St. Joseph, Mo. — Aetna Better Health of Missouri, a CVS Health company, has announced new partnerships with two local groups to support homelessness initiatives and improve child health across Northwest Missouri. The company has donated a total of $30,000 to the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph and the Northwest Missouri United Labor Community Services Agency (AFL-CIO Community Services Agency).
Aetna’s funding for the Community Action Partnership will support its Tiny Homes Village, a transitional housing development in St. Joseph that offers small homes and comprehensive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. The donation will help build a new on-site case management center where residents, including those experiencing chronic homelessness, will receive workforce development support, financial education, and life skills training as they work toward securing permanent housing.
“The support from Aetna is instrumental in helping us provide not just shelter, but a pathway to stability and independence for our residents,” said Ashley Phillips, Executive Director of Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph. “The new case management hub will be a cornerstone for delivering the comprehensive services our community needs.”
Aetna’s support for the AFL-CIO Community Services Agency will help grow the organization’s Diaper Depot program, which supplies diapers, pull-ups, training kits, and hygiene products to families in need. The program provides extra diapers to households with children from birth to age 4, delivering up to 75 diapers or 50 pull-ups each month until the child turns four. The Diaper Depot serves families in Buchanan, Andrew, Clinton, and DeKalb counties in Missouri, as well as in Doniphan County, Kansas.
“The support from Aetna creates healthy opportunities for children, as many families in under-resourced communities struggle to afford diapers,” said Nichi Seckinger, Executive Director of AFL-CIO Community Services Agency. “By providing essential hygiene products, we’re supporting children during a key area of development and helping families build healthy habits for life.”
Dr. Michelle Bucknor, Regional Chief Medical Officer at Aetna Better Health, said the collaborations demonstrate Aetna’s dedication to tackling social factors that affect long-term health results.
“Aetna is committed to addressing the social care needs that impact health. By collaborating with organizations that understand the unique needs of Northwest Missouri, we’re helping to put under-resourced individuals and families on a path to safe, stable housing and enable healthier futures for children,” Bucknor said.
