Senator Dole Fellows Program
As a response to the RAND report and her relationship with caregivers like Shannon, Senator Dole and her Foundation have been steadily putting programs into place to change the landscape for these hidden heroes.
One of these programs is the Dole Caregiver Fellows program. The mission of the Fellows program is simple: to give caregivers a voice. Within this program, caregivers who are tending to injuries, both physical and emotional, are enlisted to advise the Foundation on their program development, to serve as ambassadors and to strengthen relationships with the military and caregiver community. Currently, shares Senator Dole, “we have nearly 100 Dole Caregiver Fellows representing every state and Puerto Rico. They are truly the heart and soul of our organization.”
From the Fellows program grew the Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community, launched in 2014. “We launched the Caregiver Community because we recognized how valuable the relationships formed within the Fellows program had become to the participants.” How does it work? “Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community provides a safe, supportive online gathering place where caregivers can ask questions of each other, encourage one another, and obtain the same benefits caregivers were getting from our fellows program,” describes Senator Dole. What is more, “The Caregiver Community has also enabled us to see trends that emerge among our hidden heroes. If a new treatment for TBI and PTS is introduced, we see caregivers discussing its effectiveness. If the VA introduces a new policy, we see its ripple effect on caregivers across the nation.”
Are you interested in becoming a part of the Caregiver Community? Join today by visiting the Foundation’s website, ElizabethDoleFoundation.org.
Furthering the conversation started by the RAND Report and the Fellows program, Senator Dole’s Foundation spearheaded the Hidden Heroes Impact Forum, which brings together national organizations and experts to develop an agenda addressing the most urgent needs of our caregivers. Those who take part in the forum are organized into seven councils, each focusing on a critical gap area as identified by the RAND report. These experts are tasked not only to identify the problems, but also to provide real, actionable solutions that they and their organization would be committed to carrying out. The seven areas of focus are:
- Interfaith Action and Ministry
- Mental and Physical Health
- Respite Care
- Community Support at Home
- Education and Training
- Employment and Workplace Support
- Financial and Legal Issues
Looking Toward A Bright Future:
In the coming months, the Foundation will officially launch the Hidden Heroes Campaign, chaired by actor Tom Hanks, to further awaken the nation to the service and struggles of our nation’s hidden heroes. When asked what she would say to one of the many caregivers out there, perhaps reading this right now, Senator Dole replies, “You are not alone. Being a caregiver can feel like one of the loneliest roles in the world, but I assure you that you are not alone. Things will get better.”
And with Senator Elizabeth Dole at the helm, that’s as good as fact.
