Aetna Better Health^SM Helps Hartford Student Advocate for Asthma Care

HARTFORD, Conn., March 09, 2009 — It is often the case that the best ambassador to a community is someone who knows it best - someone who learns and worships among those he wants to help. Brantley Carter, a 17-year old senior at Capital Preparatory Magnet School, hopes his senior Social Justice Project will make him an effective ambassador to his fellow students and his parish on the topic of asthma treatment and prevention.

 Aetna Better Health, Aetna's Medicaid plan in Connecticut, is determined to help him succeed in that goal, and has teamed up with Brantley as a consultant on his Social Justice Project, which is a graduation requirement of all seniors at Capital Preparatory. 

Carter was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 13, but lacked the information he needed to understand his condition and manage it. Raising awareness and understanding about the disease, which affects over 22 million Americans, including an estimated 7 million children, is an important part of this project. But for Carter, the theme runs even deeper.

"I want people to be aware of asthma and understand it - that's the main focus," Carter says.  "But even more important is that I want to help people become more confident. They need to be able to talk to their doctors, to ask questions, and feel comfortable getting the information they need to live healthier lives.  But even going beyond asthma, whatever challenges you have in your life, you need to be confident and you need to take charge, so you can overcome that challenge." 

"Being a part of the community and helping people learn more about the  health issues that affect their friends and neighbors is an important part of our work at Aetna Better Health," said Rita Paradis, chief executive officer, Aetna Better Health.  "But as much as we enjoy helping the community directly, taking this supporting role to Brantley and helping him thoroughly understand the issue of asthma and bring the message of better health and wellness to his peers and fellow parishioners is incredibly powerful and rewarding. His enthusiasm for his project is a wonderful source of excitement and energy for all of us who have been involved." 

As part of his Social Justice Project, Carter must complete a year long action research project on his topic, which Aetna Better Health clinical professionals are helping to review and edit. And he also must follow through on an "Action Plan."  Carter's "action plan" involves educating and informing his parish at The Citadel of Love Church in the North End of Hartford. Those sessions at the church are set for Wednesday, March 11, from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 28, from 8:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.
 
In addition, Carter will present an information assembly for students in grades six through eight at Capital Preparatory on March 18th at  2:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. To further enhance his program, Aetna Better Health secured assistance from the American Lung Association and the Connecticut Department of Public Health's Asthma program.  The Lung Association's "Breath Express" vehicle, will visit Brantley's school on March 30, allowing tours of the vehicle for students in grades six, seven and eight.  The Asthma Program will be providing materials that can be handed out at the church and school events, and will have a health professional on hand at each event to help answer questions.  

"It has been so powerful to watch Brantley interact with the folks from Aetna Better Health, who have been so helpful at connecting him to resources around the state," said Steven Perry, Ed.D., MSW, Principal of Capital Prep.  "Together, they are setting an example of how the community and industry can combine to make the world that much better." 

About Aetna Better Health
Aetna Better Health^SM, an Aetna Medicaid plan, administers benefits for Connecticut's HUSKY A and B programs, as well as the Charter Oak Health Plan, the state's program for uninsured adults who meet state eligibility criteria.  Aetna Better Health is part of Aetna's Medicaid business unit, which administers services to nearly one million people in 11 states.  For further information, go to www.aetnabetterhealth.com.

About Aetna
Aetna (NYSE: AET) is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates.  For more information, see www.aetna.com