Caregiver from Easton named a 2016 Dole Fellow

WASHINGTON – The Elizabeth Dole Foundation named military and veteran caregiver Jason Courneen of Easton as a 2016 Dole Caregiver Fellow. The foundation’s fellowship program is a nationwide initiative recognizing military and veteran caregivers who serve as volunteer advocates and ambassadors for the 5.5 million spouses, parents, children and other loved ones caring for the nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. Courneen’s story is posted on the foundation’s website.

The Dole Caregiver Fellowship is one of the foundation’s principal programs for raising awareness and driving change for America’s military and veteran caregivers. In 2015, the Dole Caregiver Fellows provided insight and advice about the serious challenges encountered by their peers in meetings with the White House, Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 100 members of Congress and dozens of leaders in the private, nonprofit and faith communities.

“The stories and experiences of our Dole Caregiver Fellows are at the heart of our foundation’s work,” said Elizabeth Dole, a former United States senator. “These caregivers contribute critical firsthand perspective and knowledge, and their personal experience serves to strengthen the work of the foundation and our partners. I am grateful for these individuals who … extend themselves beyond the challenges of caregiving to shoulder the responsibility of acting as a voice for their peers, our nation’s hidden heroes.”

The 2016 fellows join the foundation as it prepares to launch the Hidden Heroes Campaign, a major national awareness initiative chaired by actor Tom Hanks. They will also pick up on the work of last year’s fellows, who helped the foundation launch seven impact councils around the most urgent caregiver issues, and advised the creation of new online training courses and respite care resources.

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The stories of this year’s fellows demonstrate the myriad challenges encountered by military and veteran caregivers, such as navigating complex benefits systems, lacking adequate caregiver training and suffering moderate-to-severe emotional distress, financial strain and family turmoil.

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