Blue Star Families and United Health Foundation Launch Initiative to Train and Support Military Caregivers
04 February 2016 - 7:26AM
Business Wire
- United Health Foundation donates
$750,000 to fund The Blue Star Cares: Military Caregiver Online
Interactive Program, which will leverage avatar technology to train
and support military caregivers
- Capitol Hill forum brings together
experts to discuss caregiver challenges, policies, research and
opportunities to enhance pilot program development
Blue Star Families and United Health Foundation announced a new
initiative to train and support military caregivers.
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Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr. (GA-2)
talks to military caregivers during a Capitol Hill forum that
highlighted unique military caregiver challenges. During the forum
a new initiative was announced by United Health Foundation and Blue
Star Families to train and support military caregivers. L to R:
Sherrie Wilcox, Ph.D., CHES, caregiver and senior research advisor
at BSF; Marine spouse and caregiver Callie Barr, BSF Operation
Family Caregiver Program; Congressman Bishop; and Tom Wiffler,
chief operating officer of UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans
(Photo: Barbara Salisbury).
The Blue Star Cares: Military Caregiver Online Interactive
Program, funded by a $750,000 grant by United Health Foundation,
aims to increase caregiver knowledge, skills and confidence related
to caring for wounded warriors, enhance their social support
networks through a continuum of care, and improve caregiver quality
of life through new online training and interactive resources. The
training platform will use avatar technology to create
computer-based simulations and care scenarios to help caregivers
problem-solve and address real-life challenges to care.
Military and veteran experts, members of Congress – including
U.S. Senator Richard Burr and Congressmen Scott Peters and Sanford
Bishop – and caregivers discussed unique military caregiver
challenges and opportunities on Capitol Hill today to enhance the
program’s development.
“There are about 5.5 million military caregivers in the United
States, and the emotional and physical impact of caregiving can be
extraordinary,” said Noeleen Tillman, executive director for Blue
Star Families. “Through the support of United Health Foundation,
this new program will provide caregivers valuable resources and
training to help improve their own quality of life and the care
they are providing to our wounded warriors.”
“Military caregivers make tremendous sacrifices every day, and
their continued well-being is vital to promoting healthier families
and our military readiness,” said Tom Wiffler, chief operating
officer of UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans, which provides
health care services for nearly 2.9 million service members,
military retirees and their families. “This grant will further
enable the vital work of Blue Star Families and create new,
technology-driven training and resources to improve the health and
well-being of caregivers and their loved ones.”
The Blue Star Cares: Military Caregiver Online Interactive
Program will be piloted and tested over the next three years with
the goal of making the avatar training program and evidence-based
toolkit available to military caregivers in the United States and
stationed around the world.
“There are many military caregivers that don’t identify as
caregivers when they're not in the hospital or have unseen injuries
such as traumatic brain injuries, which can be isolating,” said
Callie Barr, Marine Corps spouse and caregiver. “We need to
recognize these caregivers and help them feel supported and
understood. This Blue Star Families initiative is a huge step in
the right direction.”
About Blue Star FamiliesBlue Star Families is a national,
nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services,
including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting
and empowering military families. With our partners, Blue Star
Families hosts a robust array of morale and empowerment programs.
Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of
Defense and senior members of local, State and Federal government
to bring the most important military family issues to light. In
concert with fellow nonprofits, community advocates and public
officials, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges
and strengths of military family life and works to make military
life more sustainable. Our worldwide membership includes military
spouses, children, parents and friends, as well as service members,
veterans and civilians. For more information visit
bluestarfamilies.org, facebook.com/bluestarfamilies or
twitter.com/BlueStarFamily.
About United Health FoundationThrough collaboration with
community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health
Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and
dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local
communities. United Health Foundation was established by
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private
foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date,
United Health Foundation has committed more than $285 million to
programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn
more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org or follow @UHGGives on
Twitter or Facebook.com/UHGGives.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160203006470/en/
United Health FoundationL.D. Platt,
202-654-8830ld_platt@uhg.comorBlue Star FamiliesBana Miller,
844-202-7827, x4bmiller@bluestarfam.org
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