National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
OCE Partnerships and COVID-19
Month of the Military Child is particularly challenging this year due to COVID-19, United Through Reading is helping military families stay connected
April is recognized as the Month of the Military Child, during which time military families and their children are honored for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome when they are apart. These challenges are potentially heightened this year as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic spreads across the globe. A Veterans Health Administration (VHA) partner, United Through Reading (UTR), is working to keep military members and Veterans connected to their children at this time when staying in touch is perhaps more important than ever.
UTR allows service members and Veterans who are separated from their families to share reading time and other everyday moments with their children through video recordings. UTR sends videos of Veterans or service members reading books for their children along with a copy of the book, so children can read along with their family member.
UTR recently released a statement about how it’s supporting military families during the COVID-19 pandemic: “In particular, we have seen National Guard units across the country activated to respond, separating military families yet again in service to the nation … we want every single military family to have the benefit of UTR. This is especially important now.”
The organization has developed the United Through Reading App, which enables Veterans or service members and their children to connect through their mobile devices. This makes it easier than ever for service members and Veterans to record and share a story for their children; free books for use in recordings can be requested here.
VHA’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) supports this and many other partnerships throughout VHA that work to provide Veterans with resources that contribute to their health and well-being. UTR’s services increase service members’ and Veterans’ sense of social connectedness to their loved ones. Feeling connected to others is considered a positive social determinant of health (SDOH)—conditions in the places where Veterans live. Positive SDOH are directly connected to better health outcomes for Veterans and a lower risk of suicide.
“VHA recognizes the tremendous sacrifices that Veteran and military families must make every day in service to their country, and many of these families are experiencing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Tracy L. Weistreich, OCE’s acting Nurse Executive. “United Through Reading is able to help families connect despite a family member’s call to service or because of social distancing guidelines. This sense of connection benefits adults and children alike.”
OCE supports this partnership and many others throughout VHA. Many VHA offices utilize OCE’s partnership expertise to create and strengthen collaborations with nongovernmental organizations. For more information about OCE’s work, please visit https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/index.asp.
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Posted April 28, 2020
