Hidden Helpers Coalition
The Hidden Helpers Coalition is a national alliance made up of public and private sector organizations seeking to uplift the voices of military and veteran caregiver children and teens and enhance the services and support available to them.
Generations of children and youth have witnessed first-hand the physical and emotional effects of war.
In their childhood and adolescence, they experience more stress, anxiety, responsibility, and complex feelings than most of us will in our lifetimes. They have been forced to grow up fast. And while these hidden helpers are proud to be a part of their family and of their loved one's service, the load they carry is heavier than they should have to bear.
Hidden helpers are the children, teens, and young adults who are currently impacted by the care needs of, or who are actively involved in the hands-on care of wounded, ill, or injured service members or veterans.
History of Hidden Helpers
A 2017 RAND Study commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation found that there had been no published studies examining the impact of caregiving on children in military and veteran families. In response to these findings the Foundation began convening leaders in the military and veteran space for dialogues around the needs of children in military and veteran caregiving households.
The Foundation with our partners at Wounded Warrior Project commissioned a groundbreaking research study focused on military and veteran caregiver children and adolescents, Hidden Helpers at the Frontlines of Caregiving: Supporting the Healthy Development of Children from Military and Veteran Caregiving Homes. The findings help us understand the impact caregiving has on the lives of these children and how we can most effectively support them.
This research served as our blueprint for the Hidden Helpers Coalition, which we jointly created with the Joining Forces Initiative and Wounded Warrior Project. This Coalition seeks to address the unmet needs and challenges of hidden helpers.
