Easterseals North Georgia Selected as Local Beneficiary
Funding Focused on Supporting Critical Home- and Community-Based Services for People with Disabilities
ATLANTA, GA (May 10), 2023 – CareSource, a nationally recognized leader in managed care with a legacy of providing quality health care coverage for Medicaid consumers, has named Easterseals North Georgia as an initial beneficiary of the national $2.55 million donation to Easterseals announced by CareSource in late 2022.
Annual CareSource grants of $725,000 will support the work of select Easterseals Affiliates nationwide, the work of Easterseals’ national office, and the organization’s Project on Education and Community Health Equity, an initiative focused on addressing the educational and healthcare needs of children with disabilities, including children with disabilities of color, so they are kindergarten ready and can reach their full potential. Another round of funding for Easterseals Affiliates’ programs and services will be announced in late 2023.
Easterseals North Georgia has been awarded a $45,000 grant through an RFP process. The funding will support early intervention therapies and early education and care programs throughout metropolitan Atlanta and four counties in northeast Georgia.
Easterseals North Georgia provides high-quality services to ensure that all children with disabilities or other special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. The focus is on children from birth to five years old to capitalize on a child's most critical period for cognitive development.
“We are honored to be among Easterseals Affiliates benefiting from CareSource’s support,” said Easterseals North Georgia President and CEO, Donna Davidson. “This gift will allow us to enhance our Autism Services Program to children and families in need.
“CareSource welcomes opportunities to partner with leading organizations like Easterseals to support the needs of young children and families to ensure a trajectory of growth and development,” said Seema Csukas, M.D., PhD, and Vice President. Market Chief Medical Officer for CareSource Georgia. “We know that early intervention services are critical to maximizing the positive potential for all children and Easterseals has a long history of being that resource for families and communities in Georgia. CareSource is proud to partner with Easterseals to serve Georgia families.”
CareSource operates a network of health plans that, by 2023, will serve members in nine states. The company recently expanded its national footprint and ability to serve more members with complex needs by acquiring The Columbus Organization, which partners with health care agencies and provider organizations in 12 states to support individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges through its staffing, quality improvement and care coordination services.