On Friday, March 7th, Centene Corporation and Home State Health Plan will host an anti-bullying event at Ames-VPA Elementary School in St. Louis. Home State Health Plan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation.

This event is part of Centene, Cenpatico and Children's National Health System's national initiative to prevent bullying among school-aged children. The "No Bullying Zone" event will feature renowned children's author Michelle Bain, reading a new anti-bullying book called Splotch the Madpole which was co-authored with Centene, Cenpatico and anti-bullying expert Dr. Joseph Wright of Children's National Health System. The event will also feature a performance by recording artist Jamie "King James" Dennis as well as an anti-bullying "graffiti wall" where children will write positive messages about themselves and their friends. This national initiative was launched during National Anti-bullying Awareness Month in October 2013 and aims to educate students, teachers and parents on how to prevent, identify and appropriately intervene when bullying threatens school-aged children.

At the event, the following individuals will be available for interviews: Mary Mason, M.D., Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer for Centene; Shannon Bagley, President and CEO of Home State Health Plan; and Javeeta Prince-Parks, School Principal of Ames-VPA Elementary.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long-term Care (LTC), in addition to other state-sponsored/hybrid programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, care management software, correctional systems healthcare, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

About Home State Health Plan

Home State Health Plan™ (Home State) is a Managed Care Organization (MCO) contracted to provide services to MO HealthNet Managed Care beneficiaries in Missouri. Home State is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation (Centene), in partnership with Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA) and participating Community Health Centers. Information regarding Home State is available via the Internet at www.homestatehealth.com.

/PRNewswire -- March 5, 2014/

SOURCE Centene Corporation