesday, December 6, Kaiser Permanente celebrates its partnership with Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, awarding a $20,000 Community Benefit Grant to support "the Wellness Clinic," a free community health center serving the unmet needs of San Francisco's Asian and Pacific Islander (A&PI) community. California Assemblymember Fiona Ma and San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, long-term advocates for the health of A&PI communities, will make statements at the event. "There is a clear need for the kind of culturally-sensitive and linguistically-accessible health services Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center provides, even with the changes to the health care system brought on by the Affordable Care Act," said Frank Sclafani, sub-chief, Behavioral Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Area. "Without the Wellness Clinic, many A&PIs would simply fall through the cracks." According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, A&PIs--of whom about 40 percent have limited English proficiency--are disproportionately affected by preventable diseases like Hepatitis, TB, and certain cancers. The Wellness Clinic's volunteer medical providers are fluent in several A&PI languages, including Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog. This diversity combined with a focus on preventative care, including routine HIV/STD testing and Hepatitis screening and vaccination, reduces cultural and linguistic barriers to health care for A&PIs. "Kaiser Permanente is a respected mainstream health organization willing to invest in our innovative approach to meet the health care needs of the A&PI community," said Lance Toma, executive director, A&PI Wellness Center. "Their generous and timely grant will help us expand services that our community truly needs." Kaiser Permanente will present their Community Benefit award on Tuesday, December 6 from 11 a.m. - Noon at A&PI Wellness Center (730 Polk Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco). Kaiser Permanente is a leader in delivering Culturally Competent Care with bilingual primary care clinics at several of its facilities across the Bay Area. Recognized as being sensitive to the cultural needs of patients, Kaiser Permanente dedicates resources and expertise to enable access to high quality health care. About Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to total health -- mind, body, and spirit -- through its unique, integrated model of health care delivery. The organization is recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente's mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. Kaiser Permanente's Community Benefit Programs improve the health of the community through collaborative partnerships and investments in organizations and municipal agencies that serve the health care needs of underserved populations with a focus on wellness and prevention. www.kp.org.# # # |