HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Aetna Better Health Kids, a CVS Health Company, announced Monday that Aetna has donated $50,000 to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Violence (PCADV) and nearly $100,000 to five Pennsylvania community partners.
Aetna donated $50,000 to PCADV to provide education and support to connect domestic violence survivors and their children to trauma-informed, affordable health care.
“There are many barriers for domestic violence survivors trying to leave abusive situations. Access to safe and affordable health care is one of the most important needs of refugee survivors and their children,” said Jennifer Q. Beittel, PCADV’s Chief Philanthropic Officer. “Our work with Aetna Better Health Kids will be key in connecting domestic violence advocates with insurance providers to help survivors and their children easily enroll in CHIP or other health plan options when they need it most. We are grateful for Aetna’s investment to support Pennsylvania families.”
Aetna Better Health Kids will work with PCADV and its member programs to identify individuals and families who would benefit from access to health care, as well as address the confidentiality needs of domestic violence survivors and their children during plan enrollment.
Advocates of domestic violence also receive ongoing training and support to safely enroll survivors and their children in the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or other health plan options.
“Often the greatest need for survivors and their children fleeing domestic violence is access to affordable health care, so we are grateful to be working with PCADV to connect those affected by abuse to health services,” said Jerold Mammano, Division President , Etna Medicaid. “Our announcement increases the visibility of our commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence, as well as the larger Pennsylvania community, through additional donations we make.”
Aetna Better Health Kids announced that in addition to the PCADV donation, they have also pledged donations totaling nearly $100,000 to five community partners in Pennsylvania. These donations will help support youth in underserved communities across the state.
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Donations went to the following communities:
- The Salvation Army Western PA Division Camp Allegheny Initiative to provide mental, emotional and physical support to the children attending the camp
- communities in Pennsylvania schools to host parent involvement events and support their work throughout the central Pennsylvania region
- Pocono Mountains United Way will continue its Health Start Early Childhood Screening Program, which provides children from Monroe County with age-specific screenings to observe a child’s normal development in the areas of speech and language, fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional growth, cognition, self-help, Vision, hearing, dentistry and the detection of autism
- Crispus Attucks York for their plans to host a Mental Health Expo for students and families enrolled in the Crispus Attucks Charter School and Rising Stars program, which will provide access to mental health providers in York within the Aetna network and access to Provide CHIP registration
- American Lung Association in support of the NOT for Me program, the American Lung Association’s free, mobile-friendly online program that helps teens quit vaping or using other tobacco products
Aetna Better Health Kids has pledged to invest more than $320,000 in community organizations across Pennsylvania.