CHICAGO and TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 27,
2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE:
WCG), on behalf of its subsidiary Harmony Health Plan, Inc.,
announced today that it has given $18,000 in the form of 13 micro-grants to
community-based organizations across the state. These micro-grants
will support nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organizations that provide
vital social services such as transportation, behavioral health
services and youth empowerment.
"Harmony Health Plan is proud to be part of an effort that
allows us to build partnerships with organizations that are working
to make a difference in Illinois
communities," said Dr. Robert
Hilliard, Harmony state
president. "Now more than ever, it is important to support these
organizations which provide valuable social services and give
people the opportunity for a better, healthier life."
"The organizations we selected for our micro-grant program help
fill social service gaps for families and individuals in need,"
said Enrique Salgado, advocacy
manager of advocacy and community-based programs at WellCare. "It
can be hard for our members to prioritize their health when they
have more urgent needs around food or transportation. WellCare's
micro-grant program is aimed at ensuring these vital services
continue for the entire community."
The micro-grants were given to the following organizations:
Breakthrough Urban Ministries – The grant will be used to
support the Behavioral Health Care for Homeless Adults program.
Annually, the program provides 150 homeless men and women with
onsite access to trauma-informed integrated medical and behavioral
health services that stabilize conditions and support healthy
behaviors.
ChildServ – ChildServ's dedicated military therapist
provides therapy for families impacted by trauma associated with
military service – from separation anxiety to coping techniques for
managing post-traumatic stress disorder. Service concentrates on
needs the VA does not cover, including serving children,
significant others, siblings and parents as well as veterans with
less-than-honorable discharges.
NAMI Chicago – With this micro-grant, NAMI Chicago will
expand recovery-oriented programming by implementing the
evidence-based Wellness Recovery Action Plan program that supports
the health and wellness of people living with mental illness in the
community.
NAMI Illinois – NAMI Illinois will use the grant for
Ending the Silence (ETS), a free classroom presentation using
first-person recovery stories from young adults with mental illness
that educates middle and high school students on the signs and
symptoms of mental illness, the importance of early detection and
treatment, and information on how young people may help themselves
or their friends. ETS in school settings is a non-threatening way
to engage youth in the discussion of mental illness and provide
opportunities for young people to link to other NAMI resources.
Hanul Family Alliance – The Mobile Senior Congregate Meal
Program provides a safe and accessible place for underserved,
vulnerable Korean seniors that reside in Lake County to enjoy dietitian-approved meals
and time to socialize with other Korean seniors. Hanul Family
Alliance will use the grant to transport hot-prepared meals to
suburban locations from its facility in Chicago.
Metropolitan Tenants Organization – MTO provides home
inspections for lead paint and other hazards to at-risk households,
including those with pregnant women or with children under two
years of age. The grant will be used to educate residents about
health hazards in their homes, counseling through MTO's hotline and
traveling to and hosting community-based healthy homes
workshops.
Girls in the Game – This after-school program allows
participants to seamlessly transition from its elementary and
middle school programs to the Teen Squad. Teen Squad members are
trained to mentor middle-school girls, and in turn, the
middle-school girls coach the elementary-school girls at their
school. By providing girls with the opportunity to grow within the
programs, it has significant impact on their behavior and decisions
in the future.
Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community –
Transportation is a major issue for Chicago's Chinatown, especially for its
higher-than-average senior population. This grant will help
identify opportunities to build a walkable and safe community in
the area.
Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale – The Boys and Girls
Club of Carbondale will use the
micro-grant for its SELF programs, which support youth in grades
4-12 with better decision-making and self-awareness. Other programs
address conflict resolution, peer relationships and bullying.
River City Community Development Center – River City
Community Development Center (R CITY) operates a robust
after-school program providing academic support and arts enrichment
to children of low-income families in Chicago's West Humboldt Park neighborhood. The
grant will help engage low-income young adults in the program as
paid apprentices, providing a stronger one-on-one support system
for youth.
A Safe Place – A Safe Place will use the grant to
continue providing services to survivors of domestic abuse. A Safe
Place provides safe housing and counseling for survivors and
educational programs for professionals, students and the
community.
Growing Home, Inc. – Through a unique combination of paid
farm work, classroom studies, and case management, Growing Home
helps job-seeking individuals learn the skills they need to succeed
in the workforce. The grant will be used to provide pre-paid
transit cards to participants, preventing program drop-outs due to
transportation barriers.
Association House of Chicago – Association House will be
using the grant to establish a youth mental health first aid
(YMHFA) training program. The training program will allow
Association House to increase both awareness of and support for the
mental health issues experienced by youth in its community.
"Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15- to
24-year-olds, and only 20 percent of the one-in-five young people
who experience a mental health condition access help," said
Mary Colleran, executive director of
NAMI Illinois. "However, early identification and intervention
provide positive outcomes. Harmony's generous support allows NAMI
Illinois to expand its 'Ending the Silence' program, through which
young adults living with mental illness and their family members
share their personal stories with mental illness with middle and
high school students in underserved communities throughout
Illinois."
"Thanks to Harmony's support,
River City Community Development Center will now be able to provide
the youth of West Humboldt Park with holistic after-school support
to help set them on the path for a healthy and successful future,"
said Elizabeth Galik, executive
director at River City. "We are so grateful for Harmony's investment in the incredible youth
of our community and, by extension, the future of our city."
"Growing Home is honored and thrilled to receive this grant from
Harmony to assist in our mission
to bring good jobs and good food to residents of Chicago's Southside," said April Harrington, development director at
Growing Home, Inc.
"Harmony's investment in our
critical programming will help to prevent the perpetuation of the
cycle of violence," said Pat
Davenport, executive director and CEO of A Safe Place.
"Without donors like Harmony,
thousands of families impacted by and struggling with domestic
violence would not be able to receive life-changing services."
As of Dec. 31, 2016, WellCare and
Harmony Health Plan serve approximately 209,000 members in
Illinois, including 166,000
Medicaid members, 16,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 27,000
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla.,
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on
providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily
through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug
Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex
medical needs. WellCare serves approximately 3.9 million
members nationwide as of Dec. 31,
2016. For more information about WellCare, please visit the
company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos
at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.