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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


Know the Signs of Stroke: Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Prevention
5/5/2025 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Caregiver Support, Health and Wellness, Heart Health

Stroke-Awareness-Month

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It's a time to raise awareness about the symptoms and treatment for stroke. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. It is also a leading cause of disability.

What is a stroke?

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. When the brain does not get oxygen for even a few minutes, part of the brain will die or become damaged.


What are the risk factors for a stroke?

Stroke risk increases with age, but they can occur at any age. Genetics or family history are risk factors for stroke. The risk of having a stroke varies with race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic Black adults and Pacific Islander adults have the highest rates of death from stroke. Many common medical conditions and lifestyle choices can increase your risk for stroke, including:

  • High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes.
  • High blood cholesterol causes plaque that clogs blood vessels.
  • Diabetes: High sugar levels in the blood causes organ damage and form plaque.
  • Obesity: Excess body fat can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and raised cholesterol levels.
  • Sickle cell disease: The abnormally shaped blood cells in this blood disorder can get stuck in blood vessels and cause a stroke.
  • Heart disease: Certain heart conditions increase the risk for stroke such as plaque in the heart arteries (atherosclerosis), irregular heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), or enlarged heart chambers (cardiomyopathy) that increase the risk of forming blood clots that can travel to the brain.
  • Lifestyle: Behaviors such as physical inactivity, high alcohol intake, smoking, and diets high in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol have been associated with an increased risk for stroke.


What are the symptoms and warning signs of a stroke?

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is important. This way, you can take fast action if you or someone you know might be having a stroke. The chances of survival are greater when emergency treatment begins quickly. Common symptoms of a stroke include:

  • Sudden weakness, numbness, or paralysis of one side of the face or body.
  • Sudden confusion or inability to speak or understand.
  • Sudden change in vision.
  • Sudden difficulty walking or keeping balance.
  • Sudden severe headache with no obvious cause.


What should you do after a stroke?

Every minute counts! If you notice symptoms, call 911 immediately. The faster that needed treatment can be given, the more brain cells that can be saved and damage avoided.

Use the letters in F.A.S.T. to identify a possible stroke:

F – Face Drooping

A – Arm Weakness

S – Speech Difficulty

T – Time to call 911


What happens after a stroke?

The symptoms and effects after a stroke vary from person to person. They depend on which part of the brain was affected, the severity of the stroke, and how quickly treatment was given. Rehabilitation therapy is an important part of recovery after a stroke. Your medical team may recommend physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech-language therapy.


How can strokes be prevented?

80% of strokes can be prevented. Talk with your provider about steps you can take to lower your risk for stroke. You can:

  • Visit your primary care provider (PCP) for regular checkups. Take prescribed medications as directed. Talk to your PCP about a stroke prevention plan that is right for you.
  • Know your numbers. Go to your PCP and get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly. Your PCP will see if they are in the normal range.
  • Don’t smoke. Quit smoking or don’t start smoking. Avoid tobacco smoke.
  • Check blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, keep blood sugar levels controlled.
  • Eat healthy. Follow a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains, and fiber. Limit alcohol intake, and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and added sugars.
  • Be physically active. Adults should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, or a combination of both.

Sources

https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/05/05/5-critical-steps-to-help-prevent-a-stroke

https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/risk-factors/index.html