Member

Login to your account, make a payment, see benefits and more.

Members

Manage Your Plan

Helpful Tools

Wellcare By Fidelis Care

Members
Providers

Login to your account, download forms, view auth grids and more.

Providers

Provider Resources

About Our Plans

Helpful Tools

Providers
Shop For a Plan

See plan benefits, coverage areas, get a quote and more.

Shop for a Plan

Our Plans

Helpful Tools

Wellcare By Fidelis Care

Shop for a Plan
AAA
HomeMemberHelpful ToolsHealth ResourcesSocial Determinants of HealthGiving Back

Giving Back to Our Communities

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:


Tips to Help Parents with the Nationwide Shortage of Infant Formulas
5/17/2022 • Posted by Dr. Lisa Moreno, Medical Director at Fidelis Care in Children's Health, Health and Wellness, In The Community

Fidelis-Care-Sponsorships-Partner

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1 in 4 parents exclusively breastfeed their children up to the age of 6 months, leaving the majority of parents and caregivers at least partially dependent on formula.

With the current shortages of infant formulas, it is important to know there are resources available to help parents with feeding babies that are not exclusively breastfed. The shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and a recall from February 2021 after four babies developed bacterial infections from consuming several infant formulas.

Pediatrician and Fidelis Care Medical Director, Dr. Lisa Moreno, offers the following tips for families that may be facing a limited supply of formula for their baby.

WHAT TO DO:

  • Talk with your pediatrician and ask if they can get the infant formula from the local brand representatives or a local charity organization. Your local WIC office may also be able to suggest places to look.
  • Check smaller stores and local community pharmacies, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.
  • If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites. Do not import formula from overseas, since imported formula is not FDA-reviewed.
  • For most babies, it is OK to switch to any available formula, including generic store brands, unless your baby is on a specific extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula. Ask your pediatrician about recommended specialty formula alternatives available for your baby.
  • When switching to appropriate formula substitutes, give your baby time to adjust to a new formula. It is normal for babies to be fussy or gassy at first.
  • Check social media groups. There are groups dedicated to infant feeding and parenting, and members may have ideas for where to find formula. Make sure to check any advice with your pediatrician

 

WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • Do not make a homemade formula. This is not safe for your baby as there are specific nutritional needs for an infant. Laws and other government rules make sure that all infant formula sold in stores meets very strict rules about their ingredients, to make sure it supports healthy growth and development.
  • Do not switch to cow’s milk or other milk substitutes from the dairy section of the grocery store, such as almond or soy beverages (sometimes labeled as milk) for babies less than 12 months of age.
  • Do not use imported formulas from other countries that are not reviewed by the FDA.
  • Do not water down formulas. This includes adding more water when mixing powdered formula or adding extra water to ready-to-serve, non-concentrated liquid formula. This affects the nutrition your baby is getting.
  • Do not purchase expired or damaged cans. Check expiration dates.
  • Do not use toddler formulas for babies less than 12 months old as there are different nutritional needs and toddler formulas do not need to be reviewed by the FDA.

 

AAP UPDATE WITH INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

Given the recent baby formula shortage, the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has provided some new revised recommendations.

  1. Cow’s milk is a temporary option of older infants as long as they are not on specialty formula. It is noted that although cow’s milk formula is not ideal, it is a better option than diluting formula or trying to make it at home. If cow’s milk is to be used, the AAP states that it should be limited to 24 ounces per day. This is not ideal and should not become routine.
  2. Toddler formulas can be substituted for a few days for infants closer to 1 year of age.
  3. Formulas designed for babies who were born premature (and have "catch-up" growth to do) can safely be used for a few weeks to feed full-term babies if nothing else is available.

 

Remember to always contact your pediatrician if you have any questions about your child’s nutrition.

References

Helpful Links

Listing of Local Agencies Providing WIC Services By NYS County

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

https://www.hhs.gov/formula/index.html

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-parents-and-caregivers-not-make-or-feed-homemade-infant-formula-infants

 

WIC Vendors in NY State

https://nyswicvendors.com/vma-locations/

https://nyswicvendors.com/find-a-wic-store/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/docs/infant_formular_supplier_list.pdf

https://nyswicvendors.com/vendor-communications/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Similac Recall Product Lookup

https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html


Tips to Help Parents with the Nationwide Shortage of Infant Formulas
5/17/2022 • Posted by Dr. Lisa Moreno, Medical Director at Fidelis Care in Children's Health, Health and Wellness, In The Community

Fidelis-Care-Sponsorships-Partner

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1 in 4 parents exclusively breastfeed their children up to the age of 6 months, leaving the majority of parents and caregivers at least partially dependent on formula.

With the current shortages of infant formulas, it is important to know there are resources available to help parents with feeding babies that are not exclusively breastfed. The shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and a recall from February 2021 after four babies developed bacterial infections from consuming several infant formulas.

Pediatrician and Fidelis Care Medical Director, Dr. Lisa Moreno, offers the following tips for families that may be facing a limited supply of formula for their baby.

WHAT TO DO:

  • Talk with your pediatrician and ask if they can get the infant formula from the local brand representatives or a local charity organization. Your local WIC office may also be able to suggest places to look.
  • Check smaller stores and local community pharmacies, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.
  • If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites. Do not import formula from overseas, since imported formula is not FDA-reviewed.
  • For most babies, it is OK to switch to any available formula, including generic store brands, unless your baby is on a specific extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula. Ask your pediatrician about recommended specialty formula alternatives available for your baby.
  • When switching to appropriate formula substitutes, give your baby time to adjust to a new formula. It is normal for babies to be fussy or gassy at first.
  • Check social media groups. There are groups dedicated to infant feeding and parenting, and members may have ideas for where to find formula. Make sure to check any advice with your pediatrician

 

WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • Do not make a homemade formula. This is not safe for your baby as there are specific nutritional needs for an infant. Laws and other government rules make sure that all infant formula sold in stores meets very strict rules about their ingredients, to make sure it supports healthy growth and development.
  • Do not switch to cow’s milk or other milk substitutes from the dairy section of the grocery store, such as almond or soy beverages (sometimes labeled as milk) for babies less than 12 months of age.
  • Do not use imported formulas from other countries that are not reviewed by the FDA.
  • Do not water down formulas. This includes adding more water when mixing powdered formula or adding extra water to ready-to-serve, non-concentrated liquid formula. This affects the nutrition your baby is getting.
  • Do not purchase expired or damaged cans. Check expiration dates.
  • Do not use toddler formulas for babies less than 12 months old as there are different nutritional needs and toddler formulas do not need to be reviewed by the FDA.

 

AAP UPDATE WITH INFANT FORMULA SHORTAGE

Given the recent baby formula shortage, the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has provided some new revised recommendations.

  1. Cow’s milk is a temporary option of older infants as long as they are not on specialty formula. It is noted that although cow’s milk formula is not ideal, it is a better option than diluting formula or trying to make it at home. If cow’s milk is to be used, the AAP states that it should be limited to 24 ounces per day. This is not ideal and should not become routine.
  2. Toddler formulas can be substituted for a few days for infants closer to 1 year of age.
  3. Formulas designed for babies who were born premature (and have "catch-up" growth to do) can safely be used for a few weeks to feed full-term babies if nothing else is available.

 

Remember to always contact your pediatrician if you have any questions about your child’s nutrition.

References

Helpful Links

Listing of Local Agencies Providing WIC Services By NYS County

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

https://www.hhs.gov/formula/index.html

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-parents-and-caregivers-not-make-or-feed-homemade-infant-formula-infants

 

WIC Vendors in NY State

https://nyswicvendors.com/vma-locations/

https://nyswicvendors.com/find-a-wic-store/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/docs/infant_formular_supplier_list.pdf

https://nyswicvendors.com/vendor-communications/

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/local_agencies.htm

 

Similac Recall Product Lookup

https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html