Missouri Care Presents Karen Traylor-Adolph of Columbia with its CommUnity Hero Award

COLUMBIA, Mo. and TAMPA, Fla., May 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Missouri Care, Inc., a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), recognized Karen Traylor-Adolph, a family support specialist in Columbia, Missouri, for her efforts in championing the unique needs of grandfamilies, households headed by grandparents. Her work overseeing the Missouri GRANDFamily Coalition helps connect these families with vital social services.

"The CommUnity Hero Award Program recognizes unsung heroes who take action to improve our communities through health care, community action and advocacy," said Danny Maxson, manager of advocacy and community-based programs at Missouri Care. "Karen tirelessly travels across the state delivering presentations, finding resources, and connecting with other advocates to seek solutions that benefit grandparents and the children under their continuous care."

A counseling psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri, Traylor-Adolph is studying the impact of family routines and rituals in grandfamilies and how they and other kinship caregivers can utilize and capitalize on available resources. In many cases, these family structures lead to numerous hardships. For example, grandparent caregivers often have downsized their homes and now need more space to accommodate children. The sudden-caregivers also can face legal challenges to address guardianship and other issues.

"According to recent census figures, there are more than 101,000 children under the age of 18 in Missouri who live in households headed by grandparents," said Lou Gianquinto, president of Missouri Care. "Missouri Care recently formed Grandfamilies Health Connections Councils to help these families receive the social support and resources they need to thrive.  Karen has been an invaluable resource for Missouri Care and the grandfamilies in our state."

"I am very surprised and extremely honored to receive the CommUnity Hero Award," said Traylor-Adolph. "My work with grandfamilies is immeasurably fulfilling. By researching their strengths and immersing myself in the community through support groups, conferences and coordinating the Missouri GRANDFamily Coalition, my eyes and heart have been opened to true selflessness and courage. For me, the true heroes are the grandparent, relative, and kinship caregivers heading grandfamilies." 

As of March 31, 2016, Missouri Care and WellCare serve approximately 130,000 members in Missouri, including 117,000 MO HealthNet Managed Care (Medicaid) members and 13,000 Medicare Prescription Drug members.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. The Company serves approximately 3.7 million members nationwide as of March 31, 2016. For more information about WellCare, please visit the Company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

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