Our Social Health Center of Excellence
Highmark Health has a long-standing commitment to improving community well-being by addressing barriers to good health. This commitment is rooted in a deep understanding of our members' and communities' needs, which continually shapes our evolving health strategies.
Our Social Health Center of Excellence is a testament to this commitment. It aims to embed social health principles across every facet of Highmark Health as part of our innovative Living Health model.
We recognize that health is multifaceted; beyond just medical care, it includes social factors such as where you live and work, and your access to essentials like healthy food and safe communities. At Highmark Health, we see social health as a vital community investment and a strategic imperative, ultimately leading to enhanced health outcomes, higher quality of life, and more affordable health care.
Highmark Community Support is a free, online tool designed to connect our community members with vital local social service programs. Easily find resources like food banks, housing assistance, and more by searching with your zip code. Visit highmark.findhelp.com to discover programs that meet your needs.
Look for "Social Care Network" for Highmark’s trusted partners. If a listing doesn’t have "Social Care Network" or "Unhungry," look for the verified checkmark.
The Highmark Social Care Network connects individuals with critical social services and community resources that address fundamental barriers to health, such as access to nutritious food, stable housing, and reliable transportation.
Through a successful pilot program from July 2022 to December 2024, we supported over 2,800 individuals, including 1,200 Highmark members from Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Commercial plans through partnerships with 37 community-based organizations.
Following this success, the network became a standard Highmark offering on January 1, 2025. Through Highmark’s Social Care Network, we actively serve members across western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with plans to expand our services.
Nebeyou Abebe, senior vice president, Social Determinants of Health, and the leader of the Social Health Center of Excellence, launched in 2025.
JAMA article, Self-reported social determinants of health and area-level social vulnerability, by Emily Brignone, PhD; Keith LeJeune, PhD; Amanda E. Mihalko, MA; Amy L. Shannon, MSW; Lawrence I. Sinoway, MD
Healthcare Rethink podcast, Importance of integrating social drivers of health into personalized care strategies, featuring Nebeyou Abebe
Smart Business article, How the social determinants of health affect a workforce, featuring Nebeyou Abebe
FoodNiche Changemakers podcast, Improving community health by tackling food insecurity, featuring Nebeyou Abebe
Pittsburgh Business Times article, Building health beyond medicine: How Highmark’s Social Care Network is tackling social determinants of health, featuring Nebeyou Abebe
Healthcare Rethink podcast, Technology transforming the impact of SDOH programs, featuring Dr. Amit Kale
Nebeyou Abebe and other BCBS leaders discuss how food-based interventions help create a better system of health.
Amira shares her experience getting help from Traveler’s Aid through the Highmark Social Care Network.
Community Health & Employee Engagement Programs
Institute for Strategic Social and Workforce Programs
Strategic Business Development
Entire contents © Highmark Health. All Rights Reserved. Highmark Health is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.