SEATTLE, Wash. — The Regence Foundation announced today a $48,500 grant to improve the health of 18-24 year old undergraduates in Washington state four-year colleges and universities. The grant, to the Washington Health Foundation’s Healthiest State Campaign, is geared toward helping students learn how to develop a Health Home, access health care while enrolled in college and practice preventive health behaviors.

“In terms of health care, college is an important transition period for most students,” said Jonathan Hensley, president of Regence BlueShield. “It’s frequently the first time they are responsible for their own health and health care, and it’s also usually the last time they will be covered under their parents’ insurance policy. It’s important that we give them the tools they need to make smart health care decisions and be engaged consumers.”

Despite increased health care responsibilities, Washington Health Foundation research shows that many students are unprepared for this new role.

• Students lack the information they need to access their own health insurance (if they have it) and other health resources.
• Students’ feelings and attitudes toward campus-based health services are generally negative.
• There is a strong disconnect between what students and administrators perceive are the critical health issues facing students.
• Many students want a central resource for health and wellness records and information, exemplified by the Washington Health Foundation’s Health Home Initiative.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, top health concerns faced by college students include eating disorders, diet changes, sleep deprivation, sexually transmitted diseases, depression, anxiety and substance abuse. With the Regence Foundation grant, the Healthiest State Campaign hopes to mitigate those and other risk factors by creating and distributing health education materials, holding a College Health Leadership Summit, encouraging colleges to include health and health insurance as part of orientation, and fostering greater collaboration among campus health directors.