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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.

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National Newborn Screening Awareness Month: Knowing the Basics
9/3/2024 • Posted by Becky Fried, RN, Fidelis Care BabyCare Team Senior Care Manager in Children's Health, Health and Wellness

September is National Newborn Screening Awareness Month. It’s a time to think about tests that identify conditions that could affect a baby’s long-term health. Newborn screening is a term you may hear from your doctor before or just after your baby is born. This screening is composed of three different tests. They include:

  1. Blood Spot Screening: This test can let you know if your child has one of many serious conditions.
  2. Hearing Test: This test checks if your newborn might be deaf or hard of hearing.
  3. Pulse Oximetry Screening: This test will help you find out if your newborn might have a serious heart condition.

Newborn screening and testing can also check for genetic disorders that may impact the life of your infant. Early identification of these disorders and treatment lead to better outcomes for your baby. The goal is to have your newborn live a long and normal life.

These tests are completed within the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery of your baby or babies. If you decide to deliver outside a hospital setting, you should talk with your midwife or healthcare provider about these tests. It is very important that all babies have this testing. If you have questions regarding these tests and are a Fidelis Care member, Fidelis Care’s BabyCare team is here to help.

Some babies are born prematurely and cannot have these tests performed right away. Some babies require blood transfusions, dialysis, or receive medications and nutrients before the testing can be completed. These babies may need additional testing. You can speak with your OB or NICU providers about this testing. Fidelis Care members can contact our BabyCare team for any additional questions.

Details about each test:

  1. Blood Spot Screening: A very small amount of blood is taken from the baby’s heel and sent to a laboratory. This sample is taken at day one or two of life. If the results are out of range, then your baby’s provider will be notified.
  2. Hearing Test: This test can be done while your infant is sleeping. During this test, a soft earphone is placed in your baby’s ear canal. The earphone plays a sound and measures an echo response that happens with normal hearing. If there is no echo, your baby may have hearing loss. Further testing will be required.
  3. Pulse Oximetry Screening: A pulse oximeter is used to measure how much oxygen is being carried by your baby’s red blood cells.  This oximeter is placed on the infant’s hand or foot. This test is completed when your baby is at least 24 hours of age.

For more information on newborn screening, contact your healthcare provider. The BabyCare team is just a phone call away for Fidelis Care members at 1-800-247-1441, extension 16092. You’ll be linked with a nurse who can help you understand more about these tests and you and your baby’s health.

Additional resources:

New York State Department of Health Newborn Screening Program

Your Baby’s Hearing Screening and Next Steps

Clinical Screening and Diagnosis for Critical Congenital Heart Defects

Becky Fried, RN, is a Fidelis Care BabyCare Senior Care Manager, specializing in Neonatal Intensive Care. Prior to Fidelis Care, where she has served for seven years, Becky worked as a level four Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse in Syracuse for 12 years. She is passionate about working with families and providing support and education during stressful and uncertain times. 


National Newborn Screening Awareness Month: Knowing the Basics
9/3/2024 • Posted by Becky Fried, RN, Fidelis Care BabyCare Team Senior Care Manager in Children's Health, Health and Wellness

September is National Newborn Screening Awareness Month. It’s a time to think about tests that identify conditions that could affect a baby’s long-term health. Newborn screening is a term you may hear from your doctor before or just after your baby is born. This screening is composed of three different tests. They include:

  1. Blood Spot Screening: This test can let you know if your child has one of many serious conditions.
  2. Hearing Test: This test checks if your newborn might be deaf or hard of hearing.
  3. Pulse Oximetry Screening: This test will help you find out if your newborn might have a serious heart condition.

Newborn screening and testing can also check for genetic disorders that may impact the life of your infant. Early identification of these disorders and treatment lead to better outcomes for your baby. The goal is to have your newborn live a long and normal life.

These tests are completed within the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery of your baby or babies. If you decide to deliver outside a hospital setting, you should talk with your midwife or healthcare provider about these tests. It is very important that all babies have this testing. If you have questions regarding these tests and are a Fidelis Care member, Fidelis Care’s BabyCare team is here to help.

Some babies are born prematurely and cannot have these tests performed right away. Some babies require blood transfusions, dialysis, or receive medications and nutrients before the testing can be completed. These babies may need additional testing. You can speak with your OB or NICU providers about this testing. Fidelis Care members can contact our BabyCare team for any additional questions.

Details about each test:

  1. Blood Spot Screening: A very small amount of blood is taken from the baby’s heel and sent to a laboratory. This sample is taken at day one or two of life. If the results are out of range, then your baby’s provider will be notified.
  2. Hearing Test: This test can be done while your infant is sleeping. During this test, a soft earphone is placed in your baby’s ear canal. The earphone plays a sound and measures an echo response that happens with normal hearing. If there is no echo, your baby may have hearing loss. Further testing will be required.
  3. Pulse Oximetry Screening: A pulse oximeter is used to measure how much oxygen is being carried by your baby’s red blood cells.  This oximeter is placed on the infant’s hand or foot. This test is completed when your baby is at least 24 hours of age.

For more information on newborn screening, contact your healthcare provider. The BabyCare team is just a phone call away for Fidelis Care members at 1-800-247-1441, extension 16092. You’ll be linked with a nurse who can help you understand more about these tests and you and your baby’s health.

Additional resources:

New York State Department of Health Newborn Screening Program

Your Baby’s Hearing Screening and Next Steps

Clinical Screening and Diagnosis for Critical Congenital Heart Defects

Becky Fried, RN, is a Fidelis Care BabyCare Senior Care Manager, specializing in Neonatal Intensive Care. Prior to Fidelis Care, where she has served for seven years, Becky worked as a level four Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse in Syracuse for 12 years. She is passionate about working with families and providing support and education during stressful and uncertain times.