Under Czaja's leadership, the Center, which has a long history of focusing on caregiving, designed an intervention program to relieve the burden and stress for people who are juggling the responsibilities of their jobs, the needs of failing elderly family members, and their own nuclear families. The first group to try out this unique program will be UM employees.

People are not taught to be caregivers, Czaja says, and don't have the needed skills to be what she calls "an extension of the health care system." The goal is to teach participants about basic skills and available resources, linking them to helpful programs, and a calendar of events. Stress, a key factor in the lives of caregivers, also will be addressed as participants are taught stress management techniques and methods of using social support.

The entire intervention program is web-based, allowing employees to access it on their own time. Educational video clips will be provided and updated monthly, along with seminars from experts on caregiving, and links to recommended reading lists. The physical well-being of the caregiver also will be addressed in a segment which incorporates the Wellness Centers at UM.

"This is a really exciting field," says Czaja, who is leading the $250,000 study. She explains that it's innovative to take this hands-on approach to help a growing population of caregivers in our workforce. "We hope that this program will make a real difference in the lives of UM employees," she says, "giving them the knowledge and cognitive behavioral skills to adapt to these new demands."

The program is now enrolling up to 100 people, with the first six-month sessions to begin later this month. To enroll or get more information, please email CLee@med.miami.edu or call 305-355-9200.