Committed to a vision of health for a better world, Providence invests in innovative and meaningful solutions. Working with like-minded community partners, Providence identifies and addresses social determinants of health ranging from mental health issues that can result in homelessness, addiction, and suicide, to health inequities that have led to higher health risks in Black and Latinx communities.
In 2022, Providence invested $32.5 million in community health improvement and strategic partnerships in Los Angeles County and served 127,607 people. Included in these statistics are a number of initiatives across the county to support vulnerable populations. These trusted community centers provide valuable resources and social connections, including pathways to housing, health, and mental wellness programs, farmers’ markets in food deserts, diabetes education, and fitness activities for all ages.
Wellness Centers have been established with partners in Wilmington – a vibrant location serving residents of two Mercy Housing affordable housing communities – and in Pacoima with the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, providing much-needed health services and education in one of the city’s lowest-income communities. In addition, a center in Van Nuys provides outreach in another vastly under-served San Fernando Valley community, and another community center is planned adjacent to a Lawndale elementary school.
To help promote mental wellness across the county, Providence is providing the eight-hour Mental Health First Aid program to train the public to identify, understand, and respond to an adolescent or adult who may be having a mental health or substance use challenge, and erase the stigma of mental health issues.
