Molina Healthcare of Illinois Supported Families During Back-to-School Season
During the 2025 back-to-school season, Molina Healthcare of Illinois (Molina) helped families prepare for the new school year by delivering crucial resources to communities across Illinois. Molina was proud to work alongside our community partners to support more than 20 back-to-school events, providing more than 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and resources to over 11,000 students and families across the state. The Molina Mobile Help Center came out to six events to provide free physicals to ensure students were ready to start the school year. Our Help Center hosted an additional 13 events, offering wellness exams for adults, teens, and children, blood pressure screenings, pre- and post-natal assessments, well-baby exams, and much more, free of charge.
For many parents and guardians, the back-to-school season can be overwhelming. In Illinois, parents spend an average of $886 per child on school supplies. Through these events, Molina eased that burden by offering convenient access to essential health services and school supplies—all in one place, supporting families in leading healthier lives.
To kick off the back-to-school season in July, Molina partnered with Heartland Health Services to host their annual back to School Bash. More than 500 families joined the event, receiving free backpacks filled with school supplies. Additionally, Heartland Health Services supplied over 100 back-to-school physicals in their newly remodeled mobile unit, supporting a healthy start to the school year.
Molina sponsored and attended various other back-to-school events, including a Back to School Bash hosted by District 186 and the Springfield Clinic, who welcomed over 1,200 Springfield residents to the event in celebration of the start of the new school year. More than 65 community-based organizations were on site, providing resources and information while Molina’s Mobile Help Center offered back-to-school physicals. In Murphysboro, Molina partnered with the Jackson County Health Department, offering similar services to the community, including school physicals and free school supplies in addition to new services like free immunizations and fluoride treatments for children. And in Hillside, Molina supported Speaker Welch’s 13th Annual Back-to-School Health Fair, where attendees enjoyed free food and drinks, free haircuts, activities, and performances.
Molina hosted a Back-to-School Bash in partnership with Focus On Our Community Inc, bringing together the community for a family friendly event featuring bounce houses, music, and a community basketball game. Additionally, in early August, Molina teamed up with local community partners for the “Project Backpack” Resource Fair in Elgin, where attendees received free dental screenings, school physicals, school supplies, and immunizations.
Additionally, Molina and The MolinaCares Accord announced a $250,000 grant to support Prism’s Ready by 10/15 initiative, a free statewide school health records check hotline and community-based mobile clinic series. These efforts help families verify health and immunization requirements to meet the schools’ October 15 deadline to get vaccinated. Vaccine clinics are delivered in coordination with the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH), Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and local school districts, alongside community and faith‑based organizations and elected officials that host and promote events statewide. For more information, visit prism.org/schoolhealth.
Whether Molina was providing free backpacks, health services, or free vaccines, Molina has remained steadfast in our mission to break down barriers to care and build healthier communities. Through each community engagement event, Molina had the opportunity to connect directly with residents – listening, learning, and gaining deeper insight into local health needs. This back-to-school season and beyond, Molina is committed to ensuring students and their families have the tools, resources, and care they need to thrive.