Community Health
Highmark Bright Blue Futures' Community Health efforts go well beyond clinical services, important as they are. Reducing health inequities and disparities among our targeted populations through novel solutions and strong partnerships go a long way toward reversing societal trends and lifting up those in need.
Dedicated support.
All people should have access to care and resources. We continue to work to reduce health inequities and disparities among targeted populations. We are improving health outcomes in line with our enterprise Living Health strategy.
Strong relationships.
Along with healthcare providers, community partners, and volunteers, we support programs that increase the capacity of community organizations providing health services.
Focus on education and wellness.
We work with our partners to connect individuals to social and community resources to improve their mental and physical health and increase access to educational opportunities.
A fulfilled life.
We collaborate with programs looking to reduce unemployment, food insecurity, and housing instability, as well as programs improving neighborhoods and environments to promote health and safety and improve economic well-being and quality of life.
Continued commitment.
We are diving deeper into our work and improving health outcomes, one step at a time.
Advocacy and equitable care.
In her recent op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Highmark Health’s Senior Vice President of Community Affairs, Kenya T. Boswell, reflected on the unequal burden diabetes places on individuals who often lack access to regular care, affordable medications, community support, and self-management practices. Kenya served as the 2023 executive chair of the American Diabetes Association of Western Pennsylvania's Step Out Walk, which raised money and awareness to address the harmful curve of the diabetes epidemic. Plans are already underway to continue spreading awareness and advocating for equitable wellness resources at next year's walk.
Our strategy is supported by five pillars that play an important role in promoting the wellbeing of all: Access to Care, Economic Stability for Individuals and Families, Social and Community Context, Education Access, and Neighborhood and Built Environment. When we advance each of these areas in a given community, healthcare outcomes improve in kind.
Access to Care
Highmark Bright Blue Futures strives to ensure that everyone in our communities, regardless of their location, income, or other factors, has equitable access to preventative care, disease-specific support, and health literacy programs. Learn how we achieve our overall community health goals, and ultimately lead to a healthier, more equitable society.
Economic Stability
We work to reduce hardships that keep people from achieving financial security such as food insecurity, housing instability, and unemployment. By uplifting communities to a more equitable status with their neighbors and provide them with opportunities that they may not have had otherwise.
Social and Community Context
Our programs related to physical activity and social connections encourage individuals to improve their health and quality of life through regular physical activity, and to seek out relationships that nurture their emotional, psychological, and physical wellness, and growth.
Education Access
Through training and educational opportunities in healthcare and medical fields, as well as providing scholarships to higher education programs, Highmark Bright Blue Futures is dedicated to helping students gain the skills and knowledge they need to pursue and achieve their career goals.
Neighborhood and Built Environment
The built environment plays a crucial role in the health and safety of communities. Beyond just providing physical spaces, the built environment can be used to create programs and resources that can help to address issues that have a direct impact on the physical, mental, and emotional health of community members.
