More than a year after the Eaton Fire tore through neighborhoods in the Pasadena, California, area, heartbreak and exhaustion still shadow classrooms, echoing the fire’s deep emotional and physical toll across the area.
Recently, the Pasadena Unified School District announced a $5 million grant to expand mental and physical health services for students, staff, and their families who are recovering from the devastating wildfires. The funding, provided by Kaiser Permanente through the Pasadena Educational Foundation, will support a 3-year, districtwide effort focused on trauma-responsive care.
Boosting access to counseling and health services
District leaders say the initiative will boost access to counseling and health services, helping students process trauma and restore stability at school.
“Our students, staff, and families are still recovering from the Eaton Fire, and this grant from Kaiser Permanente and our partnership with the PEF will help deepen and sustain the work we’ve been doing to support students’ social, emotional, and physical health,” said Elizabeth Blanco, superintendent for the Pasadena Unified School District. “Expanded mental health services at schools will provide enhanced trauma-responsive support so that every student feels cared for and able to learn.”
The initiative includes hiring additional clinical and support staff to expand school-based health services, annual training for all staff in mental health, and trauma-responsive support for summer programs designed to maintain consistent support when school is not in session, according to district officials.
Helping students, staff, and families recover
Kaiser Permanente leaders emphasized that the fire represented a shared trauma for the entire community — one that directly affected students’ ability to learn and thrive.
“The Eaton Fire was a collective trauma for our communities, and severely impacted students, staff, and their families,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, BSN, MHA, regional president of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and Hawaii. “Trauma disrupts learning, relationships, and a child’s sense of possibility. With this grant, we’re investing in the well-being of our children so they can overcome challenges, learn, and succeed.”
The Pasadena Educational Foundation will manage the grant with the district, ensuring resources reach the people who are most in need. The partnership will provide coordinated support for students and families.
The Eaton Fire scorched over 14,000 acres, claimed 19 lives, and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes and businesses in January 2025. For the school district, the new funding marks a crucial step in supporting the school community as it works to heal and rebuild a sense of safety and hope.
