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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 State PTA and Fidelis Care Launch New 'Every Child Healthy' Program
7/27/2020 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News, Health and Wellness, In The Community, Member News, Provider News

 

For NYS PTA: 
Lorey A. Zaman, President
Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, Esq., Executive Director
(518) 452-8808
(518) 817-3017
execdirector@nyspta.org

For Fidelis Care: 
MediaInquiries@fideliscare.org

 

NEW YORK STATE PTA AND FIDELIS CARE 
LAUNCH NEW ‘EVERY CHILD HEALTHY’ PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES 


Nature

Program will focus on students’ health and wellness
throughout the summer and upcoming school year 


ALBANY, NY (July 27, 2020) – The New York State PTA and Fidelis Care are joining together to launch Every Child Healthy, a new initiative designed to provide health and wellness resources to children and families throughout the summer, and as they prepare for a new school year in the fall.  


From kid-friendly videos and flyers, to webinars for parents, and tips and guidance from health care and education professionals, Every Child Healthy will bring together helpful tools and support, accessible from the NYS PTA and Fidelis Care websites, as well as on social media. With many families experiencing an unexpected loss of income or change in employment because of the COVID-19 outbreak, information about affordable health insurance options for children and adults of all ages will also be available.


“We are thrilled to partner with Fidelis Care to support our children and families across the state,” said NYS PTA President Lorey A. Zaman. “Health and wellness has never been more important for our children and we are pleased that Fidelis Care and NYS PTA will be there to help families and schools over the summer, and when they reconvene in the fall.”

Healthy eating habits, snack ideas, physical activity, asthma, and the importance of hand washing are among the first topics that will be covered, with more content for parents, families and educators to be released in the weeks and months ahead. Flyer translations will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian, with other languages available upon request. Parents and guardians who need health insurance for themselves or their families can meet with a trained and knowledgeable Fidelis Care representative over the phone to ask questions or get personal assistance with enrollment.

“Fidelis Care is proud to work side-by-side with the New York State PTA in support of the health and wellness of local children and families,” said Pam Hassen, Chief Member Engagement Officer. “Our collaboration is based on shared values and the belief that the health and well-being of children are foundational for the health and well-being of our schools and communities. Through ‘Every Child Healthy,’ we look forward to supporting families in their daily lives and as they prepare for a new school year.” 

Every Child Healthy content can be found at https://www.fideliscare.org/Blog/Every-Child-Healthy and https://nyspta.org/every-child-healthy/.


       
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 two 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.
 
About NYS PTA
NYS PTA is one of the oldest and largest child advocacy associations in New York State, established in 1897 to make every child’s potential a reality. With nearly 300,000 members in New York State, PTA is a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.  To learn more about NYS PTA, or for more information, call NYSPTA at 518-452-8808 or visit www.nyspta.org.


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


NEWS RELEASE: New York State PTA and Fidelis Care Launch New 'Every Child Healthy' Program
7/27/2020 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News, Health and Wellness, In The Community, Member News, Provider News

 

For NYS PTA: 
Lorey A. Zaman, President
Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, Esq., Executive Director
(518) 452-8808
(518) 817-3017
execdirector@nyspta.org

For Fidelis Care: 
MediaInquiries@fideliscare.org

 

NEW YORK STATE PTA AND FIDELIS CARE 
LAUNCH NEW ‘EVERY CHILD HEALTHY’ PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES 


Nature

Program will focus on students’ health and wellness
throughout the summer and upcoming school year 


ALBANY, NY (July 27, 2020) – The New York State PTA and Fidelis Care are joining together to launch Every Child Healthy, a new initiative designed to provide health and wellness resources to children and families throughout the summer, and as they prepare for a new school year in the fall.  


From kid-friendly videos and flyers, to webinars for parents, and tips and guidance from health care and education professionals, Every Child Healthy will bring together helpful tools and support, accessible from the NYS PTA and Fidelis Care websites, as well as on social media. With many families experiencing an unexpected loss of income or change in employment because of the COVID-19 outbreak, information about affordable health insurance options for children and adults of all ages will also be available.


“We are thrilled to partner with Fidelis Care to support our children and families across the state,” said NYS PTA President Lorey A. Zaman. “Health and wellness has never been more important for our children and we are pleased that Fidelis Care and NYS PTA will be there to help families and schools over the summer, and when they reconvene in the fall.”

Healthy eating habits, snack ideas, physical activity, asthma, and the importance of hand washing are among the first topics that will be covered, with more content for parents, families and educators to be released in the weeks and months ahead. Flyer translations will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian, with other languages available upon request. Parents and guardians who need health insurance for themselves or their families can meet with a trained and knowledgeable Fidelis Care representative over the phone to ask questions or get personal assistance with enrollment.

“Fidelis Care is proud to work side-by-side with the New York State PTA in support of the health and wellness of local children and families,” said Pam Hassen, Chief Member Engagement Officer. “Our collaboration is based on shared values and the belief that the health and well-being of children are foundational for the health and well-being of our schools and communities. Through ‘Every Child Healthy,’ we look forward to supporting families in their daily lives and as they prepare for a new school year.” 

Every Child Healthy content can be found at https://www.fideliscare.org/Blog/Every-Child-Healthy and https://nyspta.org/every-child-healthy/.


       
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 two 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.
 
About NYS PTA
NYS PTA is one of the oldest and largest child advocacy associations in New York State, established in 1897 to make every child’s potential a reality. With nearly 300,000 members in New York State, PTA is a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.  To learn more about NYS PTA, or for more information, call NYSPTA at 518-452-8808 or visit www.nyspta.org.


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