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Health Equity

At Fidelis Care, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life. It’s our mission to ensure New Yorkers have access to high-quality healthcare, so they can get the care they need when they need it.

But many other factors contribute to an individual’s health and wellness beyond access to healthcare. Socioeconomic conditions can influence health risks and outcomes. Poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, education, employment, access to transportation and other circumstances contribute to health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations.

Fidelis Care is committed to removing those barriers to health to improve access, quality, and affordability. It is an ongoing process that requires working together with our members, providers, and community-based organizations to support fair and just opportunities to equal access to healthcare.

Learn more about our different approaches to improve health equity:


Key partnerships

Wellness commitment to Buffalo Urban League

To nurture social entrepreneurship, facilitate wellness, and strengthen organizations focused on Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Buffalo’s East Side, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation donated $1.1 million to the Buffalo Urban League (BUL) to help establish its new headquarters and develop a Wellness and Entrepreneurial Center.

In addition, Fidelis Care partners with BUL through community programs and at events held in the city focused on health, family support and stabilization services, foster care, adoption, education, job training, employment, scholarships, and more.

Buffalo-Urban-League

Mental health alliance with The Jed Foundation

As part of our behavioral health efforts, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation awarded $1.1 million to The Jed Foundation (JED) to protect the mental health of New York State’s youth.

Through the funding, JED will expand its current services, providing at least five youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) with consultation or strategic planning services, including expert guidance, educational workshops, and training programs, equipping young people with life skills and connecting them to mental healthcare when they are in distress.

Fidelis-JED-Social


More Health Equity News


1/29/2026 • Posted by Fidelis Care • in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In 2026, we honor the 100th anniversary of the very first Negro History Week, created in 1926 by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson. This important week later grew into what we now call Black History Month. Dr. Woodson wanted to make sure that the achievements and stories of Black Americans were recognized, taught, and celebrated across the United States.
1/16/2026 • Posted by Dr. Jermel J. Hawkins, Jr., Fidelis Care Senior Medical Director • in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Health-Related Social Needs
Every year on the third Monday in January, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader who fought for justice and equality for all. His dream wasn’t just about civil rights, it was also about making sure everyone has the same chance to live a healthy life.
9/15/2025 • Posted by Dr. Denise Nuñez, Niño de la Caridad Foundation Founder and CEO • in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Health-Related Social Needs, In The Community
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time of reflection, celebration, and unity. For me, it is deeply personal, a reminder of the strength, resilience, and cultural pride that defines our community. It is also a call to action to honor our heritage not only with words, but through efforts that uplift the health and well-being of Hispanic families across New York and beyond.
2/24/2025 • Posted by Alexander Ford, DO, RD, Community Care Physicians Family Medicine Physician • in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
As a family physician and registered dietitian, during Black History Month, I reflect on the various fearless trailblazers in healthcare and other sectors who broke barriers and overcame extraordinary obstacles to make my life possible. Access to healthcare and poor health literacy are still issues plaguing the Black community. Generally, patients desire a patient-doctor relationship where they feel comfortable sharing their personal and medical history. From my experiences, my Black patients prefer Black physicians; however, there is a severe shortage of Black physicians, which is another barrier to seeking care for many Black Americans.
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