AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation Receives Partner Award from Appalachian Children Coalition

The Appalachian Children Coalition (ACC) recently honored the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation for its ongoing support of initiatives that expand access to critical resources and strengthen support systems for families across Appalachian Ohio.

The Foundation received the Partner Award during the 2026 Impact and Recognition Celebration on May 18 at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

The event highlighted the leaders and organizations driving meaningful change for children and families throughout the region. ACC also recognized Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine with the Impact Award and John Carey, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, with the Advocate Award.

The Foundation supported the Appalachian Children Coalition with grants in 2024 and 2025.

With support from the Foundation in 2024, the Coalition expanded the Appalachian Youth-Led Prevention Council to 35 youth leaders who are championing mental health, substance use prevention, and well-being in their schools and communities.

This work also helped engage entire communities, supporting eight county-level prevention coalitions and reaching more than 450 youth-serving professionals through trainings and Youth Well-Being Summits that advanced community-based approaches to helping young people thrive.

The partnership continued with a grant in 2025 to advance the Coalition’s School Health and Appalachian Partnerships for Equity (SHAPE) Network. This work is part of the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative to establish a coordinated network of school-based health services across Appalachian Ohio.

The SHAPE Network, in partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital, provides technical assistance and wraparound services to support up to 46 school-based health service locations across 23 counties in Appalachian Ohio.

In addition to serving students, some of the clinics increase access to health services for entire communities by providing care for non-school-aged children and adults.

“Building healthier communities requires collaboration, investment, and a shared commitment to addressing the barriers that impact health,” said Lauren Maloney, director of the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation. “We are proud to support the Coalition’s efforts to improve access to care, strengthen support systems, and create healthier futures for children and families.”

Currently, 13 school-based health centers are open and operating across Appalachian Ohio.