The National Military Family Association announced it has received a
$100,000 grant from United Health Foundation.
The grant will enable the Association to provide financial support to
military spouses working to complete clinical licensure requirements in
the mental health profession. According to the American Psychological
Association, there is a growing demand for experienced mental health
professionals to support service members and their families.
The stress on service members and their families, after years of war and
repeated deployments, continues. Returning service members, some with
physical or emotional wounds, are returning home, and families are
struggling to re-engage them in the roles of parent and spouse. Mental
health treatment, including marriage and family counseling, is a
critical factor in successfully navigating these challenges.
“Military spouses move more often than their peers, so they face unique
hurdles pursuing careers in mental health,” said Joyce Raezer, the
National Military Family Association’s Executive Director. “Many pay
out-of-pocket for required clinical supervision, as they don’t live in
one place long enough to acquire it through traditional means. United
Health Foundation’s support will enable us to do incredible things:
accelerate military spouses’ entry into the mental health workforce;
provide them access to more portable careers; and ensure greater
financial security for them and their families. Most importantly, these
spouses will bring an understanding of the military community, and an
ability to relate to the needs of fellow spouses and service members.”
“I hope to work with military service members and their families who
struggle with the effects of PTSD,” said Stephanie Dannan, an Air
National Guard spouse from Marietta, Pa. “As a military spouse, I have
an enormous opportunity to give back to the men and women who have
fought for my freedom. With this scholarship, I am one step closer to
helping these individuals who defend our borders, both near and far.”
The National Military Family Association also announced United Health
Foundation as a national sponsor and program partner of its military
spouse education and employment initiatives. These efforts – including
advocacy work regarding military spouses’ education and employment, and
financial grants to military spouses pursuing vocational certifications,
GEDs, English as a second language courses, and a host of other
scholarships – are designed to help military spouses complete their
educations and pursue rewarding careers, despite the challenges of the
military lifestyle.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this grant to support
military spouses and look forward to partnering with the National
Military Family Association to shape the health workforce of tomorrow,”
said Kate Rubin, President of United Health Foundation. “The military
spouses benefiting from this grant are making huge sacrifices in terms
of their own careers. We recognize the increasing demand for qualified
mental health care providers, like trained military spouses, to meet the
unique needs of the men and women who have served our country.”
About United Health Foundation
Guided
by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health
Foundation provides helpful information to support decisions that lead
to better health outcomes and healthier communities. The Foundation also
supports activities that expand access to quality health care services
for those in challenging circumstances and partners with others to
improve the well being of communities. Since established by UnitedHealth
Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation, the
Foundation has committed more than $210 million to improve health and
health care. For more information, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
About National Military Family Association
Military
families serve our country with pride, honor, and quiet dedication. The
National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit
organization committed to strengthening and protecting the families of
the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded, or fallen. We
provide military families with information, work to get them the
benefits they deserve, and offer programs that improve their lives. Our
45 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource
for military families and the Nation's leaders. To learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org
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