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 .

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.

Learn how Fidelis Care impacts the communities we are privileged to serve.

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Asian American and Native Hawiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Improving Health Literacy

5/8/2024 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, In The Community

This Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Fidelis Care celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, especially in the healthcare field. Fidelis Care talked with Buffalo Medical Care physician, Dr. Fahim Tazwar, about his experience and how he works to improve health literacy and outcomes within this community.

Fidelis Care: What does it mean to you to be an Asian American provider?

Dr. Tazwar: It is a privilege to be an Asian American physician and have the opportunity to serve my community. Being fluent in Bengali and Hindi, I can communicate with patients more effectively in their native language and connect with them on a deeper level. I also understand my patients’ cultural beliefs and practices that may influence their behavior, preference, and ultimately their compliance. This allows me to bridge the language barrier, ensuring that my patient fully understands their conditions and my detailed instructions. As a result, my patients highly appreciate my services, which is a great honor.

Fidelis Care: What are your thoughts on health literacy within the Asian American community?

Dr. Tazwar: I believe that the Asian American community faces many barriers. The language barrier is a major concern. This alone prevents many from getting essential medical care, understanding the issues regarding their health, and ways to improve the outcome. The socioeconomic factor is another barrier the Asian American community deals with. Many suffer from low income and substandard education, which can affect their health literacy. Let’s not forget the cultural belief that also hinders getting necessary care on time. These barriers can become less of an issue if we work together by providing translated health materials, offering interpreter services, increasing access to resources, and providing culturally sensitive care. Limited health insurance coverage is another issue. Thankfully, Fidelis Care has employed multilingual representatives to help the local community address this issue. We are grateful to Fidelis Care Sales and Marketing Supervisor Md Karim and his team for their dedication and work in closing the gap in insurance coverage.

Fidelis Care: How has your role as a physician and leader changed the Asian American community? How do you give back?

Dr. Tazwar: I have been working as a physician with the Asian American community since 2012, first in New York City and now in Buffalo. Being one of few Bengali-speaking physicians in the Greater Buffalo region, I have been tirelessly providing medical care to underserved, underprivileged Asian American patients. A strong believer in ‘prevention is better than cure,’ I have been trying to positively impact the local communities through outreach. The focus is to educate people and improve health literacy. If the general population learns part of what medical professionals know, then it would be easy to reduce the prevalence of many chronic diseases that our community is facing. With that vision in mind, I have been actively participating in community events, giving presentations, and writing articles. I work closely with local health officials to address disparities affecting Asian Americans, advocating for improved healthcare access. One of my greatest achievements is to be a part of the Buffalo Bangla newspaper, printed in the Bengali language, bringing authentic news including health-related issues to the Buffalo Bangladeshi community.

Fidelis Care: What is your favorite cultural tradition?

Dr. Tazwar: There are many. One of my favorites is breaking a monthlong fast by celebrating Eid al-Fitr with friends and family and exchanging gifts, engaging in social events, reconciling differences, sharing meals, and giving in charity to help others. I also enjoy the communal bonding. Eid celebrations bring together family, friends, and communities in joyous gatherings.

Fahim Tazwar, MD, MPH, DABOM, is the Managing Director of Buffalo Medical Care, a leading primary care clinic serving the underserved population in Buffalo. He was previously affiliated with Erie County Medical Center and Batavia Internal Medicine Clinic. He is a family medicine specialist and has over 12 years of experience in the medical field. He holds a master's degree in Public Health, a Doctor of Medicine degree, and a Diplomate of American Board of Obesity Medicine.