LOS ANGELES – L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan serving some of the most vulnerable populations in Los Angeles County, is committed to advancing health equity, which means ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. That involves much more than clinical care, and it’s why the health plan is committing $2.7 million to projects that are addressing housing, food, and economic insecurity.
“Health care is much more than a plastic card in somebody’s wallet,” said John Baackes, L.A. Care CEO. “L.A. Care is dedicating new funding to three of its ongoing initiatives to ensure that it is continuing to support needy members and their communities beyond their doctor’s visits.”
L.A. Care awarded $1.3 million to the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) to help low-income residents sign up for the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is known as CalFresh in California. CalFresh addresses food insecurity by giving people access to nutritious food, which is critical for health and development. CAFB will use the funding to support up to 10 nonprofits in providing CalFresh outreach and enrollment assistance to 5,000 eligible households. The support will include grants up to $150,000, technical assistance, updates on CalFresh policy changes, and trainings.
“Access to nutritious food is a fundamental right for all Californians. CalFresh – the nation’s biggest and most impactful anti-hunger program does this while also providing for people’s cultural and dietary needs,” said Stacia Levenfeld, CEO of the California Association of Food Banks. “We are incredibly grateful to L.A. Care for its continued support of an investment in ensuring all Angelenos can access critical food benefits for which they are eligible. Together, we are fighting for a hunger-free L.A.”
The grants announced today also include $700,000 for the second round of grants in L.A. Care’s Advancing Economic Mobility Initiative (AEM), which was launched in 2023 to implement projects that move L.A. County residents from under-resourced communities toward upward economic mobility. Poverty and poor health are connected. The AEM Initiative prioritizes efforts that build career pipelines and placements into fast-growth, high paying jobs that produce household-sustaining wages. It also supports small BIPOC-owned businesses in under-resourced communities that allow entrepreneurs to generate household-sustaining primary or supplemental incomes.
Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) is one of six organizations that is receiving a grant.
“For nearly 20 years, CRCD has been dedicated to fostering a safe, thriving South Los Angeles by providing an ecosystem of services that uplift our residents and strengthen our communities. This support from L.A. Care enables us to deepen our commitment to justice-involved and low-income individuals, offering critical workforce development training and apprenticeships that open doors to sustainable, union jobs in the building and construction trades,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Coalition for Responsible Community Development. “We have proudly served thousands of South LA residents, helping them secure livable-wage employment and launch small businesses that invigorate our community. This partnership will empower our clients with life-changing opportunities and contribute to an economically vibrant South LA for all.”
L.A. Care is also announcing grants of $700,000 in the fifth round of its Equity & Resilience Initiative (ER), which supports organizations led by people of color that are working to enhance civic engagement and create systemic change to disrupt racism. Nonprofits led by people of color often get less funding than others, but it is critical that they get the funding and capacity building needed to bolster their provision of culturally congruent practices. Five organizations will each receive L.A. Care grants of up to $150,000, as well as individualized coaching and organizational assessments to help with technical infrastructure, staffing and operational stability for critical services. The organizations receiving funding in this round of ER grants provide supportive housing programs for young adults experiencing homelessness, technology courses, workforce training, and marriage counseling for formerly incarcerated individuals, and educational and economic opportunities for low-income children and youth.
Mass Liberation is among the grantees in this round of the Equity & Resilience Initiative.
"With the incredible support of L.A. Care, Mass Liberation is paving the way toward a brighter future by investing in our team, community, and mission,” said Roberto Luca, Director of Mass Liberation. “This partnership empowers us to create a positive, impactful learning environment and to invest in leaders with lived experience. Together, we’re building a foundation for lasting change, driven by those who understand our communities best."
The six Advancing Economic Mobility Initiative grantees are:
Anti-Recidivism Coalition
Chrysalis
Coalition for Responsible Community Development
GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles
Homeboy Industries
The SoLA Foundation
The five Equity & Resilience Initiative grantees are:
La Defensa
Mass Liberation
Accelerate Impact
Sunnyside Baptist
Ten Toes In
L.A. Care is proud to support a wide range of projects that are non-medical, but that support positive health outcomes for our members and their communities.