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The California Wellness Foundation Launches $6-Million Program to Improve the Health of California Youths by Increasing Access to Computer Technology, Training and Jobs

Computers In Our Future Program Awards Grants of up to $525,000 to 11 Organizations to Develop Community Computer Centers

Los Angeles — Seeking to strengthen the health of Californians by extending the on-ramp to the information superhighway, The California Wellness Foundation today announced Computers In Our Future, a four-year, $6-million program to increase access to computer technology, training and job opportunities for young people in low-income communities across California.

    "The connection between computers and health is jobs," said Gary L. Yates, president and chief executive officer of The California Wellness Foundation. "Good jobs can provide the income and benefits that support a healthy lifestyle and provide access to health care."

    "Today, and in the future, these jobs will require the ability to use computers and other technologies. Computers In Our Future will help residents of low-income communities develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in the workplace and communities of tomorrow," Yates said.

    A program of The California Wellness Foundation's Work and Health Initiative, Computers In Our Future grants of up to $525,000 have been awarded to 11 community-based organizations extending from San Diego to the Oregon border. The grants will be used to develop and support community computer centers that increase access to computer technology, teach marketable skills and enhance job placement opportunities. Each site will also serve as a community technology resource and promote a public conversation about technology issues.

    "A good job is perhaps California's best health promotion strategy," said Lucia Corral, program officer for Computers In Our Future for The California Wellness Foundation. "Unfortunately, too many young people lack the access to technology, training and jobs that may determine their educational and economic success, both of which are key factors in the health of Californians."

     "Computers In Our Future will help individual communities meet the needs of young people, and will provide important lessons for others in our state seeking to address this important issue," Corral said.

     To implement Computers In Our Future, The California Wellness Foundation has provided a grant to Los Angeles-based Community Partners, a nonprofit organization, that will work with The Children's Partnership and CompuMentor as a program coordination team to provide the grant sites with a comprehensive array of training, technical assistance and other supports. The program coordination team will also recruit and engage corporate and community partners and develop corporate and public policy strategies to increase access to computer technology, training and jobs. Program evaluation will be conducted by the Claremont Graduate School.

     The Computers In Our Future grant sites will also have access to hardware, software, other equipment and technical assistance through corporate partnerships supporting the program. Current Premier partners ($100,000+) include:

• Pacific Bell which will provide 50 Pentium computers through the Pacific Bell Education First initiative

• AT&T, which will provide $115,000 in support of Computers In Our Future parent involvement activities

• Microsoft Corporation, which will supply each of the 11 grant sites with a full complement of software including Microsoft Windows 95, Office 97, Internet Explorer and additional educational packages. The value of the contribution is estimated at more than $100,000.

• Computers For Kids, a nonprofit organization distributing WebTV equipment on behalf of FutureNet, a distributor of WebTV, will provide WebTV's keyboards, and Internet terminals.

     The Mattel Foundation is the first Power Partner ($50,000+) and will provide $50,000 of specialized equipment and technical assistance for children with learning and physical disabilities at each Computers In Our Future center. Additional corporate partners include bd Systems Inc. and O'Melveny and Myers.

     Computers In Our Future is a component of The California Wellness Foundation's Work and Health Initiative, a five-year, $20-million effort to address the rapidly changing nature of work and its effect on the health of Californians by funding interventions that positively influence health through work-related approaches.

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