More than 2,000 schools nationwide are
expected to participate in this year's event.
ST.
LOUIS, Feb. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the
sixth year in a row, Home State Health, a Managed Care
Organization that serves the needs of the Medicaid population in
partnership with MO HealthNet and wholly owned subsidiary of
Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), supported No One Eats Alone® Day,
a prevention initiative created by nonprofit Beyond Differences™ to
fostering inclusion and build a culture of belonging in middle
schools.
The first event is being held at Old North Academy located at
3017 North 13th Street St.
Louis, on February 16, 2024,
and is open to media from 11:00-11:30
p.m.
Home State Health will be partnering with several schools
throughout the month of February. Centene Foundation, the
philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, will sponsor the
event.
"At Home State Health we're committed to building and
maintaining children's health and well-being, and that includes
providing them with resources to succeed in life," said
Jeffrey Johnston, President, and
CEO. "We are proud to partner with Beyond Differences to celebrate
No One Eats Alone Day® and bring light to social issues that affect
students in Missouri."
According to public health research, social isolation has been
found to have negative impact on the mental wellbeing of children,
leading to issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, thoughts
of suicide, and higher chances of engaging in substance abuse. A
study by Beyond Differences indicated that when students are
provided programs to learn about social isolation and given the
tools to connect with classmates, nearly 85 percent of the students
felt empowered to be leaders and create a culture of acceptance and
belonging at their school.
The nonprofit organization Beyond Differences® established No
One Eats Alone as an initiative to combat social isolation. This
year, over 1 million students are expected to participate in
activities designed to teach them about social isolation and the
negative impact it can have on health and academic performance.
With in-class lessons, interactive exercises and a creative art
project that focuses on growing our social connections, students
will work together to make their school more welcoming and
accepting for everyone.
"This year's No One Eats Alone theme, Let's Grow: Planting New
Connections, was inspired by the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on
social connection where he spotlights the negative health effects
of social isolation and emphasizes that connections need to be
nurtured like a garden," says Laura Talmus, co-founder, and
executive director of Beyond Differences. "Our curriculum dives
deep into recognizing emotions, understanding social isolation and
gives students tools to be social isolation disruptors and
ambassadors of belonging."
About Home State Health
Home State Health is a
Care Management Organization that serves the needs of Missourians
through a range of health insurance solutions. Home State Health
serves the Medicaid population in partnership with MO HealthNet.
The organization also focuses on under-insured and uninsured
individuals through its Health Insurance Marketplace
plan, Ambetter. Additionally, Home State Health provides
insurance for the Medicare population through a Medicare Advantage
plan, Wellcare. Home State Health exists to improve the health of
its members through focused, compassionate, and coordinated care
and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation. For more
information, visit www.homestatehealth.com.
About the Centene Foundation
The Centene
Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on
investing in economically challenged communities, is the
philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("Centene").
The Foundation supports projects and initiatives strategically
aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work
Centene is doing to remove the barriers to wellness underserved and
low-income populations face. The Foundation is committed to
addressing social determinants of health and improving health
equity in three distinct areas of focus: healthcare access, social
services, and education. To learn more, visit the Centene
Foundation's website.
About Beyond Differences
Nonprofit Beyond
Differences' mission is to inspire students to end social isolation
in middle schools and create a culture of belonging for everyone.
Founded in 2010, Beyond Differences has created year-round programs
to tackle a wide range of issues that lead to social isolation.
When educators register for National Programs -– No One Eats Alone,
Know Your Classmates®, Be Kind Online® -- they also get access to
Community-Inspired Curriculum written by Beyond Differences'
National Teen Board. These include Queer Visibility, CIRV
(Centering Immigrant and Refugee Voices), and Stand Up for AAPI
Youth. All curriculum and activity kits are provided free for
schools. Currently, more than 10,000 schools have used Beyond
Differences programs and materials. For more information, visit
nooneeatsalone.org.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/missouri-schools-and-home-state-health-create-a-culture-of-belonging-through-national-no-one-eats-alone-day-302063549.html
SOURCE Home State Health