Giving Back to Our Communities

Fidelis Care Presents Brady Market with $5,000 Food Insecurity Grant

In observance of National Nutrition Month, Fidelis Care presented a $5,000 grant to support Brady Market’s programs to combat food insecurity in the Syracuse region. The grant is part of $315,000 in donations by Fidelis Care to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger across New York State. Food insecurity impacts about one in 10 New York households.

“Nutrition is healthcare,” said Fidelis Care Sales and Marketing Director Shannon Lombardo. “Fidelis Care is committed to promoting health and well-being in Syracuse and communities across New York State. That begins by partnering with organizations like Brady Market to help families and individuals gain access to healthy, nutritious foods.”

Brady Market in Syracuse, operated by not-for-profit Brady Social Enterprises, Inc., is a grocery store with retail and wholesale operations, deli and catering, job training, and wraparound support services. It was inspired by the 70-plus year history of Brady Faith Center’s engagement with generations of individuals and families in some of the community’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

“Brady Market is very grateful for this Fidelis Care grant,” said Brady Faith Center Director Kevin Frank. “We absolutely can’t do what we do without wonderful partners. For many who live in the community, Brady Market is the only place to get fresh fruits and vegetables. We plan to use the Fidelis Care funding to take the lead in collaborating with 20 neighborhood organizations to deliver meals for 220 families. One of the wonderful things about this program is that our partner organizations know who needs food support the most. It’s just one of the ways that we are more than a market in this community.”

Lombardo added, “We know that one meal is not going to solve a family’s food insecurity, but these grants give us an opportunity to connect people with agencies and organizations like Brady Market to help them find the resources they need for long-term solutions.”

Fidelis Care takes pride in supporting the vital work of Brady Market and the other food insecurity grant recipients across New York State because no one should suffer from hunger. Click here to see the full list of Fidelis Care food insecurity grant recipient organizations.

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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Fidelis Care and Erie County Department of Health Remind Parents to Schedule Well Child Visits

7/26/2023 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Children's Health, Health and Wellness, Immunizations

Doctor examing child
Fidelis Care and the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) have partnered to encourage parents and caregivers to schedule well child visits and keep their children up to date with required immunizations ahead of the 2023-24 school year.

“One of the best ways parents and guardians can help keep children healthy is by taking them to their pediatrician for their annual exam,” said pediatrician Dr. Lisa Moreno, Fidelis Care Medical Director. “Annual well visits allow pediatricians to closely monitor children’s overall health and development from birth to adolescence. Through regular physical examinations, vaccinations, and screenings, pediatricians can address concerns and ensure children’s best chance for a healthy future.”

Well child visits can vary based upon a child’s age and healthcare needs. A typical well child visit includes a physical examination, developmental assessment, vision and hearing screening, and immunizations.

“Well child visits are an important way for pediatricians to check on a child’s physical development, and to address any parents’ and caregivers’ concerns about their child’s growth and what to expect,” said Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “Diseases like measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox used to quite frequently cause severe disease, lifelong complications, and even death. These are now very rarely seen – all because of widespread, safe, and effective immunization campaigns that have prevented illness in generations of children and their families.”

New York State requires certain immunizations for school attendance. Children who do not have required immunizations may miss school or daycare, causing a loss of learning time and disruptions to family schedules. Children who miss vaccines can also be at risk for illnesses and can put others in their household at risk.

Children’s annual well visits are covered for Fidelis Care members. To learn more about Child Health Plus and other health insurance options for children, visit www.fideliscare.org/CHPlus or call 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547), TTY: 711.

More resources:

Fidelis Care Preventive Health Services
Fidelis Care Immunization Resources
Shop for a Health Insurance Plan
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Why immunize your child?
AAP, Vaccine Safety: Get the Facts
AAP, Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Diseases and the Vaccines that Prevent Them