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HomeAbout usHealth EquityHealth Equity Alt

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


March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
2/27/2025 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Caregiver Support, Health and Wellness

Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. It is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The American Cancer Society predicts there will be approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States in 2025, with as many as 53,000 deaths.

Almost 3,000 New Yorkers die from the disease every year. The risk is higher after age 50.

Screening is important and can save lives. When found early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about colorectal cancer and screening tests.

 

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?

There are often no signs of colorectal cancer at first. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

  • A change in bowel habits
  • Blood in your bowel movements
  • Diarrhea and/or constipation
  • Pain, aches, or cramps in the abdominal area
  • Unintentional weight loss


When should I get screened?

Early detection and removal of colorectal polyps can decrease the risk of developing cancer. Most individuals should get screened for colorectal cancer regularly, starting at age 45. Your provider may recommend that you get tested earlier than 45, or more often, if you have any of these risk factors:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer
  • Certain genetic conditions, such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
  • Lifestyle factors, such as:
    • Lack of exercise
    • Diets low in fruits, vegetables, and fiber
    • Diets high in fat
    • Obesity (overweight)
    • Alcohol consumption
    • Smoking
       

What types of tests are used to screen for colorectal cancer?

Tests are used to screen for different types of cancer when a person does not have symptoms. Your PCP may suggest one of the following tests to screen for colorectal cancer:

  • Fecal occult blood test, which checks for hidden blood in stool
  • Sigmoidoscopy, which looks at the lower part of your colon or large intestine
  • Colonoscopy, a test that looks at the inside of the large bowel (colon)
  • Virtual colonoscopy, which uses special X-rays to look at the colon
  • DNA stool test, which uses a stool sample to look for signs of colorectal cancer

Ask your PCP about which test is right for you, and any other screenings you may need.

Sources

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20colorectal,men%20and%20women%20are%20combined.

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/what-is-colorectal-cancer.htm

https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/patient/colorectal-screening-pdq#_13

https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/colorectal-cancer-awareness-month/