Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI)

Operation Family Caregiver-Gulf Coast Region

The spouses and family members who care at home for wounded veterans have an increased likelihood of depression and other negative health outcomes; low productivity and problems at work; relationship distress; and increased financial difficulty. The challenges for post-9/11 military caregivers are even more acute than those caring for veterans from earlier eras. Post-9/11 caregivers tend to be younger, more likely to juggle work with caregiving duties, and less likely to have support. They are also four times more likely than non-caregivers to be depressed. Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) is the only evidence-based, one-on-one military caregiver support program showing improved physical and mental health among caregivers. OFC is a personalized program, where highly trained OFC experts train and “coach” each family with the skills to navigate their challenges, resulting in stronger and healthier families. This grant, made possible by a partnership between the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the Qatar Harvey Fund, will enable RCI to expand the Operation Family Caregiver program to the Gulf Coast of Texas and provide vital caregiving coaching to at least 100 families. Because of the prevalence of Spanish-speaking caregivers in the Texas Gulf Coast, this grant will also translate the OFC curriculum into Spanish.