CHICAGO, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dovetail Project, a nonprofit organization in Chicago dedicated to promoting fatherhood, is pleased to share that it has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Aetna Better Health of Illinois, a subsidiary of CVS Health. The grant will be utilized to enhance the internal referral system that links fathers throughout the city with essential resources.
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The Dovetail Project offers a comprehensive 12-week program focused on parenting skills, life skills, and felony street law specifically designed for young fathers aged 17 to 24. Since its inception in 2009, more than 700 young men have successfully completed the program. However, Dovetail frequently receives inquiries from fathers who fall outside this age group or who have different programmatic needs, seeking assistance with various issues related to Social Determinants of Health. These issues include access to housing, physical and mental healthcare, educational and job resources, legal aid, and more. To enhance its support for these fathers, Dovetail plans to utilize CVS Health's generous contribution to establish an internal referral system. This system will enable staff to connect fathers with local resources, refer them to partner organizations for specialized assistance, and ensure effective follow-up.
"The Dovetail Project is thrilled to announce a substantial investment from CVS Health and Aetna Better Health of Illinois," stated Founder and Executive Director Sheldon Smith. "This funding will enhance our ability to connect more fathers with the tailored support they require." Smith continued, "With years of dedicated leadership, our community recognizes and trusts our mission, leading to daily inquiries from fathers throughout the region. Every father deserves support, and we aspire to guide each caller to the appropriate resources, not just those who join our program. It takes bravery to reach out for assistance, and we express our gratitude to CVS for enabling us to create a sustainable initiative that effectively addresses these courageous requests for help."
Aetna Better Health of Illinois, owned by parent company CVS Health, made its gift to Dovetail as part of a larger $650,000 community investment across eight nonprofit organizations, including After School Matters, A Safe Haven, Chicago Botanic Garden & Windy City Harvest, EverThrive Illinois, New Moms, and Phoenix Community Development Services. Collectively, the investment is designed to create targeted impact on critical issues related to social determinants of health, such as housing instability, food insecurity, workforce development, educational opportunity, and more.
Over the past three years, Aetna has given over $1.3 million to organizations based in the state of Illinois that support improved social determinants of health (such as access to healthy food, healthcare, and employment) for Medicaid members. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com/illinois-medicaid.
As a locally rooted organization in Chicago and a national frontrunner in the realm of fatherhood, The Dovetail Project is privileged to work alongside partners such as CVS Health and Aetna Better Health of Illinois. These collaborations highlight the vital role that healthy fathers play in fostering a thriving community.
Press Inquiry:
Sheldon Smith
8182766695
[email protected]
