No One Eats Alone Initiative Expands in Austin and San Antonio Schools to Address Student Social Isolation
As conversations around youth mental health and school belonging continue across Texas, campuses in Austin and San Antonio are taking part in a program designed to make one simple but powerful statement: no student should feel invisible at lunch.
This month, 20 schools across the state are hosting No One Eats Alone® (NOEA) events in partnership with Superior HealthPlan and The Centene Foundation. The peer-led initiative, organized nationally by Sandy Hook Promise, focuses on helping students recognize social isolation, build empathy and create more inclusive school environments. More than one million students nationwide are expected to participate.
For families in Austin ISD and San Antonio ISD, the effort brings a practical response to a concern many parents quietly share — whether their child feels connected at school.
Austin and San Antonio Schools Join Statewide Effort
In Central Texas, Odom Elementary School in Austin and Arnold Elementary School in San Antonio are among the participating campuses.
The program is tailored for students in grades 5 through 8, an age when social dynamics can shift quickly and feelings of exclusion often surface most strongly — especially in spaces like the lunchroom. Through interactive lessons, student-led discussions, art projects and leadership activities, participants learn how to recognize when a classmate may be feeling left out and how to take small, meaningful steps to include them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of serious mental and physical health conditions. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has identified No One Eats Alone® as an effective peer-led strategy for building social connection and self-esteem among young people.
For Austin and San Antonio families, that connection between mental health and everyday school life is especially relevant as districts continue expanding social-emotional learning initiatives and student wellness programs.
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A Decade of Partnership in Texas Schools
Superior HealthPlan, a managed care organization that serves approximately 2 million Texans, has supported the No One Eats Alone® program in Texas for the past 10 years. The Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, sponsors the initiative.
“The No One Eats Alone® program has been incredibly impactful since we introduced the initiative to Texas schools ten years ago,” said Mitch Wasden, Superior HealthPlan president and CEO. “By providing students with meaningful tools to recognize and address social isolation, we can help them better understand the issues their peers may be experiencing and support them in creating a more connected, inclusive community.”
Superior HealthPlan operates in all 254 Texas counties and employs approximately 3,600 people statewide. Since 2020, the organization has contributed $12.3 million in grants, sponsorships and employee giving, much of it directed toward supporting low-income communities and addressing barriers to wellness.
The Centene Foundation focuses its investments on communities facing economic challenges, supporting initiatives aligned with healthcare access, social services and education — all areas closely tied to what public health experts call “social drivers of health.”
Programs like No One Eats Alone® fall into that broader effort, targeting the social and emotional factors that can shape long-term well-being.
How the No One Eats Alone® Program Works
Developed and distributed nationally by Sandy Hook Promise, the program blends classroom conversation with peer leadership. Students participate in structured activities that encourage them to:
- Identify signs of loneliness or exclusion
- Understand and respect differences
- Find common ground with classmates
- Stand up for peers experiencing isolation
Sandy Hook Promise was founded by family members of victims of the December 14, 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Through education and policy advocacy, the organization works to prevent violence and promote youth mental health in schools and communities nationwide.
While the initiative is widely known for its violence prevention work, No One Eats Alone® focuses specifically on connection — addressing the early warning signs that can emerge when students feel disconnected from their peers.
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Why It Matters for Local Communities
In Austin and San Antonio, where school districts serve large and diverse student populations, programs that strengthen belonging can influence more than just lunchtime dynamics.
Educators frequently note that students who feel connected are more likely to attend school regularly, engage academically and build healthy peer relationships. Parents searching for information about school mental health programs in Austin, anti-bullying initiatives in San Antonio schools or peer-led student programs in Texas will increasingly see efforts like No One Eats Alone® as part of that broader framework.
For families at Odom Elementary School and Arnold Elementary School, the February events may look simple — students sitting together, talking, sharing activities. But at the center of it is a larger goal: creating school environments where students recognize when someone feels alone and feel empowered to respond.
What Happens Next
The February events mark part of a continuing statewide partnership. As awareness of youth loneliness and mental health grows, additional Texas campuses may participate in future years.
For Austin and San Antonio residents interested in learning more about how schools address student social isolation, the No One Eats Alone® initiative provides one example of how local campuses are engaging students directly in building inclusive communities.
As the conversation around student wellness continues, My Neighborhood News will keep following how programs like this evolve in schools across Texas.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.