More than 2,000 schools nationwide are
expected to participate in this year's event.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most experienced Medi-Cal managed
care health plans and wholly owned subsidiary of Centene
Corporation, supported No One Eats Alone® Day, a prevention
initiative aimed at fostering inclusion and a culture of belonging
in middle schools. California
schools hosted events on Feb. 16,
2024, with the help of Health Net. Centene Foundation, the
philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, sponsored the event.
"Social isolation has emerged as a significant concern in our
society, with various studies highlighting its impact on mental and
physical health," said Amber Kemp,
vice president, Medi-Cal regional lead at Health Net.
"Partnering with Beyond Differences to support No One Eats Alone®
Day allows us to encourage students to break out of their comfort
zones, make new connections and foster a sense of community with
their peers. This community building is essential to the overall
well-being of our youth."
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 Health Net
Founded in California more than 40 years ago, Health Net,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, believes that
every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of
age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today,
we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of
every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare.
Together with our 90,000 network providers, Health Net serves three
million members across the state. We also offer access to substance
abuse programs, behavioral health services, employee assistance
programs and managed health care products related to prescription
drugs. We make these health plans and services available through
Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance
Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are
wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation, a leading
healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the
communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net employs more
than 6,300 people in California
who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more
information, visit www.HealthNet.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 to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-schools-health-net--the-centene-foundation-create-a-culture-of-belonging-through-national-no-one-eats-alone-day-302064513.html
SOURCE Health Net