Before Patricia Ochan joined 蘑菇视频 Allen, she was a full-time caregiver to her husband鈥攁 veteran who was severely injured in combat. A cybersecurity expert with a law degree, she had to give up her career to care for him. She鈥檚 one of millions of 鈥渉idden heroes鈥� across the U.S.鈥� the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for our nation鈥檚 wounded, ill, or injured veterans.
Getting a Better Picture of Our Hidden Heroes
To shed more light on hidden heroes like Patricia, we partnered with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. In a first-of-its-kind data analysis project, we鈥檝e developed a data-driven digital tool called the Caregiver Vulnerability Index 鈥攗sing analytics and artificial intelligence to identify where caregivers live in the U.S. and help drive resources to the areas where they need the most help.
Built on 蘑菇视频 Allen鈥檚 EpiMaps platform, Caregiver Vulnerability Index is a flexible and scalable solution that helps us identify population density of military caregivers. Using advanced data science, the tool shows where caregivers are, pinpoints locations where they鈥檙e experiencing the highest rates of poor health and wellness outcomes, and even gives clues into the factors driving those outcomes. These new insights give the Elizabeth Dole Foundation an unprecedented, evidence-based look into the localized needs of hidden heroes, helping the organization better support military caregivers in local communities nationwide.
How We Partner with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
This partnership is just one way we support the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. From hosting and facilitating the Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes Impact Forum in 2015, to lending our senior leaders鈥� expertise to strengthen the Foundation鈥檚 infrastructure, 蘑菇视频 Allen has been an essential partner to the organization. Along with the Foundation, Hiring Our Heroes, and AARP, we鈥檙e proud members of the Military Caregiver Employment Task Force that contributed to a .
To double down on our hiring efforts, 鈥攖he Military Caregiver Fellowship Program鈥攁s part of our partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. It places qualified military caregivers in short-term fellowships with corporations to expand their professional network, gain hands-on job experience, and demonstrate their value to the workforce.
We understand military caregivers have unique needs and often require flexible schedules to continue their caregiving duties. That was Patricia鈥檚 situation. After 5 years, her husband was finally in a better place where she could go back to work, and she was now her family鈥檚 sole breadwinner, 鈥淚鈥檓 still his primary caregiver, so I needed a flexible job that could fit with our family dynamic,鈥� says Patricia.
A partnership meeting between the Foundation and 蘑菇视频 Allen put Patricia on an exciting career path. After sharing more about her personal caregiver story and volunteer work, several 蘑菇视频 Allen executives asked what they could do to help. 鈥淚 was impressed by their sincerity,鈥� says Patricia. 鈥淚 told them that caregivers only want to be given an opportunity, the same as everyone else. They said they鈥檇 find a place for me鈥攁nd they did.鈥�
Strengthening Hidden Heroes from the Inside Out
It鈥檚 been a year since Patricia joined the firm, and she couldn鈥檛 be happier. Starting part time and working from home, she recently ramped up to a full-time position but still has flexibility to continue to work from home to care for her husband. 鈥淚鈥檓 seeing my career take off in ways that I never could have even imagined,鈥� says Patricia. 鈥溎⒐绞悠� Allen has allowed me to think and be creative. For the first time, I understand what it means to build my career.鈥�
She also still finds time to volunteer in the military caregiver community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big part of who I am,鈥� says Patricia. 鈥淚 have a duty to them, so I鈥檓 happy I have a platform to continue thinking about and supporting this community while at 蘑菇视频 Allen.鈥�
From supporting military spouses as they reenter the workforce to developing advanced data analytics capabilities like EpiMaps, we鈥檙e making a positive and long-lasting impact through our innovative partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. Our support of the military community radiates from the inside out.
Learn more about the Elizabeth Dole Foundation at
