More than 1.5 million students nationwide to
participate in this year's event
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 14,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of
California's most experienced
Medi-Cal managed care health plans and company of Centene
Corporation (NYSE: CNC), is proud to support No One Eats
Alone® Day, a prevention initiative aimed at fostering inclusion to
end social isolation and help students get to know one another, so
that every student feels like they belong. California schools will host events, with the
help of Health Net. National No One Eats Alone Day is February 14, 2025. Centene Foundation, the
philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, sponsors the events.
"It's our mission to transform the health of the community and
that means caring for California's
most vulnerable residents, which includes our youth," said
Dorothy Seleski, senior vice president for Medi-Cal at Health
Net. "We are honored to support No One Eats Alone Day and its
mission to end social isolation. By fostering stronger connections
among students and promoting a sense of belonging, we can help
ensure they feel seen, supported and included."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, social isolation
and loneliness put a person at risk of developing serious
mental and physical health conditions. Peer-to-peer support
programs help build connection, self-esteem and a culture of
belonging at schools, which underscores why, each year, schools
nationwide and in many countries around the world celebrate
National No One Eats Alone Day.
"Health Net is helping address social isolation in our schools,
creating a brighter, healthier future for our communities," said
County of Sacramento Supervisor
Patrick Kennedy. "As leaders, it is
our responsibility to encourage initiatives that strengthen the
well-being of our youth. National No One Eats Alone Day is a
powerful reminder of the importance of belonging and
connection."
"Today's youth represent the leaders of tomorrow, and it's
crucial that we continue to promote inclusion and connection to
help them thrive," said Sacramento City Unified School District
Board of Education Member Taylor Kayatta. "I commend Health
Net for partnering with local schools to host events that empower
students and foster a strong sense of belonging."
The nonprofit organization Beyond
Differences established No One Eats Alone as an initiative to
end social isolation and has been providing free Social Emotional
Learning curriculum and programs to schools since it was founded in
2010. On September 16, 2024, Beyond Differences became
part of Sandy Hook Promise. The
integration brings together two youth-centered, national nonprofit
organizations with aligned missions and complementary strengths – a
win-win for youth across the country.
"Social isolation is a critical warning sign that can precede
school shootings and violence," said Nicole Hockley,
co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook
Promise. "By encouraging interpersonal connections and
empowering students with the knowledge and skills to co-create a
positive, welcoming school climate, we can make our schools, homes
and communities safer and more supportive for our nation's
youth."
Participating schools will receive a free Belonging Box, which
includes in-class lesson plans on social isolation and actionable
steps to cultivate belonging. The Belonging Box also includes a
student leadership guide, conversation starters to help students
connect with someone new, and materials for an art project that
encourages students to build connections with their classmates. All
student-facing materials are available in English and Spanish.
During lunch, students are encouraged to meet someone new and
complete a "Hearts and Hands" activity sheet. This interactive art
activity prompts students to share unique things about themselves
and discover common ground with others. Schools can display the
completed sheets in a two-winged mural installation that doubles as
a selfie photo opportunity for students.
"We've supported National No One Eats Alone Day for years
because we know that social isolation significantly impacts a
child's mental health and well-being," said Centene Foundation
President Keith Williamson. "We are
proud to provide resources that help students make meaningful
connections, creating a positive ripple effect that strengthens
relationships and enhances the mental health of the entire school
community."
In 2024, the Centene Foundation registered 443 schools
across 12 states to participate in No One Eats Alone. Sandy Hook Promise will send more than 3,200
Belonging Boxes to schools in all 50 states, reaching over 1.5
million students on National No One Eats Alone Day. All Belonging
Boxes are provided at no charge to schools.
About Health Net
Founded in California more than 45
years ago, Health Net, a company of Centene Corporation, believes
that every person deserves a safety net for their health,
regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of
health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families,
businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or
Medicare. With more than 90,000 of our network providers, Health
Net serves more than three million members across the state. We
also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health
services, employee assistance programs and managed healthcare
products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans
and services available through Health Net, LLC and its
subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance
Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are
wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a
leading healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health
of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net and
Centene employ more than 5,700 people in California who work at one of five regional
Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit
www.HealthNet.com.
About Centene Foundation
The Centene Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit
focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the
philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC)
("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects and initiatives
strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and
enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the barriers to
wellness underserved and low-income populations face. The
Foundation is committed to addressing social determinants of health
and improving health equity in three distinct areas of focus:
healthcare access, social services and education. To learn more,
visit the Centene Foundation's website.
About Sandy Hook
Promise
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP)
envisions a future where all children are free from school
shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit
organization, SHP's mission is to educate and empower youth and
adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities.
Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed "Know the Signs"
prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who
may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting
themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school
safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the
state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and
partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones
were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary
School on December 14, 2012.
About Beyond Differences
Nonprofit Beyond Differences' mission is to inspire
students nationwide to end social isolation in middle schools and
create a culture of belonging for everyone. Founded in 2010, Beyond
Differences is a youth-led social justice movement, empowering
students to become activists and change the culture in their
schools. Beyond Differences provides Social-Emotional Learning
(SEL) tools to disrupt social isolation and change the world,
starting with how students treat each other at school and online.
Programs include Know Your Classmates®, No One Eats
Alone®, and Be Kind Online®. All curriculum
and activity kits are provided free for schools. Currently, more
than 10,000 schools use Beyond Differences' programs and materials.
Beyond Differences is a part of Sandy Hook
Promise.
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SOURCE Health Net
