Blue Shield Aims to Reduce Mental Health Racial Care Disparities

To help combat racial care disparities in communities of color, Blue Shield of California (Blue Shield) provided $300,000 to 12 different nonprofit organizations in California that promote the mental health and well-being of youths in their communities.  

This act supports the health equity strategy of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), Blue Shield’s parent company, as it seeks to improve racial care disparities by collaborating with local community leaders. By contributing $25,000 to each organization, Blue Shield is providing opportunities for youths of color that can improve their mental health. 

This contribution also draws from Blue Shield’s Blue Sky youth mental health initiative. The initiative boosts access to mental health support for youths by funding school and community mental health programs and providing educational resources for parents and educators.  

With mental health conditions being the top reason that children in California are hospitalized, early intervention is critical. The nonprofits that received this funding provide support through art programs, mentorship, technology training, housing, social justice activism, and more.  

“These organizations are taking on hard challenges and finding new, innovative ways to inspire Black, Hispanic, Asian and foster youth to live their healthiest, most productive, and fulfilling lives,” said Kimberley Goode, senior vice president of external affairs at Blue Shield. 

"Local nonprofits are key to building a healthier California as they work to break down barriers to well-being and economic opportunities and reduce stigma around mental health. Blue Shield selected this diverse group of organizations, who are trusted experts, working on the ground in their communities to drive meaningful change.” 

Six of the organizations that received funding are in the San Francisco Bay Area, while the other six are in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. 

“Most foster youth in California have no source of income when they 'age out' and are expected to make it on their own," said Dontae Lartigue, chief executive officer and co-founder of Razing the Bar in San Jose, one of the nonprofit organizations that received funding. 

"We have to be proximate, intentional, and be able to invest time in young people -- the way we would provide for our own children. When we do this as a community and as a system, that is when young people will thrive. We are grateful for Blue Shield's support to help us reach even more youths in need.” 

"This funding couldn't have come at a better time," added Pepi Jackson, president of the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce which has connections with the Building Resilience in African American Families organization.  

"It will immediately help us to increase the character building services we provide to our young girls and boys who live in some of the most vulnerable communities in the Inland Empire.” 

Throughout the rest of Mental Health Awareness Month, Blue Shield has planned several initiatives to raise awareness and reduce the stigmas surrounding mental health conditions.  

The payer will participate in MTV’s Mental Health Day of Action on May 20th and will sponsor the “Directing Change Program and Film Contest” virtual awards ceremony that honors diverse youth filmmakers throughout California. 

Social determinants of health include economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. All of these factors can influence a community’s overall mental health and wellbeing.  

Many communities of color experience social determinants of health barriers which may lead to a higher demand for mental health support.  

However, payers like Blue Shield have the power to reduce racial care disparities because of their ability to redirect money to certain organizations in communities of color that can help address social determinants of health.