Letter to VA to Increase Efforts to Study and Support Youth Caregivers in Military and Veteran Households
September 8, 2025
The Honorable Doug Collins
Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Collins,
We write to request an update on the Department of Veterans Affairs’s (VA) efforts to study and support youth caregivers in military and veteran households. These “hidden helpers” play a vital role in caregiving environments yet remain largely unrecognized in federal support programs.
Recent research has underscored the critical role that youth play in supporting the care of veterans. According to the VA’s own estimates, more than 3 million youth under 18 live with a disabled veteran, and over 5 million young caregivers under 25 may be involved in veteran care nationwide. These young people often assist with daily living tasks, emotional support, and household management, while navigating their own developmental, educational, and social challenges.
Studies from the Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence, Wounded Warrior Project, and the American Association of Caregiving Youth have highlighted both the burdens and strengths of youth caregiving. While many face stress, anxiety, and academic disruption, others report increased resilience, skill development, and strengthened family bonds.
In 2020, the Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence, in partnership with VA, launched the Living In a Veteran HomE (LIVE) study to assess the lived experiences of youth in caregiving households. The study aimed to gather insights from young people, parents, and guardians through surveys, focus groups, and online journaling. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment through community organizations was disrupted, and in-person data collection could not be conducted. As a result, the LIVE study was not completed.
This setback highlights the urgent need to resume or expand research efforts that center around the lived experiences of youth caregivers. Understanding their day-to-day realities is essential to designing support systems that are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and family informed.
Quantitative data alone cannot capture the emotional, relational, and developmental complexities youth caregivers face. A recent needs assessment conducted in Utah by the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System and University of Utah found that children aged 11 to 18 are actively supporting caregiving activities at home. Families reported overlapping needs, including care for children with disabilities, support for older adults, and emotional caregiving roles often filled by youth. Community-based participatory research approaches, which center the voices of families and youth themselves, have proven critical in building trust and generating actionable insights. Without this lens, policy risks overlooking the very individuals it aims to serve.
Given the significance of this issue, we respectfully request updates on the Department’s current and future initiatives, including:
- How does VA define “youth caregiver” in its research activities or programs?
- Is there a standardized definition across the VA?
- What definition or scope of definition was to be used in the LIVE Study?
- If no definition of "youth caregiver" exists, how does VA define "caregiver" or "caregiving"?
- What research efforts are underway or planned to assess the needs of youth caregivers in military and veteran households?
- Will the LIVE study be resumed or completed in the future?
- If not, what alternative research efforts are being considered to fill this gap?
- Will findings from past or future studies be shared with Congress and the public?
- How does VA intend to integrate research insights into caregiver support programs and policy development?
- How does VA plan to collaborate with community organizations, schools, and other stakeholders to improve outreach and data collection?
- If no current plans exist for partnering with external organizations or conducting VA research on youth caregiving, will you commit to creating an action plan on the next steps to conduct such research?
We respectfully request that you provide this information no later than October 8th, 2025. We thank you for your prompt response and guidance.
Sincerely,
Morgan McGarvey
Member of Congress
Juan Ciscomani
Member of Congress