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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.


More News:


September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
8/26/2024 • Posted by Dr. Thomas Raskauskas, Fidelis Care Senior Medical Director in Health and Wellness, Women's Health

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the ovary. It can spread throughout the body. It is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. There are different types of ovarian cancer. The most common type of ovarian cancer is abnormal growth of the cells on the surface of the ovary, and is called epithelial ovarian cancer.

How common is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. It is estimated that in 2024, there will be 19,680 new cases of ovarian cancer, and 12,740 deaths from ovarian cancer.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

There is no set of symptoms that are specific to ovarian cancer. Common symptoms include bloating, getting full quickly after eating, and bladder symptoms. Some people experience vaginal bleeding. If you experience these symptoms for two weeks or more, you should see your healthcare provider.

Is there a screening test for ovarian cancer?

Unfortunately, there are no screening tests to help detect ovarian cancer.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Because there are no specific symptoms that help to detect ovarian cancer, it is usually diagnosed when the cancer has already spread. On a physical exam, there may be masses felt in the pelvis. Healthcare providers can do imaging studies that may show growths on the ovaries or in the abdomen.

What are risk factors for ovarian cancer?

Your risk of getting ovarian cancer increases:

  • With age, especially after middle age
  • If your mother, sister, aunt, niece, or grandmother has/had ovarian cancer
  • If you have a family or personal history of a genetic mutation called BRCA1 or BRCA2, or with Lynch Syndrome
  • If you are Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish
  • If you do not have children
  • If you have endometriosis (cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other areas of the pelvis and abdomen)

How can I reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer?

You may lower your risk of getting ovarian cancer by:

  • Using birth control for 5 or more years
  • Having surgery to remove your ovaries and/or fallopian tubes
  • Having children

Some individuals choose to have their ovaries and or fallopian tubes removed to lower the risk of ovarian cancer, especially if they have relatives with ovarian cancer or genetic defects. This is also recommended for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations between ages 35 to 45, or when childbearing is complete. It may also be recommended for women with Lynch syndrome.

How is ovarian cancer treated?

Usually, treatment starts with surgery to find how far the cancer has spread, and to remove as much of the cancer as possible. It is then usually followed with chemotherapy.

Where can I learn more about ovarian cancer?

For more information, visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
8/26/2024 • Posted by Dr. Thomas Raskauskas, Fidelis Care Senior Medical Director in Health and Wellness, Women's Health

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the ovary. It can spread throughout the body. It is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. There are different types of ovarian cancer. The most common type of ovarian cancer is abnormal growth of the cells on the surface of the ovary, and is called epithelial ovarian cancer.

How common is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. It is estimated that in 2024, there will be 19,680 new cases of ovarian cancer, and 12,740 deaths from ovarian cancer.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

There is no set of symptoms that are specific to ovarian cancer. Common symptoms include bloating, getting full quickly after eating, and bladder symptoms. Some people experience vaginal bleeding. If you experience these symptoms for two weeks or more, you should see your healthcare provider.

Is there a screening test for ovarian cancer?

Unfortunately, there are no screening tests to help detect ovarian cancer.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Because there are no specific symptoms that help to detect ovarian cancer, it is usually diagnosed when the cancer has already spread. On a physical exam, there may be masses felt in the pelvis. Healthcare providers can do imaging studies that may show growths on the ovaries or in the abdomen.

What are risk factors for ovarian cancer?

Your risk of getting ovarian cancer increases:

  • With age, especially after middle age
  • If your mother, sister, aunt, niece, or grandmother has/had ovarian cancer
  • If you have a family or personal history of a genetic mutation called BRCA1 or BRCA2, or with Lynch Syndrome
  • If you are Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish
  • If you do not have children
  • If you have endometriosis (cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other areas of the pelvis and abdomen)

How can I reduce the risk of getting ovarian cancer?

You may lower your risk of getting ovarian cancer by:

  • Using birth control for 5 or more years
  • Having surgery to remove your ovaries and/or fallopian tubes
  • Having children

Some individuals choose to have their ovaries and or fallopian tubes removed to lower the risk of ovarian cancer, especially if they have relatives with ovarian cancer or genetic defects. This is also recommended for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations between ages 35 to 45, or when childbearing is complete. It may also be recommended for women with Lynch syndrome.

How is ovarian cancer treated?

Usually, treatment starts with surgery to find how far the cancer has spread, and to remove as much of the cancer as possible. It is then usually followed with chemotherapy.

Where can I learn more about ovarian cancer?

For more information, visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.