Cenpatico Blog

The Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City (WFGKC) has honored Cenpatico Network Manager Deb Burnham for her work in the community in its 2010 publication, A Celebration of Women. The annual commemorative journal has honored more than 2,000 of Kansas City’s women and girls from all walks of life since the publication was established in 1993.

Burnham, a co-chair for the development of the journal, has been involved with WFGKC for two years, and she will be chairing the journal committee in 2011. Through A Celebration of Women, the Kansas City community has been introduced to many remarkable women and girls and the enormously varied ways they affect their families, friends, community and professions.

“I was surprised and honored by my family and friends to be included in the 2010 commemorative journal,” Burnham said. “To be recognized by them for the volunteer and community work I have done is truly heartwarming.  They are my inspiration and make my life complete.”

Burnham was officially recognized by the WFGKC during a ceremony at the 2010 commemorative journal’s unveiling at the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park on May 10.

The mission of the WFGKC is to raise, invest and grant funds to promote equity and opportunity for women and girls in the greater Kansas City area.  Additionally, monies raised through these tributes have enabled the foundation to educate women and girls about philanthropy and to play a leadership role in the challenges and opportunities facing women and girls in the community. Since its creation in 1991, the Women’s Foundation has made 200 grants totaling more than $1.8 million to projects benefiting the women and girls of the community.

This entry is filed under News.

Cenpatico will continue its pursuit of raising awareness for mental health when it takes part in the 2010 NAMIWalk in Milwaukee, Wis. on Saturday.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will host five NAMIWalks throughout Wisconsin this weekend, and Cenpatico has sponsored a Walk Team for the NAMI Greater Milwaukee event.

“This is an important way to bring attention to those afflicted with mental illness and to fight the stigma associated with it,” said Provider Relations Specialist Kristel L. Johns, who will be among the Cenpatico contingent at the event.

The three-mile benefit walk will begin at 10 a.m. at Veteran’s Park at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center – 1010 N Lincoln Memorial Drive.

The honorary chairman of the Greater Milwaukee NAMIWalk is Greg Jennings, an all-pro wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers who will chair the event alongside his wife, Nicole.

Refreshments, music and other forms of entertainment will follow the walk.

Registration for the event is free of charge. For more information on the Greater Milwaukee 2010 NAMIWalk, logon to www.nami.org/namiwalks10/grm.

This entry is filed under News.

Next time you find yourself among a crowd, take a moment to survey the scene and think about this simple, yet startling fact from the National Institute of Mental Health – In any given year, one-fourth of adults in the U.S. suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.

In short, mental illness is everywhere, and chances are great that it has recently impacted you or someone close to you. That is why this May, Cenpatico, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and many other organizations throughout the nation are celebrating National Mental Health Month.

This month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is encouraging everyone to seek out events in their respective communities throughout the country to raise awareness of mental illness.

Mental Health America (MHA), which began recognizing ‘May is Mental Health Month’ back in 1949, encourages Americans to be proactive about maintaining mental health with its “Live Your Life Well” campaign. “Live your Life Well” is a national public education campaign designed to help people handle the stresses of daily life and, in doing so, enhance the individual’s and family’s overall quality of life. The campaign includes various mental health-related fact sheets in addition to “10 research-based, straight-forward tools and ways to apply them in every day life.”

In addition to advocacy groups, governors, mayors and other local, state and federal officials are joining the push to raise additional awareness and support for the mentally ill this month.

“Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall physical health and emotional well-being, and caring for your mind as well as your body is good for your overall health and vital for success in personal life, at work and at school,” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said in his proclamation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month in his state.

Through fund-raising, volunteering and other avenues available to you, Cenpatico encourages everyone to help our nation raise awareness of mental illness this May.

This entry is filed under News.

For the first time in its history, Centene Corporation, the parent company of Cenpatico Behavioral Health, LLC, has been recognized a Fortune 500 company by Fortune magazine.

Each year, Fortune publishes a report on the largest companies by revenue. This year, with 2009 revenues of $4.1 billion, Centene ranked No. 486 – breaking into the top 500 for the first time.

“The new milestone underscores the strong and consistent growth we’ve worked hard to achieve,” said Centene Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael F. Neidorff. “It is recognition that we are navigating Centene toward a prosperous future, despite the difficult and volatile economic climate.”

“I would like to use this occasion to commend every employee for their contribution to our achievement, and also for their everyday efforts to bring better health outcomes to our 1.5 million members,” Neidorff added.

In 2008, Centene ranked No. 609 with revenues of $3.3 billion.

“Going forward, I am convinced we will continue to reach new milestones as we expand our ability to offer innovative, low-cost solutions to states for high quality health care services for the un-insured and under-insured,” Neidorff said.

This entry is filed under News.

Nearly two years ago, Cenpatico launched the Provider Profiling Initiative (PPI) to improve services and outcomes for all members.  The PPI also identifies and rewards providers who demonstrate service excellence and adherence to Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (EBPs).

We would like to hear from your Clinical Director or Director of Outpatient Programs regarding your agency’s use of EBPs.  Please visit the Provider homepage of the Cenpatico website to take our brief survey.  To access the survey, please click here, or click on the graphic below.  We look forward to hearing from you!

This entry is filed under News.