UniCare Continues its Support of West Virginia Youth with Intellectual/Cognitive Disabilities by Sponsoring Summer Day Program

Insurance Weekly News

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, the state's largest provider of Medicaid managed health care benefits, is collaborating with The Arc of Mid Ohio Valley to sponsor a Summer Day program for West Virginia youth with intellectual/cognitive disabilities who are age 8 - 21. Programing will be available between June 19 and July 11 in Parkersburg, and will focus on providing youth who have disabilities with a variety of age-appropriate activities to help them with their educational and social development.

"UniCare has made a commitment to providing specialized supports for West Virginians with disabilities, and we are particularly pleased to partner with The Arc to ensure that children and young adults who have disabilities have the opportunity to engage in educational, safe and fun activities during the summer to continue their progress and development," said Mitch Collins, president of UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia.

The key goal of The Arc's summer program is inclusion in the community, so recreational and educations activities are designed to enable participants to interact with youth in similar developmental stages. Students with disabilities will have opportunities to participate with non-disabled peers while participating in various adventure camps, library reading programs, swimming, hiking, fishing, basketball, picnics and other outings. Participants will be encouraged to choose the recreational and socialization opportunities they wish to engage in, and supports and resources will be made available to ensure positive inclusion.

"The Arc Summer Day program has been designed to offer a caring and supportive environment that brings together students, counselors and volunteers for fun, personal growth and memories that last a lifetime." said Christina Smith, executive director of The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley. "We thank UniCare for sharing our passion to serve youth with disabilities and facilitating access to life-changing opportunities."

UniCare's sponsorship of The Arc's Parkersburg summer program is one of a series of efforts to support youth with intellectual/cognitive disabilities. UniCare is one of four Medicaid providers selected by the state to serve Medicaid eligible residents with development disabilities through the Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver program, and currently serves approximately 13,000 I/DD waiver members by coordinating medical and behavioral health services in addition to providing supplemental social supports. Services to UniCare I/DD waiver members are provided in natural settings, homes and communities rather than through institutions. They help members attain optimal health outcomes, while helping them to achieve the highest level of independence and self-sufficiency possible.

To learn more about The Arc and available programs, visit www.thearcmov.org. To learn more about West Virginia Medicaid, including Medicaid waiver programs, visit www.dhhr.wv.gov/bms. ABOUT UNICARE HEALTH PLAN OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC. UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc. serves more than 143,000 Medicaid beneficiaries living in West Virginia. Every day, members of the UniCare team can be found in West Virginia communities listening to our members, interacting with our health care providers and partnering with community-based organizations. UniCare has served Medicaid beneficiaries in West Virginia since 2003. For more information about UniCare, visit http://mss.unicare.com/, and follow the company on Twitter @UniCareWV and Facebook at www.facebook.com/UniCareWV. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170605005227/en/