In a review of  Ukraine’s health System by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the World Health Organization (Lekhan, et.al., 2015), it was reported that many people in the Ukraine participate in informal care services (i.e., nonpaid family carers).  The report also stated that there is no political or financial support for this type of care.  While no official statistics are available as to how many carers there are in the Ukraine, based on political, economic and societal information, it can be conservatively estimated that there are 4.8 million carers in the country.  Further, according to the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States (2017), there are between 1.5 and 2.0 million people of Ukrainian descent in the United States.  Combining the population data from the two countries, it can be conservatively estimated that there are at least 5 million Ukrainian carers in the Ukraine and the United States with many of these carers serving as e-carers (i.e., the carer is geographically separated from the care recipient).

The Caregiver Coalition Fund of America was founded as a nonprofit organization (501c(c)3 pending) devoted to supporting the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and socioeconomic wellbeing of non-paid carers.  As a result of this mission, CareCFA aspires to foster Ukrainian Community Care Partnerships among businesses in the United States as well as in the Ukraine.  Through these Community Care Partnerships, CareCFA plans to develop  model programs that address the needs of Ukrainian carers, and to implement these programs in three stages: (1) in the United States, (2) e-carers between the United States and the Ukraine, and (3) carers in the Ukraine.  It is also the goal of CareCFA to initiate an international Ukrainian carer registry; such a registry will be an important component in the development of technological, communication, and support networks for carers and their care recipients. Coinciding with these initiatives, CareCFA plans to brand and market Ukrainian carer programs in the United States and in the Ukraine through a variety of media activities; including an annual carer conference and awards event.  It will be through these and related activities that CareCFA will strive to enhance carer related knowledge through the promotion of scholarly endeavors and innovation pertaining to services and technologies for the enrichment of the everyday lives of the millions of Ukrainian carers.   

In order to develop and implement that above-mentioned international initiatives, CareCFA is seeking funding from corporate and individual sponsors.  These funds will support the first year of CareCFA’s operation as well as the development and sustainability of programs for Ukrainian carers.  Included among these initiatives are the following:

• The deployment of a television production team to the town of Siversk in eastern Ukraine to document the need for support of carers of wounded soldiers, homeless carers and orphaned children who serve as carers for their siblings.  In early April 2019, the television production team commenced filming and met with Siversk’s mayor, health care officials and carers.  The team was well received and the mayor offered his support for the initiative and a facility that will serve as a carer center in the town.  The film is currently being edited by the production team and when finished will serve as the beginning of a  multimedia campaign design to bring enhanced awareness regarding the plight of carers in the Ukraine, and programs to be offered through CareCFA.

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• CareCFA will establish a Ukrainian carer registry to identify carers and their needs.

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• In addition to the above, CareCFA is in the process of developing model programs for the establishment of Ukrainian Community Care Partnerships.

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• CareCFA is also working with Ukrainian organizations to develop an annual carer conference and awards events.  This conference and awards event combined with on-going program development will serve as the cornerstone for the establishment of a Ukrainian national carer culture.

Conclusion

There are at least 5 million Ukrainian carers in the United States and in the Ukraine.  There is a critical need to help these carers; especially carers of wounded soldiers and orphaned and disabled children. This time is now, and with generous support of CareCFA, these carers can begin to receive the help they so desperately need as they strive to meet the demands of their care recipients.

Thank you for your support.

Caregiver Coalition Fund of America

>Board of Directors

References

Lekhan, V., Rudiy, V., Shevchenko, M., Kaluski, D.N., and Richardson, E. 2015.  Ukraine: Health system review.  Health Systems in Transition: Vol 17, No. 2., p. 116.

Miziuk, G.A. 2017.  Ukrainians in the United States.  Embassy of Ukraine in the United States of America.  Washington, D.C., U.S.A.