WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Last summer, health care industry executives, with the support of government and military leaders, launched a new initiative called Hero Health HireSM, a program to employ, train and support veterans and, in particular, disabled veterans or Wounded Warriors who suffered physical and mental injuries as a result of their military service. One year later, the program has gained 34 health care industry partners, representing more than 750,000 employees across the country with 3,304 worksites covering every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As a nation we have a duty to honor the sacrifice of our military veterans by helping them make a smooth transition to the workforce, said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. By connecting veterans with dedicated partners in the health care industry, the Hero Health Hire program is helping train and support our talented soldiers as they take on new challenges in high-growth sectors. This all hands on deck response is a fitting tribute to the dedication and determination shown by our service members each and every day.

Weve been very pleased to see the continued momentum and support for the Hero Health Hire initiative, said Ren Lerer, M.D., chairman and CEO of Magellan Health Services and founder of the program. Our nations veterans bring a unique set of skills, discipline and determination to the work force, and its encouraging to see more organizations embracing these men and women and helping them develop their careers.

Hero Health Hire is unique in that it is an industry-specific initiative that is helping health care employers both small and large share best practices and key insights for hiring and supporting wounded veterans as they transition to civilian jobs, said retired Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, M.D., who joined Hero Health Hire as honorary chairman in November. In the past year, weve been successful in building a sizeable network of employers in the health care industry who work together with military leaders through Hero Health Hire to help facilitate the placement of these wounded veterans in positions that best suit their skills and interests.

Since its founding, Hero Health Hire has held bi-monthly workshops and webinars for partner companies to help them begin or improve their veteran and wounded warrior recruitment and support programs. Hero Health Hire representatives have served on various military branch-sponsored Wounded Warrior Employment Conference planning committees and have supplied workshop instructors to work with disabled veterans preparing for the transition to civilian employment. Hero Health Hire leaders have spoken at recent conferences such as the US Armys AW2 Employment Conference and the U.S. Navys Annual Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support Conference.

The newly established Hero Health Hire Advisory Board met this past June in Washington, D.C. The boards mission is to provide strategic guidance to help the organization expand the program and develop additional resources to support the partners hiring efforts.

As we continue to grow and welcome new employers into Hero Health Hire, we want to enhance the infrastructure of the coalition to provide even greater tools, educational programming, military community relationships and, in general, to assist our partners with making the most of their wounded warrior and veteran recruitment efforts, said Michele Deverich, executive director of the Hero Health Hire initiative. We look forward to expanding our reach and the opportunities to connect Hero Health Hire employers with the brave men and women who have served us so well through our advisory board of strong, dedicated leaders.

Members of the advisory board include: Ren Lerer, M.D., Magellan Health Services; Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, honorary chairman, Hero Health Hire; Lynne Broussard, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana; Barbara Delano, Bon Secours Health System; Nancy Evanko, CRC Health Group; Karen Ferrell, Apollo Health Street; Lorraine Field, TriWest Health Alliance; Donna Hoffmeier, HealthNet Federal Services; David James, Humana Government Business; Linda Jimenez, WellPoint Inc.; Zach Parker, Defense Logistics Health (DLH); Tracy South, HMS; and Greg Alleyne, representing the Veterans Administrations Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services (VR&E) as an honorary advisor.

In the first year, the following companies have joined the Hero Health Hire initiative: Magellan Health Services, AGIS Network, Ameritox, Apollo Health Street, APS Healthcare, the Bobby Dodd Institute, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Bon Secours Health System, Booz Allen Hamilton, CareCore National, Centene Corporation, Cigna, CHSi, CRC Health Group, DLH, Express Scripts, Florida Blue, Health Care Cost Recovery, Inc., HealthNet Federal Services, HMS, Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey, Inc., Humana Government Business, Independence Blue Cross, Logisticare, Loyola Recovery Foundation, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield/Cambia Health, ResCare, SRA International, TriWest Health Alliance, UHS, UPMC, ValueOptions and WellPoint, Inc.

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Hero Health Hire Reaches First Anniversary of Helping Veterans Find Success in the Civilian Workforce