For some kids, it can be the most difficult part of the school day. We’re talking about lunch time, and it’s especially hard if you have to eat by yourself. To help promote inclusion in middle schools, Managed Health Services (MHS) is hosting a bullying prevention initiative at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Valparaiso on Friday, March 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. CST.
MHS is sponsoring an assembly in honor of National No One Eats Alone Day, created by the non-profit Beyond Differences. More than 600 students will attend a bullying prevention program in the school auditorium performed by Young Actors Theatre. The students will learn about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on a student’s health and academic performance. After the program, students will put the lesson into action by sitting with students at lunch who they don’t know, or who may feel left out. They will be given ice breaker topics to discuss to highlight their similarities. School administrators and MHS leadership will also join the students for lunch.
Social isolation has been identified as a precursor to bullying, self-harm and community violence. Students have shown that given the tools, they will stand up for others as empathetic and caring activists, not passive bystanders.
“MHS will work with Thomas Jefferson Middle School faculty, staff and students on this program to help promote ways students can be inclusive and kind to their peers,” said MHS CEO Kevin O’Toole. “Students will be encouraged to create new friendships and be given ‘ice breakers,’ topics all students can discuss to promote and demonstrate inclusion. We are committed to improving the health of the Valparaiso community, and implementing this program will help educate today’s youth on the importance of physical, mental and emotional health.”
“Social isolation is a preventable public health problem affecting millions of children every day who suffer in silence,” said Laura Talmus, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Differences. “We’ve learned through teachers and families that No One Eats Alone is a powerful step and positive initiative that can change the culture in schools to be a more welcoming place for all.”
Thomas Jefferson Middle School is one of more than 2,000 schools across the country that will celebrate No One Eats Alone Day. The initiative will reach more than 1 million students.
No One Eats Alone is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation. For more information, please visit nooneeatsalone.org.
About MHS
Managed Health Services (MHS) is a managed care entity that has been proudly serving the state of Indiana for more than twenty years through the Hoosier Healthwise and Hoosier Care Connect Medicaid programs; and the Healthy Indiana (HIP) Medicaid alternative program. MHS also offers Ambetter from MHS in the Indiana health insurance marketplace, and Allwell from MHS, a Medicare Advantage plan. All of our plans include quality, comprehensive coverage with a provider network you can trust. Visit mhsindiana.com to learn more. MHS is a wholly-owned subsidy of Centene Corporation®, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services.