United Health Foundation Partnership with New Jersey Hospital Association Helping Veterans & Service Members Navigate Health ...
June 13 2016 - 4:20PM
Business Wire
- Veteran Navigators hired through
$1.35 million partnership grant are helping connect veterans,
service members and their families to health services and programs
in communities throughout New Jersey
- Forum brings together care providers
and military leaders to raise awareness about managing the
complexity of veteran health
The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and United Health
Foundation brought together health professionals and military
leaders today to raise awareness about the complexities of managing
veterans’ health and examine ways to improve access to care through
innovative partnerships and community engagement.
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160613006432/en/
The New Jersey Hospital Association and
United Health Foundation brought together more than 100 health
professionals and military leaders to raise awareness about the
complexities of managing veterans' health and examine ways to
improve access to care through innovative partnerships and
community engagement. During the forum a $1.35 million partnership
grant between NJHA's Health Research and Educational Trust and
United Health Foundation was announced to bolster veteran health
programs and facilitate access to high-quality, community-based
mental health and supportive services for veterans and military
families in New Jersey. L to R: Paul Marden, CEO, UnitedHealthcare
of New Jersey; Elizabeth Ryan, Esq., President & CEO, New
Jersey Health Association; U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-3); New
Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno; Michael Cunniff, Adjutant General,
New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (Photo: Paul
Lachenauer).
The forum, “Managing the Complexity of Veteran Health:
Serving Those Who Have Served,” highlighted a $1.35 million
partnership between NJHA’s Health Research and Educational Trust
(HRET) and United Health Foundation to bolster veteran health
programs, including the hiring of additional Veteran Navigators to
facilitate access to high-quality, community-based mental health,
behavioral health and supportive services for veterans and military
families in underserved areas of the state.
“Veterans and military families face unique health needs, and it
is often a challenge for them to access the care and programs that
help ensure they receive quality care,” said Betsy Ryan, president
and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association. “This partnership
with United Health Foundation is providing valuable resources that
are helping raise awareness and improving the health and wellness
of our veterans and service members.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, military service
members and veterans face health issues differently than civilians.
The stressors of being in combat, combined with being separated
from family, can put service members and veterans at risk for
mental health problems. These include anxiety, post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse and depression that, in
extreme circumstances, can lead to suicide. According to a study
commissioned by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
and United Health Foundation, there is a preparedness gap among
most community-based mental health providers in being able to take
care of the special needs of military veterans and their
families.
Through its partnership with United Health Foundation, NJHA is
using a peer-to-peer model with Veteran Navigators to connect with
their fellow service members to facilitate access to the care that
veterans and their families need.
“The work of NJHA is improving access to care for veterans and
military members,” said New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. “NJHA’s
partnership with United Health Foundation is the type of
public-private approach that will make a difference in the lives of
our neighbors, particularly those with the greatest needs.”
“Helping veterans and their families with support to improve
their quality of life is mission critical,” said Michael Cunniff,
Adjutant General, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs. “Our service members, veterans and their families often
face unique challenges to care including having access to care
providers who understand their specific needs. By raising awareness
and having veterans engage directly with service members and their
families, we are helping improve their personal health and
recovery.”
During the forum, guest speakers discussed important health
topics facing veterans and military service members including
military culture, injury and recovery programs, PTSD, suicide
prevention and navigating the VA system, among others. NJHA
provided an overview and update on how the organization is working
collaboratively with other partners in the state to implement a
comprehensive model to close the gap between care providers and
veterans through efforts that increase awareness of available
support, and improve skills of mental health professionals in
addressing veteran-specific issues and needs.
U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) praised the work on behalf of
veterans and service members. “I applaud the work of all of the
organizations gathered today for this important forum that is
raising awareness about improving care for our veterans and service
members who have sacrificed so much for our nation. Our freedom
endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it. As
they come home, we must serve them as well as they’ve served us,
and connect our troops with the programs and care they need.”
The Veteran Navigators, along with the entire project team at
NJHA, are being cross-trained in Mental Health First Aid, Health
Coaching and supplemental topics with an opportunity to become
Certified Prevention Specialists to help meet the unique needs of
military service members and their families.
“This partnership between NJHA and United Health Foundation is
helping to ensure that our military men and women understand the
programs and services available to them to improve their care and
quality of life,” said Heather Cianfrocco, President, Northeast
Region, UnitedHealthcare. “The Veteran Navigators are a critical
resource, understanding their experiences and their needs, and
helping to alleviate the stresses that our nation’s service
members, veterans and their families endure every day.”
About NJHA and the Health Research & Educational
TrustThe New Jersey Hospital Association is a healthcare trade
organization that helps hospitals and post-acute care providers
deliver affordable, accessible and quality healthcare to their
communities. The Health Research and Educational Trust of New
Jersey is a nonprofit affiliate of NJHA. It provides leadership and
resources to improve the healthcare delivery system and health of
the community. Its mission is to develop research projects and
educational initiatives that promote quality, affordable and
accessible healthcare and raise public and provider awareness about
vital healthcare issues.
About United Health FoundationThrough collaboration with
community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health
Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and
dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local
communities. United Health Foundation was established by
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private
foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date,
United Health Foundation has committed more than $285 million to
programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn
more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org or follow @UHGGives on
Twitter or Facebook.com/UHGGives.
Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth
Group.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160613006432/en/
New Jersey Hospital AssociationKerry McKean Kelly,
609-275-4069kmckean@njha.comorUnited Health FoundationL.D.
Platt, 202-654-8830LD_Platt@uhg.com
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024