In public health, we often state that your ZIP code is a greater predictor of health than your genetic code, meaning geography matters to an individual’s health and wellness as much as regular checkups and medical care. The roots of good health are planted in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
To eliminate barriers to health equity and address social determinants of health (SDOH), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) creates partnerships to deepen relationships and improve health outcomes in our community. Rather than imposing ideas of health on people, we focus on collaboration and projects that impact the SDOH: the hugely significant but too-often ignored social, mental, and physical aspects of health and wellness.
CareFirst prioritizes place-based public health initiatives in our philanthropic giving, marketing messaging and volunteer activities because we believe no one is better equipped to serve a community than those who live there.
Baltimore, MD
To address food insecurity and economic inclusion concerns in Southwest Baltimore, CareFirst launched a three-year initiative with the Baltimore Orioles in support of The Food Project, an organization that increases access to healthy food and provides workforce development training and employment opportunities to youth in the community. In partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, we purchased a van that was desperately needed by the Maryland Food Bank, right as COVID created a heightened need for food in a zip code that was already suffering. Since March 2020, the trio of brands delivered over 300,000 meals to the city of Baltimore.
Washington, D.C.
Our partnerships in Washington, D.C., focus on investments in economic inclusion and reducing disparities that impact chronic conditions. Together with the Washington Mystics, Wizards, and Capitals, we are celebrating the end of the first successful growing season with DC Greens and The Well at Oxon Run, a resident-run initiative by the community for the community. In collaboration with the Washington Nationals and Building Bridges Across the River, we completed our first growing season in the “Giving Garden,” a 6,000-square-foot rooftop garden inside of Nationals Park. The garden produced 600 pounds of produce this season, which is approximately $10,000 worth of produce, for residents in the District’s Wards 7 and 8 this year.
Like many of our sports partners, we believe that where you live should not determine how long or how well you live. At CareFirst, we are holding ourselves and our partners accountable to invest in initiatives that address the SDOH to improve the health and wellness of our communities. To find out more about our local partnerships or community funding, please visit carefirst.com/community.
About the Author:
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the largest not-for-profit health plan in the mid-Atlantic, advancing access to affordable, equitable healthcare for 3.6 million people.
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