Caring For Military Families The Elizabeth Dole Foundation

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OUTREACH & AWARENESS: THE FOUNDATION'S OUTREACH AND AWARENESS INITIATIVES HELP BRING THE STORIES, SERVICE, AND SACRIFICE OF AMERICA'S MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LIGHT. TOO OFTEN, THE FAMILY, LOVED ONES, AND FRIENDS OF OUR NATION'S WOUNDED AND ILL SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN ON A NEW ROLE - THAT OF CAREGIVER. THIS CAN EXACERBATE THE CHALLENGES CAREGIVERS FACE AND OFTEN LEAVES CAREGIVERS FEELING ISOLATED, MISUNDERSTOOD, AND ALONE. OUR OUTREACH AND AWARENESS EFFORTS HELP CAREGIVERS RECOGNIZE THIS NEW ROLE THAT THEY HAVE ASSUMED. SELF-IDENTIFICATION IS THE FIRST STEP TO ACCESSING PROGRAMS AND FINDING A COMMUNITY THAT UNDERSTANDS AND CAN OFFER SUPPORT. THE HIDDEN HELPERS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS UP TO AGE 18 WHO ARE INVOLVED IN CARING FOR WOUNDED, ILL, OR AGING SERVICE MEMBERS OR VETERANS. THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH NONPROFIT, CORPORATE, AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, THE HIDDEN HELPERS PROGRAM AIMS TO CREATE A POSITIVE COLLECTIVE IMPACT FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED YOUTH CAREGIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE SUBJECT OF MILITARY CHILDREN - AND THE IMPACT OF CAREGIVING ON THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH - HAS REVEALED ITSELF TO BE A PRESSING ISSUE ON THE MINDS OF SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, MILITARY LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND MILITARY FAMILIES THEMSELVES. THE FOUNDATION IS WORKING TO FILL THIS GAP THROUGH RESEARCH AND PROGRAMMING ON (1) HOW MILITARY CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A COMBAT INJURY OR ILLNESS, (2) HOW MILITARY CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY TAKING ON CAREGIVING DUTIES THEMSELVES, AND (3) WHAT INTERVENTIONS OR PROGRAMS CAN BEST SUPPORT THE CHILDREN OF CAREGIVERS. - THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL HEROES AND HISTORY MAKERS GALA FOCUSES ON THE STORIES OF NATION'S MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVERS. THIS NATIONAL EVENT ALSO FEATURES SUCCESSES FROM THE BROAD SCOPE OF THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL PROGRAMMING AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREGIVERS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER. - THE FACE THE FIGHT INITIATIVE IS A COALITION EFFORT LED BY USAA AND ORGANIZED BY THE FOUNDATION TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION, AIMING TO HALVE THE VETERAN SUICIDE RATE BY 2030 THROUGH STRATEGIES SUCH AS SAFE FIREARM STORAGE, EQUITABLE CARE ACCESS, AND SUPPORT FOR AT-RISK VETERANS. - THE ELIZABETH DOLE FOUNDATION NATIONAL CABINET IS A DONOR INITIATIVE TO BRING CHANGE-MAKERS WITH THE EXPERIENCE, TALENT, AND DETERMINATION TO SOLVE THE CHALLENGES FACING AMERICA'S MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVERS. MEMBERS OF THIS NATIONAL CABINET HAVE A DEEP SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR THE NATION AND FEEL A SENSE OF DUTY AND COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE WOUNDED AND ILL VETERANS, THEIR CAREGIVERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SYSTEMIC SUPPORT: THE FOUNDATION HAS MADE TRANSFORMING AND IMPROVING NATIONAL SYSTEMS OF CARE THROUGH SYSTEMIC CHANGE A PILLAR OF ITS ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES. - CAMPAIGN FOR INCLUSIVE CARE: THE FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS TO CREATE THE CAMPAIGN FOR INCLUSIVE CARE PROGRAM, A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO INTEGRATE MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVERS INTO THEIR VETERAN'S CARE TEAM FROM DAY ONE OF THE CARE PROCESS. HOLISTIC, FAMILY-BASED, CAREGIVER INCLUSIVE TEAMS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH AND RECOVERY OF OUR NATION'S SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. HEALTH SYSTEMS MUST RECOGNIZE, AFFIRM, UNDERSTAND, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNIQUE VALUE AND SKILLS OF CAREGIVERS. - SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE FOUNDATION HAS ADVOCATED FOR POLICY IMPROVEMENTS TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS, THEIR VETERANS, AND THEIR CHILDREN. DOLE CAREGIVER FELLOWS ENGAGE WITH THEIR LEGISLATORS AT THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF CAREGIVERS ARE MET THROUGH INCLUSIVE POLICY. THE NATIONAL CONVENING IS AN ANNUAL EVENT TO UNITE GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS, CORPORATE LEADERS, AND CAREGIVERS AROUND ACHIEVING POLICIES AND PRIORITIES THAT WILL CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR CAREGIVERS.

DIRECT SUPPORT: THE FOUNDATION'S DIRECT SUPPORT PROGRAMS PROVIDE CAREGIVERS WITH A NATIONAL NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS AND FACILITATES SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES AND PEER-BASED SUPPORT. - THE FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAMMING (SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE HOPE FUND FOR CRITICAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE) PROVIDES FINANCIAL RELIEF TO ALL AREAS OF MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVERS THROUGH GRANTS THAT AIM TO PUT MILITARY FAMILIES ON THE PATH TO FINANCIAL WELLNESS. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE HIGH-IMPACT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT OR ADDRESS A SIGNIFICANT CRISIS OR TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE CAREGIVER FAMILY. THIS FINANCIAL RELIEF FILLS THE GAPS THAT OTHER PROGRAMS MAY NOT COVER, SUCH AS MEDICAL BILLS, NATURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION FOR APPOINTMENTS, OR LOSS OF INCOME. - THE HIDDEN HEROES FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016 TO AWARD GRANTS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE MILITARY CAREGIVERS. THIS FUND IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF AMERICA'S HIDDEN HEROES. - THROUGH ITS MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAMMING, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES MILITARY CAREGIVERS WITH ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND COPING STRATEGIES AND AIMS TO ENHANCE CAREGIVERS' EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE BY ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THEY FACE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO BEGAN A CAREGIVER MENTAL WELLNESS PILOT PROGRAM BY CREATING A MODULE WITHIN THE ACADEMY FOR INCLUSIVE CARE TO EQUIP HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS.