Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project Launch Online Resource Hub for Caregiving Families
For Immediate Release
Tessa Miller
tessa@elizabethdolefoundation.org
(202) 249-7177
Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project Launch Online Resource Hub for Caregiving Families
Family Resource Hub offers a comprehensive collection of curated resources for families caring for a service member or veteran
Washington, D.C. (August 13, 2024) – The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project ® (WWP) have launched an online portal of trusted resources for the millions of American families caring for a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran. The Family Resource Hub, powered by Wounded Warrior Project and supported by Lockheed Martin, will provide military and veteran caregivers, their families, and their communities with a single online destination where they can find organizations and programs—both local and national—that offer support. Experts designed the easy-to-use site to put military and veteran caregiving families directly in touch with resources that can help them through the challenges they face on a daily basis.
“We repeatedly hear from military and veteran caregivers that one of the hardest parts of their role is endlessly searching for resources that are effective, responsive, and trustworthy,” said Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “At the same time, many incredible support programs are underutilized because families don’t know they exist. By addressing both these problems, the Family Resource Hub will be an invaluable tool for the caregiver community, especially for those with kids and teens at home.”
An estimated 2.3 million young people live in households with a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran. For their families, caring for their loved ones becomes even more challenging and complex. Research shows that young people in military caregiving homes suffer alarming rates of anxiety and depression. Often, they become isolated from their peers and report problems at school. Many young caregivers are forced to grow up fast, taking on more responsibilities at home than their peers and frequently missing the traditional activities and milestones of adolescence.
“Our nation’s most severely wounded warriors and their families deal with complex, life-altering injuries that require ongoing, specialized support,” said WWP CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walt Piatt. “Our partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is essential to empowering those who care for our nation’s heroes, including youth caregivers. We are honored to support the launch of the Family Resource Hub to provide caregiving families with vital resources and meet their unique needs. Caregivers go above and beyond for warriors, and our priority is to ensure both groups live with hope and purpose.”
The Family Resource Hub is now live at familyresourcehub.elizabethdolefoundation.org. The Foundation and WWP first unveiled the site at last week’s Hidden Helpers Summit, an annual event bringing together leaders, experts, and caregiving families around the most urgent issues facing young caregivers. On September 24, the Foundation will release its next report on the state of military caregiving produced by RAND. The study is expected to reveal troubling new findings about this population, including the prevalence of “sandwich caregivers” who care for both someone who served and children, and the staggering mental health consequences for young caregivers. The Foundation and WWP intend for the Family Resource Hub to be one way to immediately begin providing these families with the help they need and deserve.
About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 5.5+ million military caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends — who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans at home. Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to recognize military caregivers’ service and promote their well-being. The Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign brings vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers and provides a network for military caregivers to connect with their peers and access carefully vetted resources. Visit elizabethdolefoundation.org for more information.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.