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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.


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Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day
11/10/2023 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, In The Community


Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day

Fidelis Care is proud to recognize and honor the brave veterans within our organization, in our communities, and across the nation. Some Fidelis Care employees shared their thoughts.

Scott Averill, Senior Vice President, Sales and Co-Chair of Fidelis Care’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council, served in The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) from 1972-1976. He was then on Active Duty in the Army until 1980 before returning to the Reserves, where he served for two more years. His highest rank achieved while on active duty was 1st Lieutenant.

“Military experience and training were a tremendous immersion in diversity, leadership, planning, and discipline,” Averill said. “The service experience was immersive, as it is a unique culture in and of itself. I was forced to adapt, learn, and expand my skills and perspective. This was critical to being a successful leader of men and women and to work as one team in the event of any potential combat situation.”

Dan Smith, Media and Public Relations Specialist, was a B-52 bomber combat aircrew member in the United States Air Force. “My service instilled in me an acute sense of personal responsibility in the context of a team setting,” he said. “Every action of each crew member impacted the mission as well as the safety and lives of the crew. Since leaving the service, I have continued to take personal responsibility very seriously throughout my career, including my current position at Fidelis Care."

“I served in the United States Army from 1982 until 1985 as an E-2 Private. It showed me responsibility, honor, and the meaning of teamwork,” added Edwin DeJesus, Customer Care Associate, Marketing & Sales.

Charlotte Buckley, a Clinical Pharmacist, was a Captain in the United States Air Force. “It taught me discipline, leadership, resilience, and patience. I believe it prepared me to be a stronger leader, a more knowledgeable pharmacist, and a better teammate here at Fidelis Care,” she said.

Thank you, veterans, for your commitment, courage, and service to our country.

 Scott Averill

 

 Dan Smith

 

 Charlotte Buckley
 

 Edwin DeJesus


Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day
11/10/2023 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, In The Community


Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day

Fidelis Care is proud to recognize and honor the brave veterans within our organization, in our communities, and across the nation. Some Fidelis Care employees shared their thoughts.

Scott Averill, Senior Vice President, Sales and Co-Chair of Fidelis Care’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council, served in The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) from 1972-1976. He was then on Active Duty in the Army until 1980 before returning to the Reserves, where he served for two more years. His highest rank achieved while on active duty was 1st Lieutenant.

“Military experience and training were a tremendous immersion in diversity, leadership, planning, and discipline,” Averill said. “The service experience was immersive, as it is a unique culture in and of itself. I was forced to adapt, learn, and expand my skills and perspective. This was critical to being a successful leader of men and women and to work as one team in the event of any potential combat situation.”

Dan Smith, Media and Public Relations Specialist, was a B-52 bomber combat aircrew member in the United States Air Force. “My service instilled in me an acute sense of personal responsibility in the context of a team setting,” he said. “Every action of each crew member impacted the mission as well as the safety and lives of the crew. Since leaving the service, I have continued to take personal responsibility very seriously throughout my career, including my current position at Fidelis Care."

“I served in the United States Army from 1982 until 1985 as an E-2 Private. It showed me responsibility, honor, and the meaning of teamwork,” added Edwin DeJesus, Customer Care Associate, Marketing & Sales.

Charlotte Buckley, a Clinical Pharmacist, was a Captain in the United States Air Force. “It taught me discipline, leadership, resilience, and patience. I believe it prepared me to be a stronger leader, a more knowledgeable pharmacist, and a better teammate here at Fidelis Care,” she said.

Thank you, veterans, for your commitment, courage, and service to our country.

 Scott Averill

 

 Dan Smith

 

 Charlotte Buckley
 

 Edwin DeJesus