Amerigroup Texas and EVERFI, Inc., a leading educational software developer, are working together to help the next generation of Texans lead healthier, happier lives. The organizations recently launched a groundbreaking initiative to make mental health education and healthcare literacy more accessible to young Texans.
Amerigroup’s $300,000 grant fueled the deployment of EVERFI’s digital curriculum for students in grades 8 through 10, focusing primarily on underserved communities. These digital lessons have equipped young people with knowledge and skills to help nurture their mental well-being. The curriculum is also specifically designed to help students advocate for their and their families’ health.
To date, about 10,000 Texas teens have successfully completed these courses.
“Through our investments and collaboration with EVERFI, we have succeeded and continue to transform lives. It is just another example of how Amerigroup is building a foundation for a better, healthier future across all of Texas.”
Greg Thompson, President and CEO, Amerigroup Texas
The mental-health education and healthcare literacy courses have both been designed to be interactive and engaging. They also work to ensure that students with varying health and wellness experiences and literacy levels can benefit from them.
The first course, “Understanding Mental Wellness,” introduces students to crucial concepts and aims to reduce stigma, connect students with resources, and encourage those in need to seek help. During the 2022-23 school year, this course reached more than 4,500 students in 78 junior high and high schools across Texas – 46 percent of whom are classified as low-to-moderate income (LMI).
One student who completed this course reported: “They validated feelings of stress and not feeling good about yourself. It is normal and shouldn’t be seen as weird or freaky, and they even provided resources and suggestions to make yourself or others feel better.”
The second course, “Healthcare Literacy,” empowers learners to make informed decisions about their health and healthcare. Last year, it reached more than 5,000 students in 117 Texas schools, 61 percent of whom are classified as LMI.
Both courses have been relaunched in middle and high schools across the state for the 2023-24 school year, with a goal of reaching students in more than 850 schools in nearly every Texas county.