Jefferson Health Plans and Philadelphia Youth Basketball Advance Whole-Family Health

New Community Wellness Center is transforming youth-centered community spaces into accessible gateways to care

PHILADELPHIA - Jefferson Health Plans (JHP) and Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) continue to expand their collaborative efforts to advance community wellness, address health disparities and build long-term trust with families across Philadelphia. Through the Jefferson Health Plans' Community Wellness Center (CWC) located inside PYB's Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center, the initiative is transforming youth-centered community spaces into accessible gateways to care.

As part of this continued work, JHP is expanding its investment in sports-anchored community engagement to reach families where they already gather. PYB's daily presence and deep community trust create natural opportunities for prevention, education and health navigation - particularly for families who may not otherwise engage with traditional healthcare settings.

"At Jefferson Health Plans, we believe that health access begins where families already live, learn and play. Our partnership with Philadelphia Youth Basketball allows us to break down traditional barriers to care and create trusted, community-centered touchpoints that support the whole family," says Krista Hoglund, President, Jefferson Health Plans. "Together, we're meeting young people where they are and building long-term pathways to better health."

The Community Wellness Center offers a suite of no cost programs designed to address whole family health needs, including maternal and family health education, preventive health screenings (blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol), monthly fresh food pop-ups in partnership with Sharing Excess, workforce development and job readiness support, youth and sports-based health education and physicals, benefits navigation and support accessing community resources. Through these continual efforts, JHP is building sustained access, not just stand-alone events.

"Our goal is to create meaningful, consistent access to care for every family we serve," said Kat Ketter, MPH, CDP, Associate Vice President, Community Engagement, Jefferson Health Plans. "The Community Wellness Center is designed to remove barriers by bringing health education, screenings and navigation support directly into a space where children and families already feel welcome. By expanding programs like preventive screenings, maternal and family health education, and monthly fresh food pop-ups, we are creating ongoing opportunities for families to connect with resources that support their long-term well-being."

In January 2026, JHP and PYB welcomed more than 300 young athletes and family members for a community health engagement event aligned with Unrivaled, a professional women's basketball league focused on equity and access for women athletes. The event demonstrated the power of youth sports as a vehicle to advance prevention, education and long-term care engagement. PYB's sports-anchored environment created natural touchpoints for health conversations. Activities included a Jefferson physician-led discussion on menstrual health and sports participation, CPR instructions by Simon's Heart, a distribution of menstrual products and Medicaid/CHIP resources.

"At PYB, we believe that trusted relationships are at the heart of real impact in youth development," says Ameen Akbar, Chief Mission Officer, Philadelphia Youth Basketball. "Through our partnership with Jefferson Health Plans, our center has become more than a place to engage in meaningful programming with basketball as the anchor. It is now a gateway for youth families, and communities to access the care, resources and opportunities they need to thrive together, strengthening the overall wellness of our ecosystem."

In the coming weeks, Jefferson Health Plans will proudly serve as the presenting sponsor for the upcoming 2026 PYB Sneaker Ball , celebrating a decade of impact with a spotlight on female empowerment. Next month, the Jefferson Athlete Health Organization (JHO), Jefferson Health Plans, and the School District of Philadelphia will host a bi-annual sports screening event at Philadelphia Youth Basketball, which includes the mandatory PIAA pre-participation physical. Multiple resources will be there along with opportunities to receive Medicaid and CHIP information. Swoop from the Philadelphia Eagles will be in attendance.

About PYB & The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center

For more than a decade, Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) has been transforming the lives of young people across Philadelphia by using basketball as the entry point to mentorship, skill-building and long-term opportunity. PYB's mission is to develop young people as leaders by leveraging the power of basketball to support their academic, personal and career growth, while its vision is a city where every young person has access to the resources, relationships and opportunities needed to thrive and self-determine.

The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center brings that mission and vision to life. As a 100,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, it serves as a hub for holistic youth development, offering not just courts, but classrooms, career exposure and consistent mentorship. It is a place where basketball is the draw, but the real outcome is a pathway to a brighter future.

Jefferson Health Contact
Caroline Casey
[email protected]
(267) 331-0949