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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.

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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.

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More Health Equity News


Fidelis Care Behavioral Health Grant Applications Now Open to Providers and Organizations Across New York State
3/5/2025 • Posted by Provider Relations in Provider News, Provider Quality

Grants of $10,000 to $20,000 aim to improve behavioral health outcomes, especially in underserved communities

Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. EDT March 28, 2025

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (March 5, 2025) Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State and a Centene Corporation company, has opened the application process for its 2025 behavioral health grant program. The grants – ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 – are intended to enhance the integration of behavioral health and primary care through innovative strategies. These efforts aim to bridge care gaps for vulnerable populations by promoting comprehensive support. The application is available at fideliscare.org/BH-grants. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. EDT March 28, 2025.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness and one in six U.S. children ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year. The World Health Organization says people exposed to adverse circumstances including poverty, violence, disability, and inequality are at higher risk of developing a mental health condition, underscoring the significant impact of mental illness and substance use disorder on individuals and society. Research has found that integrating mental health into primary healthcare has significant benefits and increases the likelihood of better health outcomes, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The Fidelis Care behavioral health grant program is an initiative dedicated to fostering stronger ties with providers and community-based social need service organizations to get people the help they need to live fulfilling lives. Fidelis Care is taking meaningful steps to support underserved populations by focusing on and enhancing care coordination for individuals with mental and behavioral health diagnosis.

Fidelis Care plans to announce the recipients of its 2025 behavioral health grant program awards by May 1, 2025.