Texas Students Foster Belonging with No One Eats Alone Day, Partnering with Superior HealthPlan and The Centene Foundation
For the ninth year in a row, Superior HealthPlan, a prominent managed care organization in Texas and a Centene company (NYSE: CNC), partnered with local schools to celebrate No One Eats Alone® Day, a program focused on combating social isolation. In February, 16 schools across Texas hosted events with support from Superior, impacting thousands of students. The Centene Foundation, the charitable branch of Centene, proudly sponsored the event.
For nearly a decade, Superior HealthPlan, a leading managed care organization in Texas and a Centene company (NYSE: CNC), has partnered with local schools across the state to celebrate No One Eats Alone® Day. This initiative, aimed at addressing social isolation among students, provides them with the tools and resources they need to support each other in creating a more inclusive and connected environment. According to Mark Sanders, president and CEO of Superior HealthPlan, “We’ve worked closely with schools in Texas for nearly a decade to offer this program to students, which we believe provides them with skills and resources they can use to better support each other.”
No One Eats Alone® Day, an initiative of Beyond Differences, is designed to tackle the issue of social isolation among students, which is often linked to negative emotional and physical health outcomes. The program encourages peer-to-peer interaction and fosters a culture of belonging and self-esteem. This year, the event took place at 16 participating schools across Texas in February, engaging thousands of students in meaningful activities aimed at making everyone feel included.
The schools participating in this year’s event included:
- Lalla Odom Elementary School, Austin
- Palm Grove Elementary School, Brownsville
- Resaca Middle School, Brownsville
- Burkburnett Middle School, Burkburnett
- Haas Middle School, Corpus Christi
- Moody High School, Corpus Christi
- Cunningham Middle School, Corpus Christi
- Robert R. Rojas Elementary School, El Paso
- Sam Houston Elementary School, Houston
- Los Cuates Middle School, Los Fresnos
- Boys and Girls Clubs of the Permian Basin, Odessa
- Las Yescas Elementary, San Benito
- Liberty Memorial Middle School, San Benito
- Douglas Elementary School, Tyler
- CIS Central Texas, Waco
- Beatriz Middle School, Weslaco
The event’s activities included interactive lessons, creative art projects, and group exercises, all designed to help students better understand the importance of inclusivity and support for their peers. By participating in these activities, students were able to learn how to engage with others and create a school culture where no one feels left out.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for developing serious mental and physical health conditions. The impact of social isolation on young people, in particular, can be detrimental to their mental well-being.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, has emphasized the importance of programs like Beyond Differences, which help students build meaningful connections and foster a sense of belonging. Murthy’s endorsement of such peer-support programs highlights their significance in addressing the social challenges students face, making No One Eats Alone® Day an essential initiative in schools across the U.S. and around the world.
This year’s event saw the participation of 1.5 million students nationwide. These students engaged in activities designed to build connection and inclusivity, while also gaining an understanding of how they can contribute to a culture of belonging in their schools. The nonprofit organization Beyond Differences® created the No One Eats Alone® Day to provide students with the skills they need to foster inclusive environments and challenge the culture of isolation.
About Superior HealthPlan
Superior HealthPlan, founded in 1999, is a managed care company that provides quality healthcare services throughout Texas. The company is committed to transforming the health of the communities it serves, one person at a time. With more than 3,300 employees across all 254 counties in Texas, Superior HealthPlan actively engages with local communities to ensure access to care and wellness resources. As a part of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise, Superior HealthPlan is dedicated to helping individuals live healthier lives.
