National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships
OCE Partnerships and COVID-19
VA partner CaringBridge helps keep Veterans from feeling isolated during social distancing
A partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the nonprofit organization CaringBridge is helping Veterans and their loved ones stay connected during Veterans’ health journeys, which is of particular import during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Even as the World Health Organization encourages social distancing, social platforms such as CaringBridge can keep Veterans in touch with their support networks.
A strong social support network is considered a positive social determinant of health (SDOH)—the conditions in the communities in which Veterans live. Positive SDOH are directly connected to better health outcomes for Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Community Engagement (OCE) supports many partnerships that offer Veterans access to positive SDOH, which is also the theme of the 2020 VHA Community Partnership Challenge.
Family members, caregivers, and friends can share supportive messages through CaringBridge, a private social network, as a Veteran works through a critical injury, cancer diagnosis, mental health challenge, or other issue. CaringBridge enables users to set up a free and secure website for a Veteran in about three minutes on a desktop or smartphone. The platform offers Veterans a support system and social connectedness, both of which are known to decrease suicide risk.
CaringBridge recently issued a message explaining that just because social distancing guidance is in effect, that doesn’t mean patients must feel isolated.
Each customized, private CaringBridge website helps keep users informed of the Veteran’s health status through a single update, helps document and celebrate milestones, and provides access to content tailored to the military and Veteran population. Staff training is also part of this collaboration: VA staff learn about facilitating online outreach for Veteran patients, and CaringBridge customer care staff learn about VA resources and making referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line. Health care teams providing support to Veterans can request training and access to additional resources for local outreach by visiting the CaringBridge partnerships website.
“Many VA partner organizations such as CaringBridge are able to continue to support Veterans during this pandemic by way of technology and online platforms,” said Dr. Tracy L. Weistreich, OCE’s Nurse Executive. “OCE is dedicated to spreading the message about these organizations, so Veterans know what tools are available to support their health and well-being.”
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
