Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid gets grants from Group Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente

Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid received a three-year, $225,000 grant ($75,000 per year) from Group Health Foundation and a one-year, $24,500 grant from Kaiser Permanente.

The Group Health Foundation grant will be used to “shape and accelerate efforts to improve health equity and advance community aspirations,” according to a press release.

The Kaiser grant will connect the legal aid nonprofit to the Unite Washington network and support program development for families facing family law issues and involvement with the child welfare system.

“The funds will allow the agency to support and expand core services to allow more people to be served at higher levels,” Lori Sarancik, executive director for Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid, said in a press release Friday.

Sarancik said the legal system can be complex and difficult to navigate. The grants will help the nonprofit provide additional case management to families and add three full-time employees and employ an attorney or attorney contractors to provide additional support.

The agency is supported by the Legal Foundation of Washington, Office of Civil Legal Aid, United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties, Community Foundation for Southwest Washington and individual donors.