Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare Awards $110,000 to Fund Iberia Parish Program Aimed at Improving Rural Health

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare announced that it is awarding a $110,000 Improving Health in Rural Counties/Parishes grant to the Iberia Development Foundation and the Iberia Parish Government. Centene Corporation's national behavioral health specialty company, Cenpatico, supported the Foundation's efforts to identify an innovative program in Louisiana that supports transforming the health of rural communities, through individual focus and active local involvement.

The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare was formed in 2004 to improve the quality of healthcare for medically underserved individuals and families and economically distressed areas. The Foundation supports Centene's purpose to transform the health of the community. Over the years, the Foundation's funding projects have included obesity, school-based health clinics, disparities in mental health among black women and education and outreach related to public health programs such as Medicaid.

"The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare strongly believes in investing in our communities, especially those communities that are challenged around delivery of care," said Kathy Bradley-Wells, President, Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare. "Centene believes we have a responsibility to remove barriers and make it easier to get well, receive access to services and strengthen our communities. We look forward to working with Iberia Parish, who is aware of these challenges first hand."

"We are dedicated to supporting programs designed to improve the overall well-being of our communities," Jamie Schlottman, President and CEO of Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Centene Corporation's Louisiana-based subsidiary. "And when we can partner with an alliance providing educational tools as well as dynamic technical assistance, we make better health both achievable and sustainable. Louisiana Healthcare Connections looks forward to leveraging the reach and impact of this grant."

The Iberia Development Foundation and the Iberia Parish Government collaborated with community stakeholders, including the Francis M. Boley STEM-Ag Academy, the Acadiana Growers Alliance, LSU AgCenter and others, to address the community's significant need for health and nutrition information for grade school age children, as well as increasing access for children and their families to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The $110,000 award will go towards teaching the importance of good nutrition as part of the foundation for lifelong health.

"We are very excited to be working with Cenpatico and the Centene Foundation to improve the health of our rural community," said Michael J. Tarantino, Executive Director, Iberia Development Foundation. "Our work with great local partners like FM Boley STEM/Ag Academy, the Acadiana Growers Alliance and Iberia Parish Government educate and inform students and families on local agricultural and good nutrition are good for our community and great for our children's future."

"On behalf of the Iberia Parish Government, I would like to thank everyone at the Centene Foundation for this opportunity to bring together so many stakeholders in our community for a common purpose. I am humbled to be a part of such a worthy cause and very excited about the difference the FM Boley STEM/Ag Academy will make in the lives of grade-school children and their families," said Aquicline Rener-Arnold, District 12 Parish Council Member of the Iberia Parish Government.

About The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare
The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare is a non-profit private foundation dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare in the United States. The Foundation serves as a resource to identify and support innovative approaches to improving and increasing the quality of and access to healthcare for low-income individuals and families. This is accomplished through an inspired philanthropic giving plan that seeks to promote efforts and activities that identify and address core causes of unequal access and treatment in healthcare. 

About Cenpatico
Cenpatico's expertise lies in managing benefits for vulnerable populations. Our healthcare specialties include behavioral health, foster care, school-based services, specialty therapy and rehabilitation and more. We have managed Medicaid and other public sector benefits since 1994; currently, we serve over 4 million members nationally. Our headquarters are in Austin, Texas and we have local teams across the country in the markets we serve. Cenpatico is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation. We are committed to innovative solutions and designing programs tailored to improving functional outcomes with our members. Find us online at www.cenpatico.com.

SOURCE The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare; Cenpatico

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