BROOKLYN, NY (07/25/2011)(readMedia)-- Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, is pleased to announce the distribution of $112,290 from its Community Grant Fund to benefit Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens, $114,730 to support Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, and $189,980 to benefit the Catholic Migration Office.

For the seventh consecutive year, Fidelis Care is proud to offer grant funds to non-profit organizations that share similar missions and values of service to low-income, vulnerable individuals. The 2010 Fidelis Care Community Grant Fund made grants available, in coordination with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and his brother bishops, across New York State's eight Roman Catholic Dioceses.

"Fidelis Care has always valued and understood the importance of a strong community presence and enduring partnerships with community organizations that share our healing ministry," said Mark L. Lane, President and CEO. "We are pleased to support such worthwhile programs and services and know that they will benefit local residents within the Diocese. This is the heart of our mission."

Bishop DiMarzio added, "On behalf of the residents of the Diocese of Brooklyn, I extend my thanks to Fidelis Care for their continued support of the diocese's community outreach programs. What began as a humble plan to offer health insurance to the poor and medically underserved of this diocese has grown to become the largest government programs-based health insurance provider in New York State. This monumental growth was achieved by building their plan one member at a time, and by serving the needs of the least among us with dignity and respect, as Christ has called upon us to do."

Serving Kings and Queens counties, and providing a wide array of services in areas such as developmental disabilities, caregiver support, outreach, foster care and adoption, homeless shelters, and case management, Catholic Charities is the social service arm of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The agency will use the funding to support the Diocese's Parish and Community Services operations that bring in-house case management, counseling and referral services, and their Consortium of Health Care and Community Providers into each of their organization's 19 Early Childhood Service Centers. More than 1,500 low-income families in nearby communities will benefit from this initiative. The program will provide on-site workshops on health-related topics, help the uninsured obtain appropriate coverage, and ensure that all children and families served by the program have access to qualified medical/pediatric care.

Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services (CCNS) will continue their programs that promote medical care and healthy living in two of Brooklyn's most distressed communities. This initiative engages graduates of the Fatherhood Program to provide peer-to-peer outreach, follow-up phone calls, and assist CCNS staff in fatherhood training classes. The goal is to help more single-parent families live healthier lives, and obtain the medical care and insurance that they and their children need.

The Catholic Migration Office's Health Education and Outreach Program provides assistance to the Latino and Afro-Caribbean immigrant communities within the Diocese, particularly in impoverished areas. For the last six years, the Catholic Migration Office has been committed to providing valuable and free information to poor and other susceptible individuals concerning their basic rights. In addition, the program seeks to educate their clientele on eligibility requirements for, and how to access, health care services and benefits. The Catholic Migration Office has served tens of thousands of people throughout Brooklyn and Queens.

Fidelis Care offers free or low-cost health insurance through New York State's Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid Managed Care programs. Members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, routine screenings, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care, and more. Fidelis Care also offers a variety of benefit options for seniors through Fidelis Medicare Advantage, Dual Advantage, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Fidelis Care at Home programs, available in certain counties.

With more than 715,000 members in 58 counties Statewide, Fidelis Care was founded on the belief that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Members have access to a provider network of more than 43,000 health care professionals Statewide.

Regional offices are located in Amherst, Syracuse, Albany, and Rego Park (Queens), with satellite offices in Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Suffern.

For more information, call Fidelis Care toll-free at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

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Posted Monday July 25, 2011 at 03:30 pm by Fidelis Care
Last Updated Tuesday July 26, 2011 at 02:10 pm