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.

More News:

Pride 2024: Allies Help Lift Up LGBTQIA+ Community

6/6/2024 • Posted by Christie Charlebois, LMSW, Care Manager HARP in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, In The Community

Pride Month 2024

June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. It is a time to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and more) communities, raise awareness about LGBTQIA+ rights and issues, and promote inclusivity and acceptance.

During this monthlong observance, we will spotlight LGBTQIA+ voices from across Fidelis Care and community-based organizations. Christie Charlebois, LMSW, Care Manager HARP, shared the following:

As we celebrate Pride Month, I wanted to share my experiences as an ally, as a team member here at Fidelis Care and Centene, and as a mother. Participating in Pride as an ally is not new to me. I have been lucky to live in a community that embraces and celebrates our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, and I have been even luckier to call many of them my friends and colleagues.

As a career social worker and Care Manager, it is amazing to witness the foundations and progress that DEI programs have fostered for our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. For instance, Fidelis Care employees can participate in cPRIDE, one of our Employee Inclusion Groups (EIG), which advocates for all to bring their most authentic selves to work. Through action, advocacy, and education, cPRIDE is committed to cultivating a safer and inclusive workplace that empowers individuals to maximize their potential. These programs provide a community for networking, education, and support.

As a mom, this lesson of authenticity is one that has been ever evolving for my family. I am the mom of an incredible, talented, smart, and amazing transgender young woman (and two equally amazing boys). Before my daughter came out to us, I would have proudly told you I was an ally. But the truth is, in retrospect, I am not sure I knew what that job really entailed. Being an ally can mean standing next to your friends and family at a Pride parade or posting a supportive message on social media. To me, being an ally means taking time to find resources for those who may need them, whether it is a member who needs access to trans healthcare providers or a support group for a mom whose child just came out. Being an ally means creating a culture of inclusivity and safety in our neighborhoods, our workplace, and our communities. It is about reminding your kids that they and their friends are safe to be themselves in your home. Being an ally is standing up when everyone else is sitting down, because it is simply the right thing to do. Not only for your own kid, but for everyone.

I have been able to use my personal experiences as a parent to educate myself further on accessing safe and positive experiences for trans healthcare. I have applied that experience to my role as a Care Manager at Fidelis Care. Learning to navigate the appropriate terminology, barriers, and discrimination that face our LGBTQIA+ members as they seek healthcare is a challenge that no single person can handle alone. However, we can accomplish great things if we work as a collaborative team toward providing equitable healthcare for all.

I will be at the parade, standing proudly with my daughter, decked out in our pink and blue and a few rainbows too - because she loves them. And I love her. Happy Pride Month!