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Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation Award $1.1 Million to The Jed Foundation to Protect the Mental Health of New York’s Youth

Funding will help expand emotional well-being resources, educational workshops, and training programs for community-based organizations that foster communities of care statewide

September 20, 2024, NEW YORK CITY —  Fidelis Care, a leading health insurer providing quality, affordable coverage to New Yorkers, and the Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, announced today a $1.1 million grant to The Jed Foundation (JED), a national nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults.

With this grant, JED will expand its current services, providing at least five youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) with consultation or strategic planning services, including expert guidance, educational workshops, and training programs, equipping young people with life skills and connecting them to mental health care when they are in distress.

“We are thrilled to support the vital work of The Jed Foundation with this grant,” said Vincent Marchello, Chief Medical Officer at Fidelis Care. “At Fidelis Care, we recognize the importance of mental health services in creating healthier communities. This investment underscores our commitment to ensuring youth and adolescents have access to the critical support they need to thrive.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), it is currently estimated that nearly one in five 12- to 17-year-olds in the United States experience a major depressive episode every year, and almost half of teens 13 to 17 say they would seek out professional help only as a last resort. In New York State, the need for enhanced mental health support for school-aged youth is critical: in 2021, 57% of New York 12- to 17-year-olds with depression had not received any care in the last year.

“JED is grateful to Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation for their commitment to supporting the emotional well-being of New York youth and for providing the resources to help them thrive,” said John MacPhee, JED Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership will allow us to bring JED’s lifesaving work to community-based organizations across the state and help them build on their mental health safety nets and approaches, while positively impacting the lives of thousands of young people.”

The inaugural group of CBOs includes Bottom Line, an organization that partners with degree-aspiring students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds as they get into and through college and launch mobilizing first careers; Hetrick-Martin Institute, which provides free, year-round programs and services for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies aged 13 to 24 in New York City; and Prep for Prep, which provides first-rate educational, leadership development and professional advancement opportunities for young people of color in New York City.

"Through decades of experience at Bottom Line, we have seen that the condition of a student's mental health plays a significant role in their overall journey to becoming a college graduate and professional,” said Sheneita R. Graham, Director of Culturally Responsive Programming at Bottom Line. “Our role at Bottom Line is to build strong relationships that assist us in determining need and connecting students to resources that will help them thrive personally to persist academically. Partnering with The Jed Foundation grants us the opportunity to expertly assess our mental health policies, processes, and resources to ensure we provide our students with thoughtful, high-quality support."

"Hetrick-Martin Institute is pleased to be working with The Jed Foundation to improve our ability to recognize young people in distress and conduct suicide risk assessments," said Bridget Hughes, Chief Program Officer at Hetrick-Martin Institute.

"We are so grateful to The Jed Foundation for hosting two workshops for our incoming college freshmen as part of our annual College Transition Retreat,” said Corey Rhoades, Director of Undergraduate Affairs at Prep for Prep. “The presenters shared their expertise and tailored the sessions in a way that was uniquely relevant and engaging for our students."

To learn more about ways to provide community-based organizations with consulting, evidence-based best practices, and data-driven guidance to protect youth mental health and prevent suicide, visit JED’s website.

Fidelis-JED-Social


Screener Program Provides Support to Families Impacted by Social Determinants of Health

SDoH-chart

Fidelis Care’s innovative SDoH screener program was launched two years ago as a grassroots health equity initiative to address conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work, and play that affect their health, well-being, and quality of life. Social Determinants of Health can affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes – particularly among vulnerable populations and in underserved areas.

The screener enables trained Fidelis Care representatives to assess an individual’s immediate needs and challenges related to SDoH through a brief series of questions covering areas such as access to transportation, food, and secure and safe housing. More than 450,000 Fidelis Care members have participated to date.


Click 
here to learn more about the different Social Determinants of Health and find available resources.


More News:


NEWS RELEASE: New York Edge and Fidelis Care Announce Partnership to Promote Access to Afterschool Resources for NYC Youth
11/8/2019 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News

NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2019 –– Today, New York Edge, the largest provider of afterschool programs in the metropolitan region, announced a partnership with Fidelis Care, a leading health plan providing quality, affordable coverage for more than 1.7 million New Yorkers. Through the partnership, a variety of health and wellness programs will be provided to New York Edge students and their families during the 2019-2020 academic year.

“Health and wellness are the foundation for student success in academics, arts, and athletics. As such, health-focused initiatives have long been a key component of our program offerings at New York Edge,” said Rachael Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge. “By incorporating our students’ families, the Fidelis Care programming will provide our students with the structure to establish healthy lifestyles and the knowledge to make positive wellness choices.”

The partnership between Fidelis Care and New York Edge will provide students and their families with new health-focused engagement opportunities including cooking classes, healthcare seminars, and career panels. Fidelis Care will also support volunteer projects and events, including the Spring Arts Showcase, Spelling Bee, and the annual Step competition.

"Fidelis Care is proud to partner with New York Edge and looks forward to connecting with students and families while promoting health and wellness," said Pam Hassen, Chief Member Engagement Officer. "We believe in the potential of children of all ages and know what's possible when they are able to grow up healthy and feel confident about their futures. Working with New York Edge will further enable Fidelis Care to be on the front lines of community and school wellness and impact families where they work, learn, and live."

Fidelis Care provides quality, affordable health insurance coverage for children and adults of all ages, and has a long tradition of grassroots outreach and community partnership. Fidelis Care Representatives will be on site at a variety of school locations and events, where parents can find resources and information, and have all their questions answered.

New York Edge serves students, families, and the communities around them with customized, curriculum-based afterschool programming that promotes mentorship, academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and competition.

Today, the nonprofit provides more than 40,000 students in grades K-12 with rigorous, innovative programs designed to give them the edge needed to succeed.

An on-site program, New York Edge currently provides a unified support system with professionally trained teaching staff at more than 300 public schools across the five boroughs. The organization’s unique K-12, three-season model gives students the opportunity to learn and grow all year long and bridges the summer education loss gap.

About New York Edge

New York Edge, formerly known as the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF), is a Queens-based non-profit organization and the largest provider of afterschool programs in New York City and the metropolitan region. With more than 40,000 students from over 300 programs in grades K-12, the organization provides under-resourced students with year-round programs to give them the edge needed to succeed. www.newyorkedge.org

About Fidelis Care

Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 1.7 million members Statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

Follow us on Twitter at @fideliscare and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare.


NEWS RELEASE: New York Edge and Fidelis Care Announce Partnership to Promote Access to Afterschool Resources for NYC Youth
11/8/2019 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News

NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2019 –– Today, New York Edge, the largest provider of afterschool programs in the metropolitan region, announced a partnership with Fidelis Care, a leading health plan providing quality, affordable coverage for more than 1.7 million New Yorkers. Through the partnership, a variety of health and wellness programs will be provided to New York Edge students and their families during the 2019-2020 academic year.

“Health and wellness are the foundation for student success in academics, arts, and athletics. As such, health-focused initiatives have long been a key component of our program offerings at New York Edge,” said Rachael Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge. “By incorporating our students’ families, the Fidelis Care programming will provide our students with the structure to establish healthy lifestyles and the knowledge to make positive wellness choices.”

The partnership between Fidelis Care and New York Edge will provide students and their families with new health-focused engagement opportunities including cooking classes, healthcare seminars, and career panels. Fidelis Care will also support volunteer projects and events, including the Spring Arts Showcase, Spelling Bee, and the annual Step competition.

"Fidelis Care is proud to partner with New York Edge and looks forward to connecting with students and families while promoting health and wellness," said Pam Hassen, Chief Member Engagement Officer. "We believe in the potential of children of all ages and know what's possible when they are able to grow up healthy and feel confident about their futures. Working with New York Edge will further enable Fidelis Care to be on the front lines of community and school wellness and impact families where they work, learn, and live."

Fidelis Care provides quality, affordable health insurance coverage for children and adults of all ages, and has a long tradition of grassroots outreach and community partnership. Fidelis Care Representatives will be on site at a variety of school locations and events, where parents can find resources and information, and have all their questions answered.

New York Edge serves students, families, and the communities around them with customized, curriculum-based afterschool programming that promotes mentorship, academic enrichment, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and competition.

Today, the nonprofit provides more than 40,000 students in grades K-12 with rigorous, innovative programs designed to give them the edge needed to succeed.

An on-site program, New York Edge currently provides a unified support system with professionally trained teaching staff at more than 300 public schools across the five boroughs. The organization’s unique K-12, three-season model gives students the opportunity to learn and grow all year long and bridges the summer education loss gap.

About New York Edge

New York Edge, formerly known as the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF), is a Queens-based non-profit organization and the largest provider of afterschool programs in New York City and the metropolitan region. With more than 40,000 students from over 300 programs in grades K-12, the organization provides under-resourced students with year-round programs to give them the edge needed to succeed. www.newyorkedge.org

About Fidelis Care

Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 1.7 million members Statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

Follow us on Twitter at @fideliscare and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare.