What happens when a health system, a university, County government, and residents join together with a vision of a brighter future?

Kaiser Permanente is committed to supporting the health of the communities it serves and has a rich history of designing and executing programs that leverage community assets, foster partnerships between residents, key community organizations and local government, as well as strategically address socio-economic/social health issues identified in a geographically defined community. In 2019, Kaiser Permanente embarked on an initiative focused on the Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore area of Fairfax County, Virginia. The community had been identified as an “Island of Disadvantage” in the otherwise affluent county.

Anchored by leadership from George Mason University, Kaiser Permanente, and Fairfax County, and supported by the Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore Coalition (PBI Coalition), the initiative seeks to improve both the physical and social health of residents in the Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore community.

A community workshop was held on November 5, 2022, at Bailey’s Elementary School to introduce the initiative to residents and to hear from them on topics ranging from community outreach/engagement to advocacy. The event was attended by 79 residents and all conversations took place in Spanish and English, with translators also available in Arabic and Vietnamese. No cost childcare was available, as were complimentary bags of culturally sensitive, non-perishable food. Additionally, in response to the community’s challenges accessing healthcare services, Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with Columbia Baptist Church (Crossroads Campus) deployed its mobile health vehicle on Saturday, November 11 to provide no cost health screenings, including blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol and glucose. Over 40 individuals were served at the event. Screening and enrollment into Kaiser Permanente’s charity health care program was also available at the event for anyone who did not qualify for other insurance coverage.

Finally, Kaiser Permanente has made significant investments in Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore, most recently with grants supporting Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center’s workforce development programs and Food for Others’ P3 weekend backpack program expansion.