Coordinated Care, a managed care organization based in Washington and part of Centene Corporation, marked National No One Eats Alone Day on February 12 by partnering with Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Jones. The event took place at Illahee Middle School in Federal Way, involving sixth-grade students.
No One Eats Alone Day is part of the Sandy Hook Promise program, which aims to foster inclusivity among students and promote understanding and respect for differences. This year, thirty-five schools in Washington and about 5,000 schools nationwide participated in the initiative.
Beth Johnson, President and CEO of Coordinated Care, emphasized the importance of supporting young people’s mental health: “The well‑being of our young people is not just a priority, it is a responsibility we all share,” Johnson said. “Today’s youth face mental health challenges too often compounded by the impact of bullying and social pressures. Coordinated Care is committed to investing in youth mental health and fostering communities where we create safe environments, speak openly about mental health, and every young person feels supported.”
Research from the World Health Organization indicates that teenagers experiencing loneliness are more likely to have lower academic performance. Loneliness and social isolation are also associated with higher risks of stroke, heart disease, depression, and self-harm or suicidal thoughts. The same research found that stronger social connections can improve both physical and mental health.
Walter Jones commented on his involvement: “I love joining Coordinated Care in their work to support kids across the state,” Jones said. “Every kid deserves to feel included and valued and I’m here to tell students that they’re not alone. No One Eats Alone Day encourages youth to come together at a time in their lives where they may feel out of place and find that common ground.”
Participating schools receive Belonging Boxes containing lesson plans on emotional awareness, materials for an art project called Connect the Dots, conversation starters for building new relationships among students, leadership guides for students, and resources available in English and Spanish.
Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise who attended the Federal Way event this year, stated: “Social isolation harms children both physically and mentally in terms of detrimental health impacts – some of which can be long-term – and it’s also a major risk factor and warning sign for extreme situations like self-harm and violence,” Hockley said. “The power of personal connections is profoundly transformative, and that’s what’s so special about No One Eats Alone Day. Simple acts of kindness have the power to pull kids back from the brink – not only saving lives but changing them for the better.”
Coordinated Care has supported National No One Eats Alone Day since 2016 alongside The Centene Foundation. Additional events took place at several other schools throughout Washington state.
Coordinated Care provides healthcare coverage—including Medicaid—to over 300,000 members statewide through a network exceeding 47,000 providers.
More information about No One Eats Alone Day can be found at nooneeatsalone.org.
Information about Coordinated Care’s community initiatives is available at www.CoordinatedCareHealth.com/WA-first.
