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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:


January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
1/9/2024 • Posted by Dr. Thomas Raskauskas, Senior Medical Director at Fidelis Care in Health and Wellness, Women's Health

Cervial Cancer Awareness Month

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Prevention and screening are the most important ways to fight cervical cancer. During the pandemic, many people did not get tested for cervical cancer or receive the HPV vaccine (shot) that helps prevent this cancer.

Even though many COVID restrictions have been lifted, the HPV vaccination rate is 75% lower than before the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And cervical cancer screenings are 35% lower compared with before the pandemic.

If you have not gotten screened or vaccinated, Dr. Thomas A. Raskauskas, an obstetrician-gynecologist and Senior Medical Director at Fidelis Care, strongly recommends making an appointment with your health care provider. Proper screening and vaccination can help prevent advanced cervical cancer from developing.

Here, Dr. Raskauskas answers some common questions about cervical cancer:

  1. What is cervical cancer?

            Cancer that develops in the opening of the womb, called the cervix.

  1. What causes cervical cancer?

The main cause of cervical cancer is an infection called human papilloma virus (HPV) passed on by sexual contact. The virus causes the tissue cells to grow abnormally and turn into cancer.

  1. Can cervical cancer be prevented?

            Yes, it can! There are vaccines that fight the human papilloma virus (HPV) and prevent it from growing abnormally into cancer cells.

  1. Who should get the vaccine, and when?

It is ideal to get the vaccine before you become sexually active. Both boys and girls age 11 to 12 should get the vaccine. It can be given from ages 9 to 26. Talk with your health care provider if you are between 26 and 45 years of age to see if the vaccine is right for you. Depending upon your age, the vaccine is given in either two or three doses.

  1. What is cervical cancer screening?

A simple test called a pap smear that takes a sample from the cervix to look for abnormal tissue, to test for HPV, or both.

  1. When should I start being screened for cervical cancer?

The frequency and type of testing depends upon your age and health risks. Low health risk means you don’t have a serious health condition that affects your ability to fight infection, such as HIV. For low health risk, start cervical cancer screening from age 21 to 29, and repeat a pap smear every three years.

If you are age 30 to 65, you have a choice of screenings and frequency: either a pap smear every three years, OR a test for “high risk” human papilloma (HPV) every five years, OR both the pap smear and a test for “high risk” human papilloma (HPV) every five years.

  1. When can I stop screening for cervical cancer?

Most women can stop screening for cervical cancer after age 65, or you have had surgery to remove your womb (hysterectomy) that also removed the cervix. Talk with your health care provider to see if you still need screening if you are over 65, or had surgery to remove your womb.

  1. Why don’t I need cervical cancer screening before age 21?

Luckily, cervical cancer is very slow to develop and spread. Studies have shown that overtreatment due to testing before age 21 occurred.
 

For questions about cervical cancer prevention, screenings, or vaccines, talk with your primary care provider or OB/GYN.

For more information on women’s health topics, visit fideliscare.org/womens-health.


January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
1/9/2024 • Posted by Dr. Thomas Raskauskas, Senior Medical Director at Fidelis Care in Health and Wellness, Women's Health

Cervial Cancer Awareness Month

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Prevention and screening are the most important ways to fight cervical cancer. During the pandemic, many people did not get tested for cervical cancer or receive the HPV vaccine (shot) that helps prevent this cancer.

Even though many COVID restrictions have been lifted, the HPV vaccination rate is 75% lower than before the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And cervical cancer screenings are 35% lower compared with before the pandemic.

If you have not gotten screened or vaccinated, Dr. Thomas A. Raskauskas, an obstetrician-gynecologist and Senior Medical Director at Fidelis Care, strongly recommends making an appointment with your health care provider. Proper screening and vaccination can help prevent advanced cervical cancer from developing.

Here, Dr. Raskauskas answers some common questions about cervical cancer:

  1. What is cervical cancer?

            Cancer that develops in the opening of the womb, called the cervix.

  1. What causes cervical cancer?

The main cause of cervical cancer is an infection called human papilloma virus (HPV) passed on by sexual contact. The virus causes the tissue cells to grow abnormally and turn into cancer.

  1. Can cervical cancer be prevented?

            Yes, it can! There are vaccines that fight the human papilloma virus (HPV) and prevent it from growing abnormally into cancer cells.

  1. Who should get the vaccine, and when?

It is ideal to get the vaccine before you become sexually active. Both boys and girls age 11 to 12 should get the vaccine. It can be given from ages 9 to 26. Talk with your health care provider if you are between 26 and 45 years of age to see if the vaccine is right for you. Depending upon your age, the vaccine is given in either two or three doses.

  1. What is cervical cancer screening?

A simple test called a pap smear that takes a sample from the cervix to look for abnormal tissue, to test for HPV, or both.

  1. When should I start being screened for cervical cancer?

The frequency and type of testing depends upon your age and health risks. Low health risk means you don’t have a serious health condition that affects your ability to fight infection, such as HIV. For low health risk, start cervical cancer screening from age 21 to 29, and repeat a pap smear every three years.

If you are age 30 to 65, you have a choice of screenings and frequency: either a pap smear every three years, OR a test for “high risk” human papilloma (HPV) every five years, OR both the pap smear and a test for “high risk” human papilloma (HPV) every five years.

  1. When can I stop screening for cervical cancer?

Most women can stop screening for cervical cancer after age 65, or you have had surgery to remove your womb (hysterectomy) that also removed the cervix. Talk with your health care provider to see if you still need screening if you are over 65, or had surgery to remove your womb.

  1. Why don’t I need cervical cancer screening before age 21?

Luckily, cervical cancer is very slow to develop and spread. Studies have shown that overtreatment due to testing before age 21 occurred.
 

For questions about cervical cancer prevention, screenings, or vaccines, talk with your primary care provider or OB/GYN.

For more information on women’s health topics, visit fideliscare.org/womens-health.