More than 2,000 schools nationwide
participated in this year's event.
EL PASO,
Texas, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the
eighth year in a row, Superior HealthPlan ("Superior"), a leading
managed care organization in Texas
and wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC),
supported No One Eats Alone® Day, a prevention initiative aimed at
fostering inclusion and a culture of belonging in schools. Eleven
Texas schools hosted events
throughout February, with the help of Superior, reaching thousands
of students across Texas. Centene
Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, sponsored
the event.
"At Superior, we're committed to supporting the health and
well-being of children all across Texas, and that includes providing them with
the skills and resources they need to support each other," said
Mark Sanders, Superior HealthPlan
president and CEO. "We are proud to partner with Beyond Differences
to celebrate No One Eats Alone Day and shine a light on the social
issues that affect students in Texas and beyond."
The twelve participating schools in Texas were:
- Ojeda Middle School,
Austin
- Dobie Middle School,
Austin
- Cunningham Middle School, Corpus
Christi
- Sam Houston Elementary, Houston
- Boys and Girls Club of Deep East Texas, Lufkin
- Cavazos Elementary, Odessa
- Arnold Elementary, San
Antonio
- Robert R. Rojas Elementary, Socorro
- Communities in Schools, Waco
- Rudy Silva Elementary, Weslaco
- All Hands Community Center, Wichita
Falls
According to public health research, social isolation has been
found to have a 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, more than
1 million students were 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 social connections, students worked
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," said 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 Superior HealthPlan
Founded in 1999, Superior
HealthPlan is a managed care company that delivers quality
healthcare throughout Texas.
Committed to transforming the health of the community, one person
at a time, Superior supports active local involvement in all 254
Texas counties with more than
3,200 employees throughout the state. Superior is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare
enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier
lives. For more information visit www.SuperiorHealthPlan.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.
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SOURCE Superior HealthPlan