DAYTON, Ohio, February 7, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CareSource, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan, announced a sponsorship agreement with Positiv.ly, LLC to support the growth of an app aimed at improve adolescent mental health. The announcement was made by Joshua Boynton, senior vice president of Complex Health Policy at CareSource.
“Student-age children are facing more mental health issues than ever before,” Boynton said. “The COVID pandemic has increased stress, anxiety, and depression for our families and youth. CareSource is committed to strengthening the resilience of our communities by ensuring youth and educators have the tools to transform our schools into centers of positive mental health. We are excited to partner with Positiv.ly to support the positive relationships and build the communities that young people need to live happy and healthy lives.”
Positiv.ly was launched by parent company Ascend Innovations, a Dayton technology company focused on creating data-driven products and solutions for community health organizations. Founded in 2015 by a progressive group of Dayton hospitals who believe in the impact of shared knowledge, Ascend provides data-driven, socially impactful products and services that help organizations solve complex community health problems.
“We are very excited about the strategic relationship we are forging with CareSource,” said Josh Gratsch, president and COO of Ascend Innovations. “Not only does this align with who Ascend is as a company from a mission and values standpoint, it also supports our long-term vision to build and scale technology in the community health space. We truly believe this collaboration will produce impactful results, and we are ready to scale Positiv.ly as the first of many collective efforts with the CareSource team.”
Positiv.ly is an online community that fosters resilience by giving teens a safe space to share their mental health stories and access mental health resources. Launched in April 2021, the Positiv.ly pilot reached 18,000 students at more than 30 schools in Dayton, Ohio. Last fall, Positiv.ly partnered with the Central Ohio Education Service Center to serve students throughout Franklin County.
“We are excited to provide our students with access to a platform where they can share uplifting, honest and real stories that help reduce the stigma around mental health issues that all high school students will experience in one way or another. We are also pleased that they will have access to a resource guide where, if they feel comfortable doing so, they can find support when they need it most,” said Tyler Alexander, principal at Kettering Fairmont High School, one of the pilot schools. .
“As social workers and therapists, we strive to provide opportunities for growth and support for people in crisis,” said Dr. Jarhal Duncan, CEO of Positiv.ly. “We’re excited about Positiv.ly to enable positive change in the communities CareSource serves.”
In addition to its financial investment, CareSource will also serve as a strategic partner for Positiv.ly. Boynton will serve as an advisor to the Positiv.ly board of directors and Tia Marcel Moretti, AVP, Behavioral Health Integration at CareSource, will serve on the Positiv.ly clinical advisory board.
About CareSource
CareSource is a multi-state, not-for-profit health plan recognized as a national leader in managed care. Founded in 1989, CareSource operates one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the country, offering lifetime access to care through health insurance, including Medicaid, the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and dual eligibility programs. . Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves more than 2 million members in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. CareSource is also a partner in CareSource PASSE, which serves Arkansans with complex mental health issues and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face in navigating the health system and is transforming health care with industry-leading programs that improve the health and well-being of our members.
For more visit www.caresource.com, follow, continue @caresource on Twitter, or as CareSource on Facebook.
About Postiv.ly
Positiv.ly is a social-emotional learning (SEL) program and digital community that helps teens reach their full potential by developing resilience and mental health coping strategies. Positiv.ly creates an environment for students to learn and grow by providing a safe space for teens to connect through shared experiences and stories. The program offers a comprehensive set of services for schools, including a detailed directory of community resources, an online community, and SEL programming. For more visit https://positiv.ly
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