Highmark Grants $20,000 to Sisters Place
(August 28, 2007-2008, press release)

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield recently awarded a $20,000 grant to Sisters Place, Inc, a nonprofit organization that offers transitional and permanent housing and supportive services for homeless single parent families in Southwestern Pennsylvania, for its After School program.

The After School program is an integral part of the social healing and educational process for the children of Sisters Place. The principal goal of the program is to provide a haven for the children that nurtures their mind and spirit.

"Highmark is proud to assist Sisters Place in their efforts to provide children with a safe and reliable After School program that offers both educational and physical activity curriculum," said Mary Anne Papale, Highmark Community Affairs director. "It is our hope that the students participating in the program will learn how to incorporate physical activity as part of their daily lives and the importance of making healthy choices."

Throughout the year, the Sisters Place After School program strives to provide normalcy and stability while broadening academic and cultural horizons. The weekly routine of the after-school program includes homework assistance, computer usage, library usage, outdoor physical activity, community awareness through guest speakers and field trips, and the opportunity to have fun. The program serves up to 20 school-aged children between the ages of six and twelve. Older students are encouraged to participate in the Learning Center and mentoring programs, also offered by Sisters Place.

Recent studies that compare homeless children to other low-income children indicate that experiencing homelessness and high mobility can lead to behavior problems, lessened academic success, and other negative outcomes.

Barbara Duffield, policy director for the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, said that the ongoing psychological trauma associated with being homeless often has a heavy impact on children. "Most of them are living in extreme poverty –- that poverty is exacerbated by a lot of loss – loss of housing, loss of neighborhood, loss of friends, family and possessions."

The children are provided with a safe and therapeutic environment that not only addresses the social and academic needs of the group but also provides customized support to help the children to succeed. The After School program provides daily academic enrichment targeting deficiencies in mathematics and reading. The objectives of the After School program are academic improvement, behavioral improvement and increased school attendance.

About Sisters Place, Inc.

Sisters Place, Inc. is a supportive housing community committed to assisting single parent families who are homeless in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Its mission is to assist families toward self-sufficiency by providing housing and supportive services.

Sisters Place provides safe, decent and affordable housing through two primary programs: the Permanent housing program and the Transitional housing program. The Permanent program supports women with disabilities and their children and the Transitional housing program supports young mothers between the ages of 18 and 26 and their children. Supportive services are both customized and comprehensive to help families move toward self-sufficiency. The families enrolled in Sisters Place's programs are eligible for intensive case management, rental and food assistance, child care, transportation, after school programming, educational opportunities, job training through paid internships, and parenting education and support.

Since taking in the first family in 1997, Sisters Place has assisted over 130 families to overcome homelessness. For more information on Sisters Place or how you can support its important work, visit www.sistersplace.org.

About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

In 2006, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield provided financial support of $242.9 million for programs in support of its corporate mission to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company serves 3.1 million members and employs more than 5,000 people in the region.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information about Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, visit www.highmark.com.