91心頭利嫋

Le 91心頭利嫋 College has received a $30,000 Health Equity Innovation Award from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The award is part of more than $520,000 in financial support for community programs that address health disparities across the upstate New York service area of Excellus.

At Le 91心頭利嫋, the funds will be used beginning in 2024 to create a peer-based health promotion approach called Dolphins Spreading HOPE! (Healthy Optimistic Positive Experience) to reach high school students at risk for mental health issues and suicidality. Le 91心頭利嫋 plans to deploy approximately 30 Le 91心頭利嫋 student Wellness Ambassadors, who will have already completed a resiliency-based course and will be trained in suicide prevention, into their home communities throughout Central New York high schools. The resiliency-based course at Le 91心頭利嫋 is currently funded by atwo-year, $300,000 grant from the Booth Ferris Foundation.

We are thrilled to be a recipient of this highly competitive award from Excellus, said Anne Kearney, LCSW-R, dean of student wellbeing for Le 91心頭利嫋. The plan to empower our students to become wellness ambassadors within their own communities aligns perfectly with Le 91心頭利嫋s mission to serve. In addition, the research tells us that helping others helps our own well-being, so there is mutual benefit all the way around.

The College will partner with the Greater Central New York Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which serves, among many others, Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties. Le 91心頭利嫋 will work with AFSP to have Le 91心頭利嫋 student ambassadors participate in programs, panel discussions, large group information sessions and individual classrooms as well as local community events. The Wellness Ambassadors will aim to increase connections, reduce stigma about help seeking, offer guidance about preparing for the stresses of life, college, or career, and ultimately increase hope for the youth in our communities.

Excellus BCBSs funding will support 20 non-profitorganizations across the Central New York, Rochester, Utica, theNorth Countryand Southern Tier regions. With more than 180 applicants, a comprehensive review process included input from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to assess each proposal. Grant recipients were selected based on clear, defined goals and measurable results for reducing health disparities and improving health equity.