Missouri Schools & Home State Health: Fostering Belonging on National No One Eats Alone® Day
For the sixth consecutive year, Home State Health, a Managed Care Organization catering to Medicaid recipients in collaboration with MO HealthNet and a subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), has backed No One Eats Alone® Day, an initiative by nonprofit Beyond Differences™ aimed at fostering inclusivity and a sense of belonging in middle schools.
The kick-off event takes place at Old North Academy, 3017 North 13th Street, St. Louis, on February 16, 2024, open to media from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Throughout February, Home State Health will partner with multiple schools, with the Centene Foundation sponsoring the event.
“At Home State Health, we’re dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of children, which includes equipping them with resources for success,” stated Jeffrey Johnston, President, and CEO. “We’re honored to collaborate with Beyond Differences to observe No One Eats Alone Day® and raise awareness about social issues impacting Missouri’s students.”
Research in public health underscores the adverse effects of social isolation on children’s mental well-being, including depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and increased likelihood of substance abuse. A study by Beyond Differences revealed that empowering students with programs addressing social isolation led to nearly 85 percent feeling inspired to foster acceptance and belonging in their schools.
Beyond Differences® instituted No One Eats Alone to combat social isolation, expecting over 1 million students to engage in activities highlighting the detrimental effects of social isolation on health and academic performance. Through classroom lessons, interactive exercises, and creative projects centered on expanding social connections, students will collaborate to cultivate a more inclusive school environment.
“This year’s No One Eats Alone theme, Let’s Grow: Planting New Connections, draws from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on social connection, emphasizing the need to nurture connections like a garden,” remarked Laura Talmus, co-founder, and executive director of Beyond Differences. “Our curriculum delves into emotional recognition, understanding social isolation, and equips students to be disruptors of social isolation and ambassadors of belonging.”
About Home State Health: Home State Health serves Missourians through various health insurance solutions, focusing on Medicaid recipients in partnership with MO HealthNet. The organization also serves the under-insured and uninsured through its Health Insurance Marketplace plan, Ambetter, and offers insurance for the Medicare population via the Medicare Advantage plan, Wellcare. Committed to improving members’ health through compassionate care coordination, Home State Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation.
