Letter of Support for the Helping Heroes Act of 2023

March 2, 2023

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is proud to support legislation that will provide the families of wounded veterans, including children, with critical access to care and resources. Introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR), the Helping HeroesAct of 2023 recognizes the work of approximately 2.3 million children under the age of 18 living in a household with a wounded veteran and seeks to support these children in accessing local, state, and federal resources.Addressed to Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS) of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, the letter is cosigned by the Foundation and its partners, including members of the Hidden Helpers Coalition. The Hidden Helpers Coalition is a collaborative effort of nonprofit, corporate, and government organizations that seeks to create a collective, positive impact for military-connected youth caregivers and their families.Read the letter below.

Dear Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Moran,

We, the undersigned military and veteran service organizations, are writing to ask your support of the Helping Heroes Act of 2023.

In transformative research commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and conducted by Mathematica, we identified approximately 2.3 million military caregiver children, or “Hidden helpers,” who everyday provide an unseen, unrecognized, and unsupported national service. Often these individuals are taking on monumental responsibilities within the family unit, whether assisting a warrior in performing Activities of Daily Living, taking care of other children in the household, or helping to manage finances.

Hidden helpers are more likely to experience isolation and have fewer opportunities to interact with peers; have difficulties expressing emotion and learning in school; experience health challenges such as stress, burnout, and fatigue. Some hidden helpers may develop an increased sense of personal strength and self-efficacy, as they are taking on more responsibilities at home.

Despite these mounting challenges, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) currently has limited authority in their ability to support children living in caregiving households. The Helping Heroes Act of 2023, sponsored by Senators Murray and Boozman, would start to address some of the unmet needs facing hidden helpers, requiring a full-time Family Coordinator at each VA medical center to assess the needs of veteran families and refer them to available local, state, and federal resources. The bill would also establish a Family Support Program to provide supportive services to eligible family members of disabled veterans and provide grants to local educational agencies to support the needs of minor veteran-connected students. Lastly, it would require VA to collect data on the experiences of disabled veteran families to better identify and understand their needs.

Hidden helpers have been forced to grow up fast. And while these young individuals are proud to be a part of their family and of their loved one’s service, the physical and emotional load they carry is heavier than they should have to bear. Our organizations are encouraged by this first effort to recognize hidden helpers for their service by passing this critical piece of legislation.

Respectfully,

American Red Cross

American Association for Caregiver Youth

Armed Services YMCA

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes

Easterseals, Inc.

Easterseals DC MD VA

Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Mathematica

Military Child Education Coalition

Military Family Advisory Network

National Association of Counties