Elizabeth Dole Foundation®

Supporting America's Military & Veteran Caregivers

Across America, millions of people serve as caregivers — and within that community, military and veteran caregivers stand among the most vulnerable. All 14.3 million of them — spouses and parents, children and siblings — bring extraordinary skill and dedication to showing up every day for those who have served our country. They deserve a nation that shows up for them.

The National Blueprint for Action is a call to every sector of American society to do exactly that — informed by evidence, built with hundreds of partners, and grounded in deep respect for what caregivers do.

14.3M
military & veteran caregivers in the U.S.
136
evidence-based recommendations
4
strategic pillars
100+
partner organizations

Time and again, Americans from every walk of life come to us with the same question: What can I do to help our military and veteran caregivers? This Blueprint is the answer — built on rigorous evidence and shaped by hundreds of partners across government, business, health care, philanthropy, and the caregiving community itself. In the true American spirit, we don't wait for someone else to solve hard problems. We come together and do the work.

Steve Schwab, CEO — Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Military and veteran caregivers are the invisible backbone of our veterans' health system. They deserve our sustained commitment — not just our gratitude. The Blueprint gives every sector of American society a concrete way to honor that commitment with action.

Secretary Bob McDonald, Elizabeth Dole Foundation Board Chairman; 8th Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Overview

What Is the Blueprint?

The National Blueprint for Action translates what we know — from research, from lived experience, and from years of cross-sector collaboration — into specific, practical steps that leaders in every sector can take to support military and veteran caregivers.

It is organized around four pillars, which are also the pillars of Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Strategic Plan:

Mental & Emotional Wellness

Provider training, peer support, stigma reduction, and mental health access

Economic Mobility

Financial assistance, workplace policy, benefits navigation, and workforce re-entry

Children & Families

Child caregiver identification, youth support, family services, and schools

Supportive Ecosystems

Health system integration, community infrastructure, technology, and data
What the Blueprint Is
What the Blueprint Is Not
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A practical guide to implementEvery recommendation names the actors best positioned to carry it out.
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A mandateNo single organization is responsible for every recommendation.
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Evidence-basedGrounded in the most comprehensive study of military and veteran caregivers ever conducted — powered by Wounded Warrior Project & the Lilly Endowment. Read the RAND report →
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An Elizabeth Dole Foundation-only roadmapElizabeth Dole Foundation convened this work, but no single sector can move the needle alone.
✓
Cross-sectorAddressed to employers, policymakers, health systems, philanthropy, community organizations, technology companies, and more.
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A replacement for the RAISE National StrategyThe Blueprint complements that framework, ensuring military and veteran caregivers are a named priority within it.
✓
A companion to the RAISE National StrategyDesigned to ensure the RAISE Act's five goals translate into measurable progress for the 14.3 million Americans caring for those who have served.
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PrescriptiveOrganizations choose the recommendations most relevant to their sector, capacity, and relationships.
✓
A shared resourceDeveloped with hundreds of partners and meant to be used, adapted, and built upon by all of them.
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StaticThe Blueprint will be updated as evidence evolves and implementation experience accumulates.

Note on Participation: The recommendations in this Blueprint reflect a consensus of participants in the process to develop the Blueprint and do not necessarily represent the position of individual organizational participants. Thank you to KPMG LLP for facilitating the session and synthesizing the feedback. Participation in the process to develop the recommendations does not mean that every organization specifically endorses every recommendation.

While the Blueprint focuses on military and veteran caregivers, many recommendations may also benefit or be applicable to family caregivers and other populations more broadly.

Methodology

How It Was Built

The Blueprint was not built by one organization or one study. It was built through a multi-phase, cross-sector process — grounded in rigorous research and shaped by hundreds of voices from inside and outside the caregiving community. It was designed as a companion resource to the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers — the RAISE Strategy — ensuring its five goals and 15-agency federal commitments translate into concrete, measurable progress for the 14.3 million Americans caring for those who have served. Elizabeth Dole Foundation® developed the Blueprint as a partner in the Act on RAISE Coalition, the cross-sector network — convened by the National Alliance for Caregiving — that is working to advance implementation of the RAISE Strategy.

Development Process

Four Phases, Hundreds of Voices

Phase 1 · 2024

RAND Research Foundation

Elizabeth Dole Foundation's partnership with RAND produced America's Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows — the most comprehensive study of military and veteran caregivers ever undertaken. The research was powered by Wounded Warrior Project and the Lilly Endowment, and established the evidentiary foundation for every recommendation in the Blueprint, documenting population estimates, unmet need profiles, economic data, and mental health findings across the 14.3 million Americans serving in this role.

Phase 2 · May 2025

The National Convening

Hundreds of leaders from government, industry, nonprofits, academia, and the military and veteran caregiver community gathered at Elizabeth Dole Foundation's 10th Annual National Convening. Four 90-minute facilitated breakout sessions — one aligned with each strategic pillar — focused on identifying actionable solutions. These sessions were facilitated and synthesized by Guidehouse, generating the first wave of cross-sector insights that would shape the Blueprint.

Phase 3 · June 2025

Cross-Sector Working Groups

Elizabeth Dole Foundation partnered with KPMG to form four interdisciplinary Working Groups — one per pillar — each bringing together 20 to 30 leaders from industry, government, nonprofits, and academia alongside veterans and caregivers themselves. Four half-day virtual sessions used structured facilitation to move from problem identification to solution development.

Mental & Emotional WellnessLeidos · American Psychological Association
Children & FamiliesWounded Warrior Project · University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee / YCARE
Economic MobilityAARP · USAA Educational Foundation · Holland & Knight
Supportive EcosystemsPhilips North America · Paralyzed Veterans of America

The organizations listed above served as Working Group leads for each pillar. The full participant list — 20 to 30 leaders per group — appears in the Thank You to Our Partners section below.

Phase 4 · September 2025

Validation and Refinement

Working Group leads and key Elizabeth Dole Foundation staff gathered for a full-day in-person session facilitated by KPMG. The focus was validating draft recommendations, resolving cross-pillar tensions, and establishing implementation milestones. Elizabeth Dole Foundation then reviewed every recommendation against three criteria: Is it measurable? Is it relevant to military and veteran caregivers specifically? Is it attainable? The remaining recommendations were refined for clarity, organized by pillar and sub-pillar, tagged by sector and actor, and prioritized.

With Gratitude

Thank You to Our Partners

The National Blueprint for Action exists because of the expertise, time, and genuine commitment of hundreds of organizations and individuals. The leaders named below helped shape every recommendation in this Blueprint — and we are deeply grateful for their partnership.

Cross-Sector Working Group Participants

20–30 leaders per pillar from industry, government, nonprofits, and academia — alongside veterans and military/veteran caregivers themselves.

Mental & Emotional Wellness

Leads: Leidos · American Psychological Association

  • Maximus
  • Hazelden Betty Ford
  • Bob Woodruff Foundation
  • Cohen Veterans Network
  • NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
  • TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
  • The Carter Center
  • Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
  • RAND
  • VA Caregiver Support Program
  • Uniformed Services University / Center for Deployment Psychology

Economic Mobility

Leads: AARP · USAA Educational Foundation · Holland & Knight

  • BNY Mellon
  • CGI
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Prudential
  • Wells Fargo
  • US Bank
  • Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation
  • National Veterans Legal Services Program
  • TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
  • Vets Education Success
  • NACO (National Association of Counties)
  • Vets First
  • Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
  • RAND
  • UMGC (University of Maryland Global Campus)
  • SHRM Foundation
  • VA Caregiver Support Program

Children & Families

Leads: Wounded Warrior Project · University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee / YCARE

  • Nemours Children's Health
  • National Military Family Association
  • Our Military Kids
  • Military Family Advisory Network
  • Armed Forces YMCA
  • Camp Corral
  • Exceptional Families of the Military
  • Military Child Education Coalition
  • Sesame Workshop
  • No Greater Sacrifice
  • Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
  • Mathematica
  • RAND
  • Uniformed Services University / Center for Deployment Psychology

Supportive Ecosystems

Leads: Philips North America · Paralyzed Veterans of America

  • Amazon
  • CVS Aetna
  • Elevance Health
  • Humana Military
  • TriWest
  • EMD Serono
  • Multiplan
  • Optum
  • MOAA (Military Officers Association of America)
  • VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
  • The American Legion
  • DAV (Disabled American Veterans)
  • NAC (National Alliance for Caregiving)
  • VA Case Management and Social Work
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Board Members, Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver Fellows, and Elizabeth Dole Foundation staff contributed to each working session. Veterans and military/veteran caregivers participated throughout the process to ensure that lived experience informed every recommendation.

Research & Facilitation Partners

RAND — published Foundational Hidden Heroes research reports, powered by Wounded Warrior Project and the Lilly Endowment
Guidehouse — 2025 National Convening Facilitation

Featured Partners

The Foundation: RAND Research

In 2024, Elizabeth Dole Foundation released America's Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows — a landmark study by RAND representing the most comprehensive examination of military and veteran caregivers ever undertaken. The study was powered by Wounded Warrior Project and the Lilly Endowment. Its findings set the agenda for the Blueprint. Read the Full Research →

Mental & Emotional Wellness

43%
of caregivers to veterans age 60 or under meet criteria for depression — 4× the rate of non-caregivers
36%
of caregivers report needing mental health treatment
20%
of caregivers to veterans age 60 or under report suicidal ideation
70%
are concerned about hospitalization or medication as a barrier to seeking care

Economic Mobility

35%
of caregiver households have income at or below 130% of the federal poverty line
$8,583
in annual out-of-pocket caregiving costs per household
$4,522
in forgone annual household income per caregiver

Children & Families

40%
of military/veteran caregiving households include a child caregiver
25%
of caregivers report their children need mental health care but have not received it
27%
are "sandwich caregivers" — simultaneously caring for an adult and raising their children
Higher risk
of behavioral and emotional challenges among children in military/veteran caregiving households compared with peers

Supportive Ecosystems

1 in 3
military/veteran caregivers felt listened to or included in health care decisions
38–48%
are not using available support programs
25%
of rural military/veteran caregivers lack reliable broadband access
Foundation

Operating Principles

These six principles were informed by the cross-sector Working Groups convened during the Blueprint's development. They guide how all recommendations should be implemented — regardless of sector, pillar, or scale.

1

Where possible, leverage caregiving-focused resources that have already been developed by nonprofits, corporations, and academic and research institutions. Build on what works.

2

Ensure all initiatives are grounded in rigorous research and informed by prior studies — using data to identify gaps, evaluate outcomes, and guide program design so that solutions are measurable, effective, and sustainable.

3

Ensure caregiving services, policies, products, and programs reflect diverse caregiver needs, experiences, and relationships, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

4

Where possible, ensure caregivers — including child caregivers — are part of product and service design to inform the most effective solutions for their community.

5

Enable caregivers to share their experiences to inform and shape policies and legislation at all levels of government — through storytelling, petitions, campaigns, public forums, and other data collection measures.

6

Develop and sustain cross-cutting, cross-sector partnerships to align practices and improve integration.

Explore Recommendations

136 evidence-based recommendations across four pillars. Filter by pillar or by who should act. Each recommendation notes its alignment to the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers — see the full goal-by-goal mapping on the RAISE National Strategy page.

By Pillar
Who Should Act
136 recommendations

No recommendations match the current filters.

Policy Context

RAISE National Strategy Alignment

The Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (P.L. 115-119), signed into law in 2018, directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a national strategy to recognize and support the more than 53 million family caregivers across the United States. The resulting 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers — and its companion Federal Actions document, representing nearly 350 actions across 15 federal agencies — organizes national caregiver support around five goals. It is the first national, government-wide roadmap for advancing family caregiver support, and remains the most authoritative federal framework for caregiver policy in the United States.

The Act on RAISE Coalition, convened by the National Alliance for Caregiving and joined by Elizabeth Dole Foundation® and more than 100 partner organizations, is the cross-sector network working to drive implementation of the RAISE Strategy — translating its goals into concrete federal, state, and community action.

Military and veteran caregivers have historically been underrepresented in national caregiving policy. The Blueprint was designed as a companion resource to the RAISE Strategy — ensuring its goals, federal commitments, and state and community actions translate into measurable progress for the 14.3 million Americans caring for those who have served.

Five Goals, Blueprint Connection

Each goal block below shows how Blueprint recommendations advance one of the RAISE Strategy's five goals. The federal commitments and state and community actions shown here are not new recommendations from the Blueprint — they are existing components of the RAISE Strategy itself, drawn directly from the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, the Federal Actions document, and HHS implementation reporting. They are included here to show where Blueprint recommendations align with — and reinforce — work that the federal government and state and community partners have already committed to under the RAISE Strategy.

Click any goal to expand. Specific RAISE alignment also appears on individual recommendation cards in the Explore Recommendations section.

1

Increase Awareness of and Outreach to Family Caregivers

▾ Expand
Blueprint Recommendations Aligned with This RAISE Goal
  • Train VA, military, and 211/MilitaryOneSource staff to identify and refer military/veteran caregivers
  • Integrate caregiver identification into Transition Assistance Program (TAP) sessions
  • Expand SNAP, WIC, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) outreach to eligible military/veteran caregiver households (only 4–8% of eligible caregivers use these programs)
  • Add caregiver identification questions to school enrollment forms at Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) and civilian schools near installations
  • Sponsor Caregiver Wellness Days and anti-stigma campaigns through corporate and community partners
Existing RAISE Strategy Federal Commitments
  • VA CSP: Listserv messaging to enrolled caregivers on available services (Federal Action 51)
  • VA CSP: Integration of Veteran Community Partnerships (VCP) community caregiver supports into existing programming
  • CDC: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) module updates to improve military/veteran caregiver identification in national data
  • DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): Workplace awareness tools for employed military/veteran caregivers
Existing RAISE Strategy State & Community Actions
  • Expand Older Americans Act (OAA) Title Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III-E) outreach to military/veteran caregiver households
  • Distribute resources through trusted military community channels — VSOs, installation family programs, faith communities
  • State proclamations and caregiver-friendly business designations to raise public awareness
2

Advance Partnerships and Engagement with Family Caregivers

▾ Expand
Blueprint Recommendations Aligned with This RAISE Goal
  • Include caregivers meaningfully in VA and Military Treatment Facility care planning (only 1 in 3 felt listened to)
  • Convene cross-sector stakeholders using Elizabeth Dole Foundation's caregiver journey map as a coordination tool
  • Organize Hill Days with Hidden Helpers youth to elevate child caregiver voices in policy
  • Build employer ERGs and affinity groups for military/veteran caregivers
  • Partner with major brands to extend caregiver awareness campaigns
Existing RAISE Strategy Federal Commitments
  • VA CSP: Campaign for Inclusive Care established as minimum standard for VA general caregiver support services (Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS))
  • VA Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Research on Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) health outcomes and best practices for program scaling
  • Indian Health Service (IHS): EHR/Health Information Technology (HIT) Modernization to improve caregiver identification in tribal health settings
  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Interprofessional team training on caregiver integration in clinical care
Existing RAISE Strategy State & Community Actions
  • Update accreditation standards to require caregiver engagement training for care teams
  • Adopt and expand the CARE Act to include military/veteran caregiver provisions
  • Ensure caregiver representation on health system boards and advisory councils
3

Strengthen Services and Supports for Family Caregivers

▾ Expand
Blueprint Recommendations Aligned with This RAISE Goal
  • Standardize caregiver screening at all care access points (VA, Military Treatment Facility (MTF), primary care, ED, pharmacy)
  • Expand telehealth access and rural broadband for caregivers (25% of rural caregivers lack reliable broadband)
  • Offer childcare at VA Medical Centers and Military Treatment Facilities during appointments
  • Create new respite models including peer-based and community-integrated options (only 19% used respite)
  • Integrate caregiver records into MHS Genesis and VA EHR systems
  • Partner ADRCs with VSOs to improve No Wrong Door access for military/veteran families
Existing RAISE Strategy Federal Commitments
  • VA CSP: Needs assessment survey tool development with VA Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Key Federal Example)
  • VA: Veteran-Directed Care expansion to 70 sites with Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Area Agencies on Aging
  • CMS: Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group (DEHPG) respite expansion reporting under American Rescue Plan (ARP) Section 9817
  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program training for caregiving care teams
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Mental health case management referrals for family caregivers
Existing RAISE Strategy State & Community Actions
  • Expand caregiver assessments in medical, social service, and community settings
  • Implement telehealth flexibility policies for caregiver-served populations
  • Train first responders to identify and connect caregivers with resources
4

Ensure Financial and Workplace Security for Family Caregivers

▾ Expand
Blueprint Recommendations Aligned with This RAISE Goal
  • Establish paid caregiver leave at federal and state levels
  • Pass the Credit for Caring Act; expand property tax relief for surviving caregivers
  • Extend VA caregiver benefits for 1–2 years post-veteran death or transition
  • Reform Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) eligibility to include mental health conditions and TBI
  • Expand SNAP, WIC, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) access and remove work requirement barriers for caregivers
  • Develop HR best practice guides for caregiver-friendly employers
Existing RAISE Strategy Federal Commitments
  • DOL Women's Bureau: Advocacy for paid leave policy, financial literacy, and care infrastructure
  • DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): Technical assistance to employers on workplace flexibility for employed caregivers
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Financial caregiving resources and banking access for caregiver households
  • DOL/Employment and Training Administration (ETA): Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) awareness activities for direct care workers and family caregivers
Existing RAISE Strategy State & Community Actions
  • State caregiver tax credit legislation modeled on the federal Credit for Caring Act
  • No Wrong Door financial navigation services for military/veteran caregiver households
  • Caregiver coalition models to coordinate state-level advocacy (Massachusetts model cited)
5

Expand Data, Research, and Evidence-Based Practices

▾ Expand
Blueprint Recommendations Aligned with This RAISE Goal
  • Add military/veteran caregiver questions to the Census and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) using activity-based identification approaches, developed through deliberation with federal statistical agencies and the broader research community
  • Establish Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) data standards with military/veteran caregiver as a defined subgroup
  • Include caregiver involvement as a metric in health care quality measurement frameworks
  • Evaluate peer support models and scale those with demonstrated outcomes
  • Fund longitudinal research on child caregivers' educational, mental health, and long-term outcomes
  • Build the employer investment business case through sector-specific Return on Investment (ROI) research
Existing RAISE Strategy Federal Commitments
  • CDC: Annual BRFSS module updates; expansion of caregiver questions to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
  • HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE): Disability risk and caregiving projection modeling
  • VA CSP and VA Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Caregiver survey tool development and research partnership
  • National Institute on Aging (NIA): Public-private caregiving clinical integration partnership
  • National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR): Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) research on caregiver assessment tool validation
Existing RAISE Strategy State & Community Actions
  • Include local caregiving data in community outreach and planning efforts
  • Implement standard caregiver data fields in No Wrong Door intake systems
  • Support researcher and funder investment in caregiver identification and longitudinal study
Join Us

Get Involved

The National Blueprint for Action is designed to move people from interest to action — in support of America's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers.

Every recommendation in this Blueprint requires partners across government, business, health care, philanthropy, and the caregiving community to translate ideas into implementation. Whether your organization is already working in this space or just exploring how to engage, there is a meaningful role for you.

Take Action

There are several concrete ways your organization can advance the Blueprint for military and veteran caregivers:

  • Implement a recommendation. Review the Explore Recommendations section to find recs that align with your mission or sector — then start moving one or more forward.
  • Share your work. Let us know what your organization is already doing (or planning to do) to support military and veteran caregivers. Your input helps inform Blueprint updates and connects you with Elizabeth Dole Foundation's® growing implementation network.
  • Partner with us. The Elizabeth Dole Foundation welcomes new collaborators across sectors. Reach out to discuss how we might work together to advance specific recommendations.
  • Amplify the Blueprint. Share the Blueprint with your networks, your members, and your peers in the field — helping ensure military and veteran caregivers are visible in every conversation about caregiver support.
Contact Elizabeth Dole Foundation