ENHANCING NATIONAL REPUTATION & IMPACT
The Hidden Helpers
We were honored that Silvia Lopez Pabon, parent to Nemours Children’s patient, was selected to advocate for kids and youth from military caregiving homes alongside our President and CEO R. Lawrence Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP. They were joined by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and Joining Forces as part of the Hidden Helpers Coalition.
Who are the Hidden Helpers?
Children and adolescents living with wounded, injured, or ill service members and veterans.
“Most care providers have no idea what children caregivers go through, witness or deal with every day,” wrote one parent answering our survey. “My kids have had to do things and deal with things most adults couldn’t handle in having to take care of me due to my military injuries.”
Who is leading the Hidden Helpers Coalition?
A joint effort of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Biden Administration’s Joining Forces Initiative
Our Role
Nemours Children’s Health is the first pediatric health system to join the coalition of more than 60 public and private sector organizations. As chair of the Clinical Transformation workgroup, we have developed tools for pediatric primary and specialty care providers to address the unique health and social needs of these hidden helpers.
Informing the Tools
The three-part training was developed in conjunction with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. Spouses and partners of military personnel or veterans with service-related injuries offered insights via focus groups and surveys about their children’s roles with caregiving; their experiences interacting with health care providers for their children; and what they wish providers could do differently or better.
Our Experts
A panel of nationally recognized subject matter experts on military families, childhood mental health, continuing education for health care clinicians, and health care transformation is in place and includes clinical leadership from our psychology divisions in Florida and Delaware.
