LOS ANGELES – L.A. Care Health Plan and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan today celebrated the grand opening of their Community Resource Center (CRC) in South L.A., located at 5710 Crenshaw Blvd. The new center marks the 13th of its kind, jointly operated by the two health plans throughout Los Angeles County.
Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the center will offer a range of free classes, programs, and services aimed at improving the overall physical and mental health and wellness of the health plans’ members and residents in the community.
“We know that a healthy life depends on more than just medical check-ups, so we are excited to bring South L.A. residents a variety of practical resources that enhance physical and mental well-being, which ultimately leads to a better quality of life,” said John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care. “Whether it’s a Zumba class that promotes physical activity, a healthy cooking session that encourages more nutritious choices, or a meditation group that helps reduce anxiety, we have something for everyone.”
A year ago, the South L.A. Community Resource Center team began surveying the residents of this community to determine the type of programming they would like at this new location and more than 400 people responded. One common request was that the new location host classes that support mental health for people of all ages. The South L.A. Community Resource Center will offer programming that includes “Meditation and Healing” for all ages, “Little Voices with Lots of Feelings” for small children ages 1 through 6, “Yoga” for youths ages 12 to 16, and “Managing Stress” for all ages, offered in Spanish.
Visitors to the Center will also have access to various offerings, including:
• Zumba, balance and stability, and other fitness classes
• Healthy cooking and health education classes
• Medi-Cal and CalFresh enrollment services
“Since the start of our partnership with L.A. Care, the focus in our Community Resource Centers has been on listening to the needs of our members and local residents,” said Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. “We are helping to transform health care by investing in the communities we serve, and bringing unique programing and assistance to social services so that all L.A. County residents stay active, healthy and informed.”
The jointly operated centers are part of the two health plans’ $146 million commitment to help address local health, behavioral, and social needs. One more center is planned for opening this year in the eastside neighborhood of Lincoln Heights, bringing the total to 14 Community Resource Centers serving Los Angeles County.
To learn more about the Community Resource Centers, please visit CommunityResourceCenterLA.org or click here for specific information about the South L.A. location.
About Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is a managed care organization, wholly owned by Blue Shield of California, offering Medi-Cal. It is led by healthcare professionals with a "members-first" philosophy and committed to building a quality network of providers and partnering with community organizations for more than 530,000 members across Los Angeles and San Diego counties. For more information about Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, please visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.