Applications Open for 2017 Caregiving Scholarship

Wednesday, April 19th, 2017— AMERICUS, GEORGIA — The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) is pleased to open nominations for the 2017 Mattie J.T. Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship. The Stepanek Scholarships provide financial assistance to military caregivers who have demonstrated a commitment to caring not only for their loved ones, but also for themselves.

As soldiers return from war with injuries both visible and invisible, young spouses and aging parents find themselves in a new and challenging role—as caregivers. One of the most difficult tasks for those who become caregivers is to take good care of themselves. Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) is a program designed to help military families work through the difficulties they face when a service member returns home.

OFC caregiver coaches meet with a caregiver in person, by phone or Skype, and customize a 16- to 24-week program that is tailored to each family. Together, caregivers and their coaches develop strategies that can help them get through the tough times and make plans for how to manage over the long term. The program was founded in 2012 by RCI and is now in 13 sites across 10 states and the District of Columbia.

The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship is available to military caregivers who have completed the OFC program by the application deadline of August 31, 2017. Five $2,000 scholarships will be awarded at RCI’s 30th Anniversary Summit in Americus, Georgia, Oct. 25-27, 2017.

The scholarship is named for Mattie J.T. Stepanek, who died on June 22, 2004, just a month before his 14th birthday, due to complications of Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease. Mattie was a friend to both President and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. He believed that although we all have life storms, there is a champion within each of us, waiting to emerge and pull us through. During his brief life, Mattie became a poet and peace activist, championing the idea that “Hope is real, peace is possible, and life is worthy!” This caregiving scholarship honors his memory and his optimism.

Read about the 2016 Scholarship Recipients

OFC Launches in Washington State

Wednesday, January 25th, 2017—Easterseals Washington welcomed military caregivers, nonprofit organizations and members of the Washington military community to their Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) launch in January at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Attendees were greeted by special guest-speaker, Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib, who shared his own personal story of living with a disability and spoke to the need for greater support for our veterans, their families, and their caregivers. Mr. Habib offered his support for the program and helped set the tone for a very successful program kickoff.

Next up, Easterseals Washington President & CEO, Cathy Bisaillon, introduced their organization and expressed her excitement for this new opportunity to serve military caregivers throughout the state. Although Easterseals Washington serves many military families through other core programs, OFC is the first military-specific program. “We are proud to have been selected as the provider for OFC in Washington, and we look forward to giving back to military families that have served all of us during their duty,” stated Bisaillon.

The final speaker of the morning was Laura Bauer, National Program Director of Operation Family Caregiver – pictured below, on the far right. Laura shared her expertise in the military caregiving field and gave an in-depth look of the program. Following an informative Q&A session, the event wrapped up with a very positive outlook for the success of OFC in Washington. The Bob Woodruff Foundation committed to fund the Easterseals site during the OFC Summit held at the Carter Center in July of 2016.

What is Operation Family Caregiver?

Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) coaches the families of returning service members and veterans to manage the difficulties they face when they come home. OFC is a personalized program, tailored specifically to the struggles of each family. Through proven methods, the program teaches military families how best to navigate their challenges, resulting in stronger and healthier families.

Easterseals Washington Selected as New OFC Site

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016— AMERICUS, GEORGIA — The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving’s (RCI) signature military caregiver program, Operation Family Caregiver, today announced that Easterseals Washington will operate its new site in Washington State. The Bob Woodruff Foundation committed to fund the site during the OFC Summit held at the Carter Center in July of 2016.

Easterseals Washington has been serving children and adults with disabilities across Washington State as a stand-alone non-profit organization since 1947. As an Operation Family Caregiver affiliate, Easterseals Washington will provide individualized skill-building support to 40 military caregivers residing in Washington State. Using the evidence-based metrics created by the RCI, each of these military caregivers will complete the Operation Family Caregiver Program within 4-6 months.

“We are honored to be trusted with the delivery of this important program,” stated Cathy Bisaillon, Easterseals Washington President and CEO. “While we have provided support services for military and veteran personnel, the Rosalynn Carter Institute’s evidence-based approach will allow us to make life-improving impact in the lives of these families throughout Washington State.”

Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) is a proven, evidence-based program that provides support to the families of newly returning service members and veterans. Specially-trained coaches teach military families the skills they need to overcome unforeseen challenges and cope more effectively with problems they never imagined. Caregivers who have completed the program report being less depressed and more satisfied with their lives, have fewer health complaints, and are generally more prepared to take care of their families. Since its launch with catalytic funding from Johnson & Johnson in 2012, OFC has helped more than 300 caregivers from across the country.

“It is hard to imagine how difficult it is to be a husband or wife, or a parent, or even a friend, whose loved one comes home from war simply unrecognizable. He or she takes on this new role of ‘caregiver’—but also needs to adapt to how his or her own life has changed,” said RCI’s executive director Dr. Leisa Easom. “As OFC extends into new communities, we can see the lasting impact it is having on military families.”

“It’s clear that Operation Family Caregiver is improving the quality of life for military and veteran families, and that is our mission as well,” said Mary Carstensen, acting Director of Programs and Partnerships for the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “We are proud to bring the program to the state of Washington, home to many who have served and continue to serve our nation.”

After an initial pilot launch in 2012, the program has expanded in each subsequent year. It can be provided in person or via Skype. Over the past three years, RCI has pursued a deliberate plan to extend OFC into states with the highest concentration of post-9/11 veterans, active military, and guard/reserve. With the latest expansion, OFC will be serving military families in 14 locations, including the nine U.S. states with the greatest need.

All OFC sites are managed by local organizations that have been trained by RCI staff. Easterseals’ Washington’s selection as the newest OFC site came as the result of a grant request submitted following the OFC Summit held in July.

Inaugural Award Presented to Military & Veteran Caregiver Network

Monday, August 22nd, 2016— ATLANTA, GEORGIA — At a celebratory dinner on July 29, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter awarded the first Caregiver Champion Award to the innovative and exceptional Military and Veteran Caregiver Peer Support Network(MVCN), which provides peer support to those who care for service members and veterans living with injuries. This award was established by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI), which offers evidence-based support programs to caregivers across the country, including military caregivers through its Operation Family Caregiver program. Operation Family Caregiver provides support to the caregivers of service members and veterans who have been injured.

The 2016 Rosalynn Carter Caregiver Champion Award honors the many leaders in our nation who are actively advocating for the distinct needs of military caregivers. These actions—some taking place behind the scenes and others more visible—are critical to ensuring that military caregivers receive services that will support them throughout their caregiving journey and are proven to work.

RCI selected the MVCN from among many nominees, recognizing its success in reducing isolation and increasing a sense of connectedness, engagement, hopefulness, wellness among caregivers, as well as their knowledge and skills. The MVCN supports caregivers through three caregiver-only, peer-support programs: the Online Peer Support Community, Peer Mentor Support Program, and Peer Support Groups (Online & Community-Based). The network grew out of and is modeled after the nationally recognized, evidence-based programs of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which provides compassionate peer-based support to the loved ones of those who died during or as a result of their service in the Armed Forces.

When the former First Lady presented the award to MVCN staff at the awards dinner, she emphasized the huge impact the network is having on military caregivers—the heroes behind America’s national heroes. “It is so important that we recognize and honor those organizations, like the Caregiver Peer Support Network, that are championing caregivers and improving lives,” said the former First Lady.

The MVCN received a cash award of $2,500. Dr. Lynda Davis, Executive Vice President of TAPS and the Executive Director of the MVCN, accepted the award with gratitude. “TAPS has allowed us to bring their evidence-based, best practices in peer support to the aid of our nation’s caregivers and to provide training to, and share technology with, organizations with similar missions like the exceptional programs Mrs. Carter and the Operation Family Caregiver team have created,” she said.

OFC Expands to Washington and Nevada

Friday, July 29th, 2016— ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving’s (RCI) signature military caregiver program, Operation Family Caregiver, announced its expansion into two new states at its caregiver summit July 29. The Bob Woodruff Foundationbecomes the latest supporter, with a commitment to fund a new site in the state of Washington. In addition, Nevada Senior Services announced that it will begin serving military caregivers in 2017.

The new sites were announced at Uniting Forces to Support Military Caregivers, an OFC summit that took place at The Carter Center. First Lady Rosalynn Carter joined leaders from the White House; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Easter Seals Dixon Center; TAPS; and other organizations devoted to military and veterans’ families. The summit provided a forum for exploration and collaboration among thought leaders, policymakers, military brass, and caregivers to discuss what will take to support military families.

Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) is a proven, evidence-based program that provides support to the families of newly returning service members and veterans. Specially-trained coaches teach military families the skills they need to overcome unforeseen challenges and cope more effectively with problems they never imagined. Caregivers who have completed the program report being less depressed and more satisfied with their lives, have fewer health complaints, and are generally more prepared to take care of their families. Since its launch with catalytic funding from Johnson & Johnson in 2012, OFC has helped more than 300 caregivers from across the country.

“It is hard to imagine how difficult it is to be a husband or wife, or a parent, or even a friend, whose loved one comes home from war simply unrecognizable. He or she takes on this new role of ‘caregiver’—but also needs to adapt to how his or her own life has changed,” said RCI’s executive director Dr. Leisa Easom. “As OFC extends into new communities, we can see the lasting impact it is having on military families.”

“It’s clear that Operation Family Caregiver is improving the quality of life for military and veteran families, and that is our mission as well,” said Mary Carstensen, acting Director of Programs and Partnerships for the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “We are proud to bring the program to the state of Washington, home to many who have served and continue to serve our nation.”

“For more than 15 years, Johnson & Johnson has partnered with the Rosalynn Carter Institute because its work truly changes lives,” said Bonnie Petrauskas, Executive Director of Worldwide Corporate Contributions for Johnson & Johnson. “Caregivers provide an incredibly valuable role in achieving family health and well-being, and we are proud to support the Operation Family Caregiver program.”

After an initial pilot launch in 2012, the program has expanded in each subsequent year. It can be provided in person or via Skype. Over the past three years, RCI has pursued a deliberate plan to extend OFC into states with the highest concentration of post-9/11 veterans, active military, and guard/reserve. With the latest expansion, OFC will be serving military families in 14 locations, including the nine U.S. states with the greatest need. Nevada’s Clark County—home to Las Vegas and to both Creech and Nellis Air Force bases—has a large and growing number of service members and veterans, although OFC will serve the entire state of Nevada which is home to over 300,000 veterans.

Like all OFC sites, the two new programs will be managed by local organizations after initial training by RCI. In Nevada, Nevada Senior Services—which operates three other RCI caregiver programs—will deliver the program in collaboration with the Nevada Aging and Disabilities Services Division; the Nevada Department of Veteran Services; and Blue Star Mothers of Nevada. The Bob Woodruff Foundation will fund a new OFC site in the state of Washington; RCI will issue a targeted request for proposals later this summer. Any interested organizations should contact Laura Bauer at RCI for additional information.

Additional Information and Resources

Complete agenda available here

Follow along on Twitter using #OFCSummit2016

Photos, videos, and background information available here

RCI Honors Resilient Military Caregivers

Thursday, November 5th, 2015 — AMERICUS, GEORGIA — At its 28th Annual National Summit Oct. 23, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) presented five Mattie J.T. Stepanek Caregiving Scholarships to deserving caregivers supporting their loved ones, who were injured as a result of their military service.

This year, the $2,000 scholarships were awarded to military caregivers who are active or past participants in RCI’s signature military caregiver program, Operation Family Caregiver (OFC). OFC is a proven, evidence-based program that provides support to the families of newly returning service members and veterans. Since its launch in 2012, the program has helped more than 160 caregivers from across the country, all of whom were eligible for the scholarship.

The scholarship awardees include mothers and wives of servicemen who made significant sacrifices on behalf of their country. But their caregivers are making sacrifices as well, and this scholarship honors that sacrifice. Mary Booth, based in St. Louis, Mo., did not consider herself a caregiver until she called the VA Caregiver Crisis line when her son, a disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, was admitted to the hospital with suicidal and homicidal ideations. Ashley Jackson lives in Johnstown, Penn., with two daughters and her husband, who returned from his deployment “a totally different” man riddled with anger issues. Breanna Perez lives in Oceanside, Calif., taking care of her husband who was wounded during his fifth deployment and then deployed once more before coming home with numerous physical injuries and post-traumatic stress. Nikki Stephens, who lives in Murietta, Calif., cares for her husband, a former Marine who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, neurological visual impairment, fibromyalgia and epilepsy. Jamie Winkler serves as a caregiver in Seattle, Wash., to her husband who has post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain and long-term sleep issues.

All of these women point to their involvement with OFC as a turning point in helping them find a way to face and surmount these challenges. Their stories are unique but typical of the experience had by many spouses, siblings and parents who find themselves in the unexpected role of caregiver when their loved one comes home. Each of these awardees has developed the strength and resilience needed to care for her loved one but also to take care of herself. This is the OFC model.

OFC provides caregiver “coaches” who teach military families the skills they need to overcome unforeseen challenges and cope more effectively with problems they never imagined. Caregivers who have completed OFC report being less depressed and more satisfied with their lives, have fewer health complaints and are generally more prepared to take care of their families.

“The best thing I learned from Operation Family Caregiver was that I had to care for myself before I could care for anyone else,” Perez wrote in her scholarship application. “It truly helped me be a better caregiver because I was falling apart and I didn’t even know it.”

The scholarship is named for Mattie J.T. Stepanek, who died on June 22, 2004, just a month before his fourteenth birthday, due to complications of dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease. Mattie was a friend to both President Carter and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. He believed that although we all have life storms, there is a champion within each of us, waiting to emerge and pull us through. During his brief life, Mattie became a poet and peace activist, championing the idea that “Hope is real, peace is possible, and life is worthy!” This caregiving scholarship honors his memory and his optimism.

OFC Adds Three New Locations

Wednesday, September 9th, 2015—AMERICUS, GEORGIA — The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving’s (RCI) signature military caregiver program will expand to Virginia, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, California. With this latest growth, Operation Family Caregivercontinues to pursue its strategy of serving families in states with the highest concentration of service members and veterans.

Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) is a proven, evidence-based program that provides support to the families of newly returning service members and veterans. It is free, confidential, and tailored to each individual family. It is the only program like it serving military families. Since 2001, the United States has sent more than 2.5 million men and women to Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 50,000 have been wounded. Beyond those visible injuries, nearly one-third of returning service members have a mental health condition or experienced a traumatic brain injury.

“Our military has been on the battlefield for longer than ever before, and there are consequences to that,” said RCI’s executive director Dr. Leisa Easom. “When they come home, especially with injuries, they lean heavily on their husbands and wives, parents, battle buddies, whoever can help take care of them. And that takes a lot out of a person. Being a caregiver is not easy.”

Many spouses, siblings, and parents are thrust into the unexpected role of caregiver when their loved one comes home. Operation Family Caregiver provides caregiver “coaches” who teach military families the skills they need to overcome unforeseen challenges and cope more effectively with problems they never imagined. The program can be provided in person or via Skype.

Operation Family Caregiver launched in 2012 with catalytic funding from Johnson & Johnson. After an initial pilot launch in 2012, it has expanded in each subsequent year and earlier this year announced a partnership with Blue Star Families that will add two additional sites. With the latest expansion, Operation Family Caregiver will be serving military families in 12 locations by the beginning of next year, including:

• Johnstown, Pa.
• San Diego, Calif.
• Killeen, Texas (Fort Hood)
• Buffalo, N.Y.
• Tallahassee, Fla.
• Augusta, Ga.
• Houston, Texas
• Washington, D.C.
• San Antonio, Texas
• Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia
• North Carolina
• Los Angeles, Calif.

Johnson & Johnson has partnered with RCI for nearly 15 years, and its support makes the latest expansion of OFC possible. Since its launch, OFC has helped more than 150 caregivers from across the country. Caregivers who have completed the program report being less depressed and more satisfied with their lives, have fewer health complaints, and are generally more prepared to take care of their families.

Like all OFC sites, the new programs will be trained by RCI but managed by local organizations. In North Carolina, OFC will be implemented by Easter Seals UCP, which operates across the state but will focus particularly on central to eastern North Carolina. This part of the state is home to high populations of active military and post 9/11 veterans. Nearly 200,000 veterans are estimated in the counties surrounding Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, and Pope Air Force Base.

The OFC program in Virginia will be a collaboration between the Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health (CEALH) and the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP), a program of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS). The program will specifically target two regions of the state: Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, which together are home to more than 425,000 veterans.

Southern Caregiver Resource Center (SCRC), has been successful in operating OFC in San Diego County, California, and will expand its reach to Los Angeles County, home to 325,000 veterans—36,000 of whom are post-9/11 veterans.

RCI Expands OFC by Two Sites

Monday, July 13th, 2015 — AMERICUS, GEORGIA — The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving’s (RCI) Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) will pilot a new volunteer program thanks to funding from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and a new partnership with Blue Star Families, the largest chapter-based, volunteer, military family engagement organization in the nation. Training will commence for OFC coaches in fall 2015, with service to military families, done both in person and via SKYPE, beginning as early as December.

Under the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation grant, a new version of the OFC program will be piloted using volunteers from the Blue Star Families network as the coaches who will be working with the caregivers. This innovative new volunteer model will expand OFC’s nationwide reach to include Washington, D.C. and San Antonio, Texas. If successful, the Blue-Star Families volunteer model may be adapted in additional sites around the U.S.

“The partnership between RCI and Blue Star Families is a natural fit; both organizations are dedicated to providing support and reaching positive outcomes for military families,” said RCI Executive Director Leisa Easom, Ph.D. “The funding from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation will positively impact more military families in life after deployment.”

Operation Family Caregiver is an evidence-based one-on-one support program that builds strong military families and teaches problem-solving to families living with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and/or a physical disability. Caregivers who have completed the program in its early implementations report being more satisfied with life, accompanied by measurable progress in areas such as: reduced depression, fewer health complaints, increased ability to take care of their families and greater confidence in solving their own problems.

The OFC program was launched in 2012 with catalytic funding from Johnson & Johnson. It was piloted in Johnstown, Pa., and expanded to San Diego, Calif.; Killeen, Texas; and Buffalo, N.Y., in 2013. The RCI announced additional expansion in 2014 to Houston, Texas; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Augusta, Ga.

“With an estimated 5.5 million military caregivers in the U.S., the emotional, physical and financial impact of caregiving can be extraordinary,” explains Noeleen Tillman, executive director for Blue Star Families. “Our 2014 Annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey revealed that 32 percent of the respondents annually provide care for someone, and 15 percent spend 40 or more hours – equivalent to a full-time job – providing daily living assistance for a loved one who served in the military. Our innovative partnership with RCI will literally open doors to new resources for caregivers. And thanks to the generosity of Bristol-Myers Squibb, we will dramatically increase our capacity to help military family members adjust to a new life that involves unexpected dedication, time and energy in support of a service member’s physical and invisible wounds of war – all while tending to the day to day tasks at home and work.”

San Antonio, Texas and Washington, D.C. were strategically chosen as new sites because of their considerable military family population and strong Blue Star Families chapters (www.bluestarfam.org). This is the third OFC site in Texas, with other sites located in Killeen and Houston. Texas has a population of 27 million, and seven percent of those are military families. Eight percent of Washington, D.C.’s population – 660,000 – consists of military families.

“Support to military caregivers is critical to the health and well-being of returning service members and their families,” said Sharon D’Agostino, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship. Johnson & Johnson is proud to have been the inaugural partner with RCI to pilot and launch Operation Family Caregiver. We’re excited about the new partnership with Blue Star Families to help even more people access the important resources RCI provides.”

“The transition back to civilian life can be challenging for military families as they become disconnected from their usual support networks, but this task is even greater for those who care for our wounded warriors,” said John Damonti, president, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “For all their courage, compassion and resiliency, caregivers should not have to face this challenge alone. That is why the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is proud to partner with RCI, Blue Star Families and others to eliminate institutional and cultural barriers that can prevent veterans and their families from seeking or obtaining high-quality care. ”

RCI Supports Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015—AMERICUS, GEORGIA — Leisa Easom, Ph.D., executive director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, issued today the following statement of support for the Hidden Heroes Coalition Summit:

“The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) commends the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for its commitment to military caregivers. The Dole Foundation’s effort to bring more attention to the needs of our military families has had a huge impact on those of us that work with those families. At RCI, we have seen clearly the increased skills, confidence, and peace of mind we can provide caregivers through Operation Family Caregiver’s (OFC) training, and we have benefited greatly from raised awareness of the issues surrounding military caregiving among the communities we serve around the nation. In addition, we appreciate the Foundation’s ability to galvanize resources and coordinate the many organizations working in this field so that our work complements each other.

RCI has worked closely over the past few years with the families of service member returning from war through our innovative program, Operation Family Caregiver. Last year’s report from the RAND Corporation, funded by the Dole Foundation, called for services to help empower caregivers to better cope with the stress and strain of caregiving. We could not agree more, which is why we launched OFC in 2012 with the generous support of Johnson & Johnson.

OFC is currently serving more than 100 caregivers in person at seven sites and via Skype. It is an evidence-based and personalized program, tailored specifically to the struggles of each family. Caregivers who have completed the program are more satisfied with their lives, report fewer health issues, and are generally more prepared to take care of their families.

We again thank the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for its important attention to this hidden population. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Foundation and many others whose work supports our service members to ensure that military families are honored for the heroic work they are doing on behalf of our great nation.”

J&J Funds Expansion of OFC

Tuesday, April 7th, 2015–-AMERICUS, GA –- A program that aims to help the caregivers of returning service members and veterans is showing signs of success. Johnson & Johnson, which has supported the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving‘s (RCI) programs for many years, will support the program’s expansion to three new sites this year.

Operation Family Caregiver (OFC), RCI’s signature military caregiver program, provides one-on-one support and training for caregivers of newly returning service members and veterans with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, and/or physical disability. Caregivers who have completed the program in its early implementations report being more satisfied with life, accompanied by measurable progress in areas such as:

• Reduced depression
• Fewer health complaints
• Increased ability to take care of their families
• Greater confidence in solving their own problems

“Operation Family Caregiver provides me the tools to identify stress, create options for solutions, and provides support which allows me to solve problems,” said Crystal, whose husband began showing signs of post-traumatic stress after returning from Iraq. “With the constant moves and frequent deployments that come with the military lifestyle, these tools allow me to maintain a positive attitude while caregiving.”

OFC launched in 2012 with catalytic funding from Johnson & Johnson. The health care company’s latest grant will support new program sites in three areas of the country with high concentrations of military families – North Carolina, Virginia, and a second location in California – growing the program to 10 sites in just 4 years.

OFC was piloted in Johnstown, Pa., and has expanded rapidly. While the program can be delivered anywhere in the United States via Skype, caregivers can receive support in person in San Diego, Calif.; Killeen, Texas (Fort Hood); Buffalo, N.Y.; Houston, Texas; Augusta, Ga.; and Tallahassee, Fla., in addition to the original location in Pennsylvania. In each location the program is managed by a local organization. RCI plans to continue adding new locations where there is a need and would welcome additional funding partners.

“Caregivers play a critical role when service members return home. We are proud to partner with RCI and inspired by the life-changing differences they make for so many families,” said Sharon K. D’Agostino, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship at Johnson & Johnson.

Johnson & Johnson has partnered with RCI for nearly 15 years, supporting the Institute’s efforts to provide evidence-based programs that can ensure the health, skills, and well-being of the vitally important family and informal caregivers. During this time, RCI has emerged as the preeminent training center for caregivers. Its most recent grant of $990,000 will fund the RCI Training Center for Excellence, as well as implementation sites for OFC and for RCI REACH, which supports caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

“Georgia Southwestern State University is grateful for the long-term support provided by Johnson & Johnson,” said Charles Patterson, PhD, Interim President at Georgia Southwestern University, which houses RCI. “This collaboration allows the RCI to help implement critically important evidence-based caregiver programs to better meet the needs of family caregivers in their own communities.” RCI’s executive director Dr. Leisa Easom continued, “We are so pleased to be able to expand this program and ensure that more families can receive support.”