CareSource Foundation invests in Appalachian Children Coalition

The CareSource Foundation announced they have provided a $40,000 grant to the Appalachian Children Coalition to support its work to expand access to behavioral health services and supports for children across Ohio’s Appalachian region. The announcement was made by Randy Leite, Appalachian Children Coalition Executive Director.

The grant from CareSource will support ongoing work through the Appalachian Behavioral Health Workforce Hub as well as expanded efforts to promote school-based health services and prevention education programs.

“CareSource is proud to invest in the Appalachian Children Coalition to increase access and support for behavioral health services for children in the Southeastern Ohio region,” said Dee Yocum, Vice President of Ohio Market Operations for CareSource. “Every child deserves to have access to the care they need in their community, school or home to lead a healthy and productive life.”

CareSource is a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with over 2.3 million members. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, since its founding in 1989, CareSource administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. As a mission-driven organization, CareSource is transforming health care with innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, health equity, prevention and access to care. 

“We are so pleased that CareSource has chosen to support our efforts,” said Leite. “They have shown a strong commitment to children in the region, and we are honored that they have chosen the Appalachian Children Coalition as one piece of that commitment.”

The Appalachian Children Coalition was created in 2020 to expand regional capacity to meet the behavioral health needs of children across Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties. The Coalition’s work is focused on growing the behavioral health workforce and supporting the expansion of behavioral health services in schools and communities.

The grant from CareSource will support the development of school health centers delivering primary care and behavioral health services, prevention programs focused on teen suicide and other prevalent issues, ongoing work to encourage individuals to pursue behavioral health careers in the region, and relevant research on best-practice models to address behavioral health challenges.