- Program addresses access to mental health services - ST. LOUIS, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare announced today that it awarded a $7,500 grant to The Center for Black Women's Wellness, Inc. (CBWW) to support Journey to Wellness, a program designed to address the disparity of mental health among black women. Through education and advocacy, the program uses nontraditional modes such as drama, movie nights with discussion sessions, and tea parties to provide culturally appropriate opportunities for women to address fears associated with accessing mental health services. Women who participate in the program receive support through existing health resources and referrals to community mental health services that are provided on-site by a professional licensed counselor. "Although mental health is crucial to overall health, its importance is not always recognized, particularly in vulnerable populations," said Kathy Bradley-Wells, president, Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare. "The Journey to Wellness program provided by The Center for Black Women's Wellness is an innovative strategy to address the pressing disparity of mental health in a safe and secure community." In addition to the Foundation support, Peach State Health Plan, another subsidiary of Centene Corporation, works in collaboration with CBWW to participate in a variety of community and member outreach events. These events include serving as a sponsor and supporter of programs such as the Women's Health Expo, a community-based free health and wellness screening event. "We are so pleased to receive this support from Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare to develop individual and community approaches to address the issue of mental health in unique ways," said Jemea Dorsey, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Black Women's Wellness. "Strong partnerships are critical to this work, along with a commitment to look at health comprehensively and in its totality." About The Center for Black Women's Wellness, Inc. The Center for Black Women's Wellness, Inc. (CBWW) is a non-profit (501c3) organization that provides free and low-cost health services and programs to empower women and their families, toward physical, mental and economic wellness. Established in 1988, CBWW has assisted more than 10,000 metro Atlanta women. For more information, please visit http://www.cbww.org/. About The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare is a non-profit private foundation dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare in the United States. The Foundation serves as a resource to identify and support innovative approaches to improving and increasing the quality of and access to healthcare for low-income individuals and families. This is accomplished through an inspired philanthropic giving plan that seeks to promote efforts and activities that identify and address core causes of unequal access and treatment in healthcare. For additional information, please visit http://www.centenefoundation.org/. DATASOURCE: Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare CONTACT: Sandy McBride, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, or Mary Deverman, Manager, Community Relations, both of Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare, +1-314-725-4477 Web site: http://www.centenefoundation.org/ http://www.cbww.org/

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