IYG Receives $75,000 from Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation

For Immediate Release

Indiana Youth Group Receives $75,000 from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to Support Case Management Program for Mental Health

• Foundation commitment to enhance mental health support services for nearly 500 local youth

• Funds will aid in monitoring, detecting and addressing self-harm among impacted teens ensuring their needs are met while teaching self-reliance and perseverance

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 15, 2020) – Indiana Youth Group (IYG) received $75,000 from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to support mental health services among local LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness through their innovative support case management program. The funding will provide much needed services for impacted youth and teens struggling with mental health and who are housed through Project Prism, which provides up to two years of rent assistance and support services.

IYG’s case management program will support youth by monitoring, detecting and addressing self-harm thoughts, feelings and actions of nearly 500 youth through positive, impactful and meaningful self-reliance and perseverance education.

"Thanks to the support provided by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, IYG Case Managers and Independent Living Skills Educators will be able to work intensely and individually with the young adults that are housed through Project Prism,” said Chris Paulsen, IYG CEO. “This Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation funding allows IYG staff to take a deeper dive into the education and trade skills that are needed by people experiencing homelessness. The funding will also allow IYG to help provide household goods and food for these young adults as they move to stability."

In Indianapolis, more than 1,500 individuals are experiencing homelessness with 88% of those sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing or safe havens. Around 8% of the general population identify as LGBTQ+ and an estimated 40% of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ+.

“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation remains committed to working with and supporting our community partners in creating a positive and lasting impact for our local youth that are facing homelessness,” said Dr. Kimberly Roop, Anthem Indiana Medicaid Plan President. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with IYG to further enhance mental health and other support services to meet the critical needs of young adults while providing a safe and supportive environment. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield continues to support innovative programs that address the social drivers of health, including homelessness, to improve lives and our communities.”

The clients referred to IYG’s Project Prism program often have many overlapping struggles. Clients experience years of personal hardships and systemic barriers to reaching independence and self-sufficiency. Since Project Prism launched, IYG has worked with clients experiencing homelessness, established lines of communication through creative problem-solving where there was none, and supported clients in getting access to housing for the first time in years.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation recognizes that social factors, such as access to stable housing, are critical components of integrated healthcare and healthy communities, and that’s why they continue to invest in innovative programs and develop strategic partnerships that support access to critical services for healthy living.

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About Indiana Youth Group

Creating spaces for LGBTQ+ youth since 1987. Indiana Youth Group (IYG) serves youth ages 12-20 who self-identify as LGBTQ+, as well as their allies. All programs and services are offered free of charge. Youth remain under adult supervision at all times. IYG strives to provide safer spaces to build self-confidence, explore individualism, and develop friendships within the LGBTQ+ community. IYG promotes a space of acceptance, equity, and restorative practices. We also advocate for LGBTQ+ youth in schools, the community, and through family support services. IYG creates safer spaces to foster community and provides programming that empowers LGBTQ+ youth and magnifies their voices. To learn more about IYG, please visit https://www.indianayouthgroup.org/ or contact Chris Paulsen, CEO at cpaulsen@indianayouthgroup.org.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to improving lives and communities. Through strategic partnerships and programs, the Foundation addresses the social drivers that will help create a healthier generation of Americans in communities that the company serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on critical initiatives that make up its Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets: maternal health, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention, heart health and healthy, active lifestyles, behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, please visit http://www.anthem.foundation and its blog at https://medium.com/anthemfoundation.