Education and Workforce Development

Overview

The Cigna Foundation knows the importance of addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) in order to achieve greater health outcomes, including the vital elements of education and employment.

We are investing in students enrolled in pre-K, K-8, high school, and post-secondary and adult education. Additionally, the Cigna Foundation is taking a broader look at education by working to increase the cultural competency of health care professionals by helping them to better understand health disparities among vulnerable populations.

Program Overview
To further the mission of advancing the education and employment of tomorrow’s workforce, the Cigna Foundation has created new grant programs focusing on different stages of a person’s educational journey.

The Cigna Foundation values innovation and we hope to leave space for diverse and creative ideas while being able to measure results to demonstrate impact. We have not recommended a prescribed approach to what implementation should look like, and leave that to the discretion of applicants. Please review the information below to determine program alignment.

Pre-Kindergarten (pre-K)
Pre-K programs provide children opportunities to achieve school readiness, which can contribute to lifelong employment, greater income, and improved health outcomes.

The Cigna Foundation seeks to fund programs that:

• Improve cognitive and social development of children enrolled in pre-K
• Increase their language, literacy, and math and science abilities
• Foster curiosity, taking initiative, creativity, confidence, persistence, and problem-solving skills

Kindergarten – 8 (K-8)

By broadening the learning environment to include time in and out of the classroom, the Cigna Foundation will help K-8 students excel in language, literacy, and STEM subjects. Proficiency in these subjects will help students succeed, position themselves well for their future educational and job plans, and ultimately contribute to the overall economy.

The Cigna Foundation seeks to fund in-class programs that:

• Adopt language, literacy, and STEM-related standards and assessments
• Utilize data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform how to improve instruction.

In addition, OST programs that:

• Are scheduled before and/or after school, over the weekend, and/or during the summer months or other OST, and are primarily focused on language, literacy, and STEM subjects
• Employ certified teachers to provide academic instruction

High School

To help make a positive impact on future generations and the broader public health ecosystem, we’re looking to introduce high school students to health care occupations, support them through successful graduation, and help them continue to further their education in preparation for health care jobs.

The Cigna Foundation seeks to fund programs that are:

• Pipeline programs that introduce and support youth to pursue healthcare careers through:
• Career counseling
• Job shadowing
• Increasing educational outcomes in language, literacy, and STEM subjects
• Supporting students toward high school graduation

New applications will be accepted from April 10, 2023 – May 5, 2023, 5 pm, ET.