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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17


                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                         ------------------------------

           THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 30th day of October,
                                                           ----        -------
  2000, by and between CENTENE CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation (hereinafter
  called the "Company"), and Joseph P. Drozda (hereinafter called the
  "Executive").

           1. Employment. Company hereby employs Executive as Vice President,
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  Chief Medical Officer (title subject to approval by the Board of Directors)
  with such other or additional titles or positions as Company's President, Vice
  Presidents, or Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine.

           2. Duties. During the employment period, Executive shall faithfully
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  perform his duties to the best of his ability and in accordance with the
  directions and orders (and to the satisfaction) of the Company's President,
  Plan Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Board of Directors of Company, and he
  shall devote his full working time, attention and energy to the performance of
  his duties.

           In addition to the duties assigned to his by the Company's President
  and/or Plan Presidents and/or Vice Presidents and/or Board of Directors of
  Company, Executive shall perform such other duties as are commensurate with
  his position and responsibilities, including without limitation, exercising
  his best judgment; safeguarding and saving from waste the assets of Company;
  and following, maintaining, and implementing the business plans, budgets,
  business procedures and directives established and promulgated by Company, as
  modified or amended from time to time.

           Except as otherwise provided herein, Executive shall not render
  services, directly or indirectly, to any other person or organization without
  his Supervisor's prior written consent and shall not engage in any activity
  that would interfere significantly with the faithful performance of his duties
  thereunder. Executive may perform minor services for which he does not receive
  compensation, provided that the activity does not conflict with the provisions
  of his duties, without written consent.

           3. Compensation. As compensation for all services rendered by
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  Executive under this agreement, company shall pay to Executive, in accordance
  with its then prevailing payroll practices, a salary at the annualized rate of
  One Hundred Eighty Dollars ($180,000.00), less applicable payroll deductions.
  This salary may be adjusted from time to time as directed by the Executive's
  immediate supervisor or the Company's or Plan's President.

           4. Other Employment Benefits. During the Employment Period:
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              (a)   Company shall reimburse Executive monthly for actual,
                    reasonable, and necessary out-of-pocket expenses he incurs
                    on Company's business in compliance with company policies
                    and procedures.

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          (b)    Executive shall participate in such of Company's Executive
                 plans or fringe benefit arrangements as provided for all
                 Executives, subject to their terms and conditions.

          (c)    Vacation Leave. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be
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                 entitled to a number of vacation days as established in the
                 standard company policy for senior executives. Executive shall
                 accrue and receive full compensation and benefits during his
                 vacation leave periods. Vacation leave shall be taken at such
                 times as do not have an adverse effect on the operations or
                 transactions of the Company or otherwise as Executive and his
                 immediate supervisor shall agree.

          (d)    Bonus Plan. The annual target bonus is 30% of base salary with
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                 potential to exceed that if and when the company exceeds its
                 Annual Operating Plan criteria. This award is at the discretion
                 of the Company's President. The Bonus Plan may be adjusted from
                 time to time as directed by the Company's President.

      5.  Termination of Employment.
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          (a)    Termination for Cause. If the Company terminates Executive's
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                 employment For Cause, or if Executive resigns from his
                 employment pursuant to Subsection 5(b), Executive shall be
                 entitled only to payment of that portion of his Salary earned
                 through and including the Termination Date or the Resignation
                 Date at the rate of Salary in effect at that time.

          (b)    Resignation. Executive may resign from his employment with the
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                 Company at any time by providing written notice of his
                 resignation to his immediate supervisor at least thirty (30)
                 days before the Resignation Date, in which case he shall be
                 entitled to compensation as provided in Subsection 5(a).

          (c)    Death. If Executive dies during his employment, or Executive is
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                 entitled to receive payments from the Company pursuant to
                 Section 5(a) at the time of his death, Executive's estate or
                 personal representative shall be entitled to receive that
                 portion of the Salary, at the rate in effect at Executive's
                 death, that Executive earned through and including the date of
                 Executive's death.

          (d)    Disability. If Executive becomes Permanently Disabled, the
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                 Board may terminate Executive's employment by providing written
                 notice to Executive at least 72 hours before the Termination
                 Date. If Executive resigns from employment with the Company as
                 a result of a Permanent Disability, or the Company terminates
                 Executive's employment as a result of a Permanent Disability,
                 Executive shall be entitled to receive that portion of his
                 Salary, at the rate in effect at the time he became Permanently
                 Disabled, that he earned through and including the

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          Termination Date or Resignation Date, as applicable; provided,
          however, the amount due and payable for the period on and after the
          date on which Executive became Permanently Disabled shall not be less
          than the portion of the Salary that would have been paid to his if he
          had continued in the Company's employment for the 180 day period
          following the date on which he became Permanently Disabled.

     (e)  Compensation Following Termination. If the Company terminates
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          Executive's employment other than For Cause the Company shall pay
          Executive that portion of his Salary earned through and including the
          Termination Date or the Resignation Date at the rate of Salary in
          effect at that time, plus an amount equal to fifty two (52) weeks of
          his annualized Salary paid in accordance with the then current payroll
          practices, and conditioned upon Executive's signing, and not revoking,
          a complete Release of any and all claims. In such case, Company shall
          pay for twelve (12) of the eighteen (18) months health and dental
          insurance continuation coverage to which Executive is entitled under
          the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Public Law
          99-272, Title X (COBRA).

     (f)  Change of Control: In the event of a Change in Control which results
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          in (a) the termination of Executive's position or in the reduction of
          Executive's compensation, or (b) a request by the Company or the
          surviving entity of the transaction that resulted in the Change in
          Control that Executive relocate outside of the Metropolitan St. Louis
          area which relocation Executive refuses, then Executive shall receive
          severance equal to fifty two (52) weeks either as a lump sum payment
          or salary continuance, rather than the severance paid pursuant to
          paragraph 5(e) above, but conditioned upon Executive's signing, and
          not revoking, a complete Release of any and all claims. In such case,
          Company shall pay for twelve (12) of the eighteen (18) months health
          and dental insurance continuation coverage to which Executive is
          entitled under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
          1985, Public Law 99-272, Title X (COBRA) In addition, the Company
          agrees to pay for reasonable outplacement services arranged by the
          Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment or payments shall
          be made under this Agreement which would be an "excess parachute
          payment" as defined in (S) 280G(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of
          1986, as amended. Payments which would be "excess parachute payments"
          shall be proportionately reduced so that no portion of any payment
          shall constitute an "excess parachute payment." For purposes hereof a
          "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to occur if (i) any
          "person" (as such term is used in (S)(S) 13(d) and 14(d) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")),
          other than (A) persons who, at the date of this Agreement, are the
          beneficial owners of 25% or more of the Company's Shares, or (B) a
          group including Shareholder, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
          defined in Rule 13d-3 under the

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          Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
          representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power
          of the Company's then outstanding securities, or (ii) the Shareholders
          of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with
          any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which
          would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
          immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
          outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
          surviving entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting
          power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
          outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.

   6.  Covenants.
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       (a)     Non-competition by Executive. The Executive acknowledges that the
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               list of the Company's customers and customer contacts as it may
               exist from time to time are valuable, special, and unique assets
               of the Company's business. During the period of nine (9) months
               immediately after the termination of Executive's employment with
               the Company for any cause whatsoever, Executive will not, either
               directly or indirectly, either for Executive or for any other
               person, firm, Company or corporation, call upon, solicit, divert,
               or take away, or attempt to solicit, divert or take away any of
               the Executives, customers, prospective customers, or business, of
               the Company upon whom Executive called, solicited, catered, or
               became acquainted during Executive's employment with the Company.

       (b)     Return of Company Records and Property. Executive agrees that
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               upon termination of Executive's employment, for any cause
               whatsoever, Executive will surrender to the Company in good
               condition all property and equipment belonging to Company and all
               records kept by Executive containing the names, addresses or any
               other information with regard to customers or customer contacts
               of the Company, or concerning any operational, financial or other
               documents given to Executive during Executive's employment with
               Company.

       (c)     Non-disclosure by Executive. The Executive acknowledges and
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               agrees that any information obtained by Executive while employed
               by the Company, including but not limited to customer lists and
               customer contacts, financial, promotional, marketing, training or
               operational information, and employment data is highly
               confidential, and is important to the Company and to the
               effective operation of the Company's business. Executive,
               therefore, agrees that while employed by the Company, and at any
               time thereafter, Executive will make no disclosure of any kind,
               directly or indirectly, concerning any such confidential matters
               relating to the Company or any of its activities.

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          (d)  Enforcement. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
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               Executive of the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall
               be entitled to a restraining order and/or an injunction
               restraining the Executive from contacting, servicing or
               soliciting Company's customers, or customer contacts, or
               utilizing or disclosing, in whole or in part, the list of the
               Company's customers, customer contacts, employees, or financial,
               operational, promotional, marketing, or training information, or
               from rendering any services to any persons, firm, corporation,
               association, or other entity to whom such list or information, in
               whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be
               disclosed. In the event the Company is successful in any suit or
               proceeding brought or instituted by the Company to enforce any of
               the provisions of this agreement on account of any damages
               sustained by the Company by reason of the violation by the
               Executive of any of the terms and/or provisions of this agreement
               to be performed by the Executive, the Executive agrees to pay the
               Company reasonable attorney's fees to be fixed by the Court.

          7.   Inventions.
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          (a)  Executive shall promptly communicate and disclose in writing to
               Company all those inventions and developments including software,
               whether patentable or not, as well as patents and patent
               applications (hereinafter collectively called "Inventions"),
               made, conceived, developed, or purchased by him, or under which
               he acquires the right to grant licenses or to become licensed,
               alone or jointly with others, which have arisen or jointly with
               others, which have arisen or may arise out of his employment, or
               relate to any matters pertaining to, or useful in connection
               therewith, the business or affairs of Company or any of its
               subsidiaries. Included herein as if developed during the
               employment period is any specialized equipment and software
               developed for use in the business of Company. All of Executive's
               right, title and interest in, to, and under all such inventions,
               licenses, and right to grant licenses shall be the sole property
               of Company. Any such inventions disclosed to anyone by Executive
               within one (1) year after the termination of employment for any
               cause whatsoever shall be deemed to have been made or conceived
               by Executive during the Employment Period.

          (b)  As to all such invention, Executive shall, upon request of
               Company:

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               i.   Execute all documents which Company shall deem necessary or
                    proper to enable it to establish title to such inventions or
                    other rights, and to enable it to file and prosecute
                    applications for letters patent of the United States and any
                    foreign country; and

               ii.  Do all things (including the giving of evidence in suits and
                    other proceedings) which Company shall deem necessary or
                    proper to obtain, maintain, or assert patents for any and
                    all such inventions or to assert its rights in any
                    inventions not patented.

     8.  Litigation. Executive agrees that during his employment or thereafter,
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he shall do all things, including the giving of evidence in suits and other
proceedings, which Company shall deem necessary or proper to obtain, maintain or
assert rights accruing to Company during the employment period and in connection
with which Executive has knowledge, information or expertise. All reasonable
expenses incurred by Executive in fulfilling the duties set forth in this
paragraph 8 shall be reimbursed by Company to the full extent legally
appropriate, including, without limitation, a reasonable payment for Executive's
time.

     9.  Modification. No modification, amendment, or waiver of any of the
         ------------
provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing
specifically referring to this Agreement and signed by all parties therefore.

     10. Entire Agreement. This instrument constitutes the entire agreement of
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the parties hereto with respect to Executive's employment and his compensation
therefore.

     11. Waiver. The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of
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this agreement or to require at any time performance by any party of any of the
provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions
or to affect either the validity of this Agreement, or any part hereof, or the
right of each party thereafter to enforce each and every provision in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

     12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
         ------------
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and
this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision were omitted.

     13. Pronouns. As used herein, the term "Executive" and the pronouns
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therefore have been used for convenience only, and corresponding terms
reflecting the proper gender of Executive shall be deemed substituted by the
parties hereto where appropriate.

     14. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
         ----------
benefit of Company and any successor or assign of Company. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the terms "successor or assign" shall mean any person, firm,
corporation, or other business entity which, at any time, whether by merger,
purchase, assignment or otherwise, shall acquire the assets or business of
Company in part or as a whole.


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     This Agreement shall also be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
Executive and his legal representatives and assigns, except that Executive's
obligations to perform such future services and rights to receive payment
therefore are hereby expressly declared to be non-assignable and
non-transferable.

     15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and executed in
         -------------
accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                                      CENTENE CORPORATION


                                                      By /s/ Michael Neidorff
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        "Company"


                                                      By /s/ Joseph P. Drozda
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        "Executive"


Date 10/16/00