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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.

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More Health Equity News


Fidelis Care Opens Applications for 2026 Here for Your Health Behavioral Health Grants
3/18/2026 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Corporate News, Member News, Provider News

Grants aimed at funding innovative solutions to overcome barriers to care for individuals with substance use disorders

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY [March 18, 2026] – Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York State and a Centene Corporation company, announced the opening of the 2026 Here for Your Health behavioral health grant application cycle.

This year’s grant theme centers on innovative approaches to reducing barriers to care for individuals with substance use disorders, prioritizing programs that improve access, engagement, and continuity of care for underserved and historically marginalized populations.

Grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 will be awarded to initiatives that address persistent challenges such as stigma, care fragmentation, and health-related social needs that can prevent individuals from accessing or staying connected to substance use treatment and recovery services.

“Too many New Yorkers facing substance use disorders encounter obstacles that delay or derail care altogether,” said Fidelis Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vincent Marchello. “Through this year’s grant program, we are investing in innovative, community-driven solutions that meet people where they are, remove barriers to treatment, and strengthen pathways to recovery. By supporting new ideas and partnerships, we can help close gaps in care and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness says millions of adults in the U.S. experience mental health conditions each year, often alongside substance use disorders. In New York State alone, more than 3.2 million adults, about one in five, are living with a mental health condition, and nearly 783,000 experience a serious mental illness that significantly interferes with daily life. Research and public health data consistently show that individuals facing economic instability, housing insecurity, and limited access to coordinated care are at heightened risk for unmet behavioral health needs. Innovative, integrated approaches are critical to ensuring timely, effective, and person-centered care.

The deadline to apply for a Fidelis Care Here for Your Health behavioral health grant is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Fidelis Care plans to announce grant recipients in May in observance of National Mental Health Awareness Month.


About Fidelis Care
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.4 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fidelis-care, on Twitter at @fideliscare, Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

About Here for Your Health
The Fidelis Care Here for Your Health (HFYH) campaign reaffirms a commitment to the health of every New Yorker. The campaign highlights Fidelis Care’s mission to ensure individuals receive care that is accessible, personalized, and comprehensive at every stage of life. Through strategic partnerships and community-based outreach, HFYH aims to connect New Yorkers with essential health services and resources that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being, while actively working to bridge gaps in care across communities.