Infrastructure Engineering Associate Advisor

UMSL Addiction Science Team receives $250,000 grant from The Cigna Group Foundation to advance health equity. The funding supports the creation of the St. Louis Medication Access Project, which will provide medication lockboxes and transportation assistance to individuals seeking treatment. This funding will support the creation of the St. Louis MAP - Medication Access Project - that aims to reduce barriers to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder by providing individuals seeking treatment with medication lockboxes and transportation assistance, including bus passes and rideshare vouchers. The project is focused primarily on communities in St. Louis where overdose rates are highest, and it aligns with The Cigna Group Foundation's goal of strengthening community-based programs designed to reduce long-standing health disparities and expand access to essential resources for underserved populations. "We are really grateful to The Cigna Group Foundation for this funding," said Rachel Winograd, who leads the UMSL Addiction Science Team and serves as an associate professor and principal investigator within psychological sciences and the Missouri Institute of Mental Health. "This allows us to build on some informal activities and community partnerships that we've had in recent years to make something more rigorous and robust that we can actually plan out intentionally and draw solid learnings from." Winograd has been directing statewide efforts to combat the overdose crisis for nearly a decade. She and her colleagues on the Addiction Science Team are committed to expanding access to medical treatment and harm reduction strategies to assist people battling opioid and other drug use disorders. The team has helped increase the availability of naloxone across the state to respond to instances of overdose and have also been able to identify gaps that make it challenging for individuals to access the treatment they need, including transportation and requirements by clinics that patients have lockboxes for medication. "There are so many barriers associated with methadone treatment, but there are some that feel very tangible and addressable," Winograd said. "Our work is about reducing as many barriers as we can at as many levels as we can, whether that's structural with the state or federal policy, whether that's provider level with individual clinics or the people who work within them, or at the patient level, about their own awareness, knowledge, attitudes or access. We are trying to chip away one level and one barrier at a time." Research shows that up to 80% of a person's health outcomes are influenced by social drivers of health, including housing stability, education, economic opportunity, transportation and food access. These factors disproportionately affect underserved communities, contributing to preventable gaps in health status, life expectancy and chronic disease outcomes. "Health equity can only be achieved when we address the root causes of disparities and work alongside trusted local organizations," said Celeste Player, Pharm D, board member for The Cigna Group Foundation. "We are honored to support the University of Missouri-St. Louis Addiction Science Team as they work to remove systemic barriers and expand access to vital health resources. Together, we're helping create more equitable outcomes for all." The Cigna Group Health Equity Impact Fund focuses on U.S. cities with pronounced health inequities, including St. Louis. Research shows that residents of St. Louis have disproportionately higher rates of death from substance use disorders and are more likely to visit the emergency room for a mental health challenge than other counties in Missouri. The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and announced a philanthropic and community engagement initiative that has committed more than $27 million in grants over three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth and veteran mental health and reducing barriers to health equity. The Health Equity Impact Fund is part of these grants. Feb 27, 2026 Feb 23, 2026

The Cigna Group reported 2025 total revenues of $274.9 billion, up 11% year-over-year, with shareholders' net income of $6.0 billion, or $22.18 per share. Adjusted income from operations reached $8.0 billion, or $29.84 per share, increasing 4% from 2024. Fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted income from operations rose 16% to $2.1 billion, or $8.08 per share, driven by strong performance in Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services. Growth was fuelled by specialty pharmacy expansion and existing client relationships. The company projects 2026 adjusted income from operations of at least $7.950 billion, or at least $30.25 per share, with revenues of approximately $280 billion. Total customer relationships reached 188.4 million, up 3% from 2024. The board increased the quarterly dividend to $1.56 per share, up from $1.51.

CHDI receives $150,000 grant from The Cigna Group Foundation to expand access to school-based peer support program. Media release. CONNECTICUT - CHDI has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), to help address the youth mental health crisis by expanding access to an innovative school-based peer support program in Connecticut. Students Supporting Students (SSS) is a school-based peer support model designed to empower middle and high school youth to recognize mental health symptoms, reduce stigma, and promote help-seeking behaviors. Activities will include staff and student training and ongoing technical assistance to empower student peer support teams to develop and lead events, educational materials, and awareness campaigns at their schools. "With this generous grant from The Cigna Group Foundation, we will be able to empower youth across Connecticut to play a lead role in improving mental health knowledge, reducing stigma, and increasing mental health support in schools," said Jeff Vanderploeg, PhD, President and CEO of CHDI. "We are grateful for The Cigna Group Foundation's support in this mission." "In Connecticut, with over half of school-aged youth classified as 'high need' and many schools operating below recommended staffing levels for mental health support staff, this program addresses an urgent need," added Jamie LoCurto, PhD, a senior associate at CHDI and the project's director. "Local nonprofits continue to be a tremendous source of support for kids and teens grappling with mental health issues, and we are thrilled to team up with CHDI to advance their student peer support program that will help with post-pandemic stress among youth," said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair, The Cigna Group Foundation. "The youth mental health crisis continues to weigh heavily on our communities, and it is our privilege to partner with trusted nonprofits to continue this important work." According to an analysis by The Cigna Group's Evernorth Research Institute, the number of young people with mental health conditions has increased 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen 48% over the same period. Inadequate levels of social and emotional functioning are increasingly recognized as central to many public health problems, and more than two out of three children and adolescents experience trauma by age 16. The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and in 2024 announced a philanthropic and community engagement initiative committing more than $27 million in grants over three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth mental health, improving veteran mental health, and reducing barriers to health equity. About the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI). The Child Health and Development Institute is a nonprofit organization providing a bridge to better and more equitable behavioral health and well-being for children, youth, and families. Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut collaborate with policymakers, providers, and partners to transform child-serving systems, disseminate evidence-based and best practices, and advance policy solutions that result in better outcomes for children in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more at www.chdi.org. About The Cigna Group. The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 180 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com. About The Cigna Group Foundation. The Cigna Group Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group Foundation aims to support, collaborate, and convene with nonprofit organizations addressing society's greatest health challenges. In addition to increasing access to programs and care in geographies demonstrating significant need, the Foundation responds with humanitarian aid relief during critical times and strengthens colleagues' support of causes through matching donations and volunteer rewards. To learn more, visit www.thecignagroup.com/community. Advancing school mental health. CHDI partners with schools and districts to support student mental health and well-being by building schools' capacity to prevent, identify, and address behavioral health concerns. Partner with Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut to strengthen student mental health. To learn more about the Students Supporting Students program, contact Jamie LoCurto: