Funding will help foster the wellbeing of Texans by expanding healthy community programs for adults and youth
IRVING, TX, May 17, 2023 – Aetna Better Health® of Texas, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), announced that Aetna has provided donations totaling $1.1 million to 16 community-based organizations across Texas. The donations are supporting the important work of organizations that deliver culturally tailored services and positively impact non-medical drivers of health, such as food security, housing, resilience and education.
The organizations receiving the donations from Aetna are working to improve the health of Texas communities, including areas with fewer resources. These Texas nonprofit organizations are delivering services and collaborating with other organizations to address social care needs and support family wellbeing.
“Our donations will help Texas nonprofit organizations continue or expand their programs to tackle non-medical circumstances that impact a person’s health,” said Stephanie Rogers, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Texas. “By working closely with community-based organizations that have strong programs and are trusted experts on supporting families, we’re helping our Texas communities achieve better health.”
The community donations support the following organizations:
- Texas Health Resources Foundation – $265,000 to expand the school-based Together Harnessing Resources to Give Individuals Voice and Empowerment (THRIVE) program, which strengthens resiliency skills, expands access to nutritious food, and increases behavioral health support for youth.
- Dia De La Mujer Latina – $60,000 to fund a van and portable exam tables to enable community health workers and providers to deliver free-education and health-screenings in neighborhoods with limited access to care.
- Family Service Association – $50,000 to support rural areas in South Texas with mental health and wraparound services for families. Services will include counseling for crisis, trauma and other barriers to care.
- Greater Waco Collective Impact Initiative – $30,000 to support their Waco Connect program to address social needs and wellbeing through assessments, safety net resources and navigation assistance that connects community members in McLennan County with local resources.
- Unity Partners – $30,000 to help the Brazos Healthy Communities HUB implement a sustainable, evidence-based community health worker program that will deliver community care coordination, with a pay for outcomes model, in communities with relatively poorer health outcomes.
- Nurturing Change – $50,000 to provide Trust-Based Relational Intervention® training for organizational staff serving children who have experienced trauma and are ready to adopt a trauma-informed culture.
- Sustainable Food Center – $50,000 to engage and educate Texas community members and organizations about food security and explore innovative ideas, knowledge and practices of communities that have successfully implemented solutions that led to improved outcomes.
- Recovery Resource Council – $40,000 to support the expansion of Camp L4 (Live, Learn, Laugh, Love) to Dallas County. Children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences will participate in a four-day camp focused on health and wellness interventions to help them improve behavioral health outcomes and build resilience.
- Greater Longview Optimal Wellness (GLOW) – $50,000 to provide scholarships for nursing student interns to help educate people who frequently use Emergency Medical Services on how to find, navigate and use primary care and social services when appropriate.
- NAMI Greater San Antonio – $90,000 to support the implementation of a Bridges to Care Spanish language youth track. The program provides education and community support for people impacted by mental health challenges.
- United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County (UWSA) – $75,000 to expand UWSA’s Dual Gen Initiative’s family resiliency programming with the addition of the Effective Black Parenting Program and Los Niños Bien Educados — two culturally sensitive options for evidence-based, child-abuse prevention.
- CitySquare – $50,000 to support the Neighbor Resource Center (NRC), which provides information, resources and referrals to address immediate unmet social care needs of the community.
- AVANCE-North Texas – $45,000 to support the Parent-Child Education Program. The program prepares expecting teen parents and parents with children ages four and under with direct learning experiences at home.
- San Antonio Food Bank – $75,000 to support the creation of an outcomes-based, payment-model for food, education and additional supports that other food banks can replicate.
- Royal Priesthood Kingdom Mission Ministry – $65,000 to provide Open Door of Hope program participants and the local community with the opportunity to help develop a best-practice model based on their positive experiences with housing security and supportive services.
- The Children’s Shelter – $50,000 to support the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), which provides those that are first time mothers and have low-income with free, home-visits. Starting in early pregnancy through a child's second birthday, the program promotes improved prenatal, maternal health, child development and family self-sufficiency outcomes.
Aetna Better Health of Texas serves enrollees across the state through the Texas Medicaid STAR, STAR Kids and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs.
About Aetna Medicaid
Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has over 30 years of experience managing the care of under-resourced populations, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve members in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com.
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that’s managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.
Media contact
Robert Joyce
Robert.Joyce@CVSHealth.com
