Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Military-connected families are often praised for their resilience. But behind every deployment, relocation, and homecoming are children navigating constant change — and too often, gaps in the mental healthcare system meant to support them.
In the first episode of this two-part series, we speak with policy leaders from Nemours Children's Health and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, along with military-connected parents and advocates, about the unique behavioral health challenges facing military-connected youth. From frequent moves and disrupted continuity of care to the stigma surrounding mental health, they discuss what's working, where the system falls short and the policy solutions that could help ensure every military-connected child has access to the care they need, wherever military life takes their family.
Watch the episode on YouTube. (youtu.be/mHSBkRI8Dz4)
Featuring:
Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health
Meredith Beck, Vice President for Government Affairs and Community Engagement, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Duane Duke, MD, FACS, FAAP, Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves, Trauma Medical Director, Nemours Children’s Health
Allison Mejia, Child & Family Advocate, Military Spouse
Elizabeth (Liz) Rotenberry, Director, Caregiver Engagement, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Military Spouse
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
PLEASE NOTE: The comments and opinions of Dr. Duane Duke are his own and do not represent those of the U.S. Army Reserves.
Resources Mentioned in This Series:
• Serving Military-Connected Children: Access to Care (PDF) (nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/shared/collateral/policy-briefs/serving-military-connected-children-part-1-access-to-care.pdf)
• Serving Military-Connected Children: Mental Health and Well-Being (PDF) (nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/shared/collateral/policy-briefs/serving-military-connected-children-part-2-mental-health-and-well-being.pdf)
• Free, online course: Caring for Children and Teens in Military Caregiving Families (ce.nemours.org/content/online-caring-children-and-teens-military-caregiving-families)
• Initiatives at Nemours Children’s to support military-connected youth (nemours.org/well-beyond-medicine/improving-care-for-children-in-military-caregiving-families.html)
• Military Child and Family Collaboratory (urldefense.com/v3/__https://deploymentpsych.org/DoDKidsStudy__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR87BP4NZw$)
• One Op (urldefense.com/v3/__https://oneop.org/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8VCN6rWg$)
• Star Behavioral Health Providers (urldefense.com/v3/__https://starproviders.org/provider-trainings/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8SU8iDY8$)
• Kennedy Krieger Behavioral Health Program for Military Families (urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/centers-and-programs/behavior-health-services-military-families-fort-meade__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8SHaRtD0$)
Military-focused programs:
• FOCUS UCLA (urldefense.com/v3/__https://focusproject.org/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8EnpLd38$)
• Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness Penn State (urldefense.com/v3/__https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR81Kd7f4c$)
• Military REACH Auburn University (urldefense.com/v3/__https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR86vnd0X4$)
• Hidden Helpers Coalition (elizabethdolefoundation.org/campaigns-programs/hidden-helpers)
• To inquire about joining the Hidden Helpers Coalition, email (mailto:hiddenhelpers@elizabethdolefoundation.org)
Past Well Beyond Medicine episodes with related topics:
• Ep. 70: Hidden Helpers, Hidden No More (Part 1 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/hidden-helpers-part-one/)
• Ep. 71: Hidden Helpers Heard (Part 2 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/hidden-helpers-part-two/)
• Ep. 90: Forum – Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 1 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/forum-supporting-our-military-families-and-hidden-helpers-pt-1-of-2/)
• Ep. 91: Forum - Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 2 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/forum-supporting-our-military-families-and-hidden-helpers-pt-2-of-2/)
• Ep. 167: Accessing ...
Military-connected families are often praised for their resilience. But behind every deployment, relocation, and homecoming are children navigating constant change — and too often, gaps in the mental healthcare system meant to support them.
In the first episode of this two-part series, we speak with policy leaders from Nemours Children's Health and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, along with military-connected parents and advocates, about the unique behavioral health challenges facing military-connected youth. From frequent moves and disrupted continuity of care to the stigma surrounding mental health, they discuss what's working, where the system falls short and the policy solutions that could help ensure every military-connected child has access to the care they need, wherever military life takes their family.
Watch the episode on YouTube. (youtu.be/mHSBkRI8Dz4)
Featuring:
Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health
Meredith Beck, Vice President for Government Affairs and Community Engagement, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Duane Duke, MD, FACS, FAAP, Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves, Trauma Medical Director, Nemours Children’s Health
Allison Mejia, Child & Family Advocate, Military Spouse
Elizabeth (Liz) Rotenberry, Director, Caregiver Engagement, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Military Spouse
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
PLEASE NOTE: The comments and opinions of Dr. Duane Duke are his own and do not represent those of the U.S. Army Reserves.
Resources Mentioned in This Series:
• Serving Military-Connected Children: Access to Care (PDF) (nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/shared/collateral/policy-briefs/serving-military-connected-children-part-1-access-to-care.pdf)
• Serving Military-Connected Children: Mental Health and Well-Being (PDF) (nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/shared/collateral/policy-briefs/serving-military-connected-children-part-2-mental-health-and-well-being.pdf)
• Free, online course: Caring for Children and Teens in Military Caregiving Families (ce.nemours.org/content/online-caring-children-and-teens-military-caregiving-families)
• Initiatives at Nemours Children’s to support military-connected youth (nemours.org/well-beyond-medicine/improving-care-for-children-in-military-caregiving-families.html)
• Military Child and Family Collaboratory (urldefense.com/v3/__https://deploymentpsych.org/DoDKidsStudy__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR87BP4NZw$)
• One Op (urldefense.com/v3/__https://oneop.org/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8VCN6rWg$)
• Star Behavioral Health Providers (urldefense.com/v3/__https://starproviders.org/provider-trainings/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8SU8iDY8$)
• Kennedy Krieger Behavioral Health Program for Military Families (urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/centers-and-programs/behavior-health-services-military-families-fort-meade__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8SHaRtD0$)
Military-focused programs:
• FOCUS UCLA (urldefense.com/v3/__https://focusproject.org/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR8EnpLd38$)
• Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness Penn State (urldefense.com/v3/__https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR81Kd7f4c$)
• Military REACH Auburn University (urldefense.com/v3/__https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/__;!!Li743BnW!nyZ3md-FtuT0q6q6YfJSKJ1ct4_OgIZe4Ayptz9UMc1kzV6TpBT2c5VP0-rsOy4rRfCjIut2w2bwRv8tHrR4eYR86vnd0X4$)
• Hidden Helpers Coalition (elizabethdolefoundation.org/campaigns-programs/hidden-helpers)
• To inquire about joining the Hidden Helpers Coalition, email (mailto:hiddenhelpers@elizabethdolefoundation.org)
Past Well Beyond Medicine episodes with related topics:
• Ep. 70: Hidden Helpers, Hidden No More (Part 1 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/hidden-helpers-part-one/)
• Ep. 71: Hidden Helpers Heard (Part 2 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/hidden-helpers-part-two/)
• Ep. 90: Forum – Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 1 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/forum-supporting-our-military-families-and-hidden-helpers-pt-1-of-2/)
• Ep. 91: Forum - Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 2 of 2) (nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/forum-supporting-our-military-families-and-hidden-helpers-pt-2-of-2/)
• Ep. 167: Accessing ...
