UnitedHealthcare Grants $200,000 to Support Youth in North Carolina

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UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina has pledged $200,000 in grant funding to six local organizations dedicated to assisting children in foster care and young adults transitioning into adulthood across the state.

Anita Bachmann, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina, emphasized the organization’s commitment to fostering healthier communities in North Carolina. She expressed gratitude for the collaboration with organizations focused on enacting lasting changes to enhance the health and well-being of children in foster care and young adults.

Meredith Yuckman, executive director of The Hope Center at Pullen, highlighted the unique challenges faced by children and youth in foster care and the tailored support needed to address these challenges. She expressed appreciation for UnitedHealthcare’s investment, which will enable their organization to provide vital support to this population.

Jen Kimbrough, executive director of strategy at Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, lauded the contributions of the Strong Able Youth Speaking Out (SaySo) program in improving the substitute care system. SaySo educates the community, advocates for necessary changes, and supports youth in or formerly in substitute care in the state. Kimbrough emphasized the program’s role in supporting youth before and during their transition out of care, empowering young adults with lived experiences to advocate for the well-being of their peers in care.

These grants reflect UnitedHealthcare’s ongoing dedication to building healthier communities in North Carolina. Previously, the organization awarded $275,000 in grants to three nonprofits supporting children and youth in kinship and foster care. Furthermore, a $3.2 million grant from the United Health Foundation will aid East Carolina University in expanding youth access to mental health care services over the next three years.

UnitedHealthcare serves over 1.8 million members enrolled in Medicaid, employer-sponsored, individual, and Medicare and retirement plans in North Carolina. The organization’s extensive network includes 173 hospitals and over 64,500 physicians and care providers statewide.