Joining Forces to Train Teachers to Serve Military Children

Dr. Jill Biden

October 3, 2012

5:23 pm

This afternoon, I was so honored to meet two of our nation’s youngest heroes – 11-year-old twin sisters Felicity and Abigail. The 7th graders love to read and play sports, and, like many of our nation’s 1.3 million school-age military children, their current school is not their first school.  Felicity and Abigail have attended five different schools in four states in the past seven years.  They have left old friends and met new ones, transferred school records, left old soccer fields to join new teammates and coaches, and weathered their father’s many deployments. Their dad missed birthdays four, seven, eight, nine and 10.

But they are resilient and strong young ladies who are fiercely proud to be Army kids.  am proud of them, too.

I am also proud that today, more than 100 colleges of teacher education have signed on to Operation Educate the Educators, a partnership between the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Military Child Education Coalition. Last year, the partners set a Joining Forces goal of getting 100 colleges of education to commit to raising awareness on their campuses about military children in their classrooms, and to help better prepare teachers to support them. 

Today, I joined Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, Felicity and Abigail, and military families to celebrate this milestone. As an educator and a military mom, today was personal to me. I know how much it means to a family when a teacher makes a special effort to support a military child in school. 

When my son Beau was deployed to Iraq, my granddaughter Natalie’s teacher hung a photo of Beau’s unit to Natalie’s classroom door. This simple gesture reminded the school staff and Natalie’s classmates that her dad was at war. It meant so much to her to know that she didn’t have to go through that year alone, and that her teachers and friends were looking out for her. It meant so much to Joe and me, too.

When a teacher arranges a parent-teacher conference by Skype for a deployed mom or dad, or when a principal celebrates the Marine Corps birthday in the school cafeteria with the entire school, it helps a military family stay connected.

Our military families sacrifice so much, and we owe it to them to support them in every way possible. That is why the First Lady and I started Joining Forces, a national effort to encourage all Americans to support military families.  Today, I was honored to celebrate a very meaningful Joining Forces commitment that will make a difference in the lives of our military children. 

Dr. Jill Biden is the Second Lady of the United States

The White House: An International Approach to Military Mental Health

Posted by Rosye Cloud on October 03, 2012 at 10:24 AM EDT

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has been one of the most significant issues our  military has faced --- and we are not alone. Last week, the United States came together with representatives from Canada and the United Kingdom to address military mental health.  Ensuring the mental health and wellness of our  servicemembers, veterans and their families is a cause that unites all of us.

The event sends a strong message to our military, our veterans and  all Americans, that we as a nation, and our partners around the world, are serious about addressing these concerns. This event brought together leaders from the government, non-profit, and private  sectors, all committed to the same goal --- tending  to the invisible wounds that many service members too often endure in silence.

Many of the best thinkers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom came together, not simply to discuss “what’s wrong” but also to share best practices and to chart a course for addressing these shared issues.The symposium included academics, clinicians, researchers, policy makers, foundations, veteran service organizations, national leaders and, of course, servicemembers, veterans and family members.

As leaders and experts took the stage to address a host of issues and convey a  variety of perspectives, common themes and challenges emerged. Chief among them was the need to enhance access to quality mental health services. There was common agreement that we must expand the capacity of those services so all who need care can get it in a timely manner, and in a setting that is relevant to their individual needs. Continued work is needed to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health issues in general, and strong efforts are needed to eliminate false perceptions that seeking treatment will cast a shadow on the military member or their family. Additionally, thorough research continues to be conducted, and we must leverage that research into methods of treatment that have a lasting impact. Addressing these important issues  will benefit not only the military but, as is often the case, the entire  country.

It’s all hands on deck. We must continue to work together to address faulty perceptions surrounding military mental health. Many myths become barriers to care. For example, surveys discussed indicated that the public believes there is a very high rate of mental health issues for those who have deployed. In fact, about 4 in 5 service members do not experience serious mental health issues --- and of those who do, 88% can continue their duties with no alteration, even while in treatment.

The resilience the vast majority of military members display is remarkable. Their ability to contribute to the workforce, their communities and their families is indeed strong.

In August, President Obama signed an Executive Order that strengthens our ongoing commitment to military mental health, "I know that you join me in saying to everyone who’s ever worn the uniform—if you’re hurting, it’s not a sign of weakness to seek help, it’s a sign of strength."  That theme is not only resonant in the United States, it is embraced by our allies as well.

By collaborating with our international partners, we will continue to strengthen the advancements we have already made, and new treatments will come to fruition as we continue to address military mental health as a collective body.

Rosye Cloud is the Director of Policy for Veterans, Wounded Warriors and Military Families

Helping Female Veterans with Nowhere to Turn

By Alanna Durkin - Medill News Service

In August 2005, Army Lt. Jas Boothe had one thing on her mind: getting herself - and the son she was raising on her own - ready for her deployment to Iraq.

But a phone call and a doctor’s visit a few weeks later changed everything. Boothe, who was 28 at the time, learned her home had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Soon after that, she was diagnosed with cancer in her head, neck and throat.

“So, now there is no deployment, there is no home and now I’m facing losing my military career, which is how I take care of my child,” she said in a recent interview.

She began to research housing options. The Veterans Affairs Department referred her to social services, where she was told she qualified for welfare and food stamps.

“There were a ton of services, housing facilities for men, but someone had forgotten about the women,” she said. “Our sacrifice was not equated to that of the males’ sacrifice, and that was shown in the level of services that we didn’t have.”

After 30 radiation treatments and two surgeries, the military cleared Boothe for duty. Now a captain in the Army National Guard, she was able to stay in the military, afford a home and support her son. But her experience taught her that there were likely other women veterans with nowhere to turn.

It is impossible to determine the exact number of female veterans who are homeless, according to a 2011 Government Accountability Office report. But one indicator is the number of female veterans who seek VA services, which doubled from 1,380 in 2006 to 3,328 in 2010.

VA has made it a goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. An estimated 67,495 veterans were homeless on a single night in January 2011, a 12 percent drop from the year before, according to VA.

But the number is expected to grow as more service members return from Afghanistan over the next two years.

A LACK OF OPTIONS

VA has developed many programs to combat homelessness among veterans. The Grant and Per Diem Program provides funding to community groups that offer veteran services and housing, and the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supported Housing Program gives veterans vouchers for housing.

Yet these programs have significant limitations and problems when it comes to serving women, according to the GAO report.

The GAO found that more than 60 percent of the GPD housing for women either does not allow children or limits the number or ages of children accepted. Housing and service providers are also not compensated for the cost of housing children, creating a financial disincentive to accept families, according to the report.

The report also pointed to instances of unsafe living conditions for women and their families. “Nine of the 142 GPD programs we surveyed indicated that there had been reported incidents of sexual harassment or assault on women residents in the past 5 years,” wrote Daniel Bertoni, GAO’s director of education, work force and income safety issues.

Many homeless female veterans are single mothers, leaving them with nowhere to go if they cannot find housing that also allows their children, said Boothe, who started Final Salute Inc. to give female veterans somewhere to go. She runs a six-bedroom transitional home in Fairfax, Va., for five women and two children.

VA declined comment for this story........ Read More Here

For Immediate Help, Resources & More Information Please Visit:

http://nchv.org/index.php/help/help/immediate_help/

http://www.finalsaluteinc.org/

http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/for_women_veterans.asp

http://www.nchv.org/index.php/help/help/locate_organization/

http://www.nchv.org/

http://www.va.gov/homeless/

http://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp

Have Things Improved? We Want to Hear From You! Sound Off: Housing Scarce for Homeless Female Veterans

By Eric Tucker and Kristin M. Hall - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Apr 8, 2012 16:27:20 EDT

MANUEL BALCE CENETA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:

Homeless veteran Misha Mclamb is seen in her transition home in Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington 

WASHINGTON — Misha McLamb helped keep fighter jets flying during a military career that took her halfway around the world to the Persian Gulf. But back home, the Navy aircraft specialist is barely getting by after a series of blows that undid her settled life.

She was laid off from work last year and lost custody of her daughter. She’s grappled with alcohol abuse, a carry-over from heavy-drinking Navy days. She spent nights in her car before a friend’s boyfriend wrecked it, moving later to a homeless shelter where the insulin needles she needs for her diabetes were stolen. She now lives in transitional housing for homeless veterans — except the government recently advised occupants to leave because of unsafe building conditions.

“I wasn’t a loser,” McLamb, 32, says. “Everybody who’s homeless doesn’t necessarily have to have something very mentally wrong with them. Some people just have bad circumstances with no resources.”

Once primarily problems for male veterans, homelessness and economic struggles are escalating among female veterans, whose numbers have grown during the past decade of U.S. wars while resources for them haven’t kept up. The population of female veterans without permanent shelter has more than doubled in the last half-dozen years and may continue climbing now that the Iraq war has ended, sending women home with the same stresses as their male counterparts — plus some gender-specific ones that make them more susceptible to homelessness.

The problem, a hurdle to the Obama administration’s stated goal of ending veterans’ homelessness by 2015, is exacerbated by a shortage of temporary housing specifically designed to be safe and welcoming to women or mothers with children. The spike comes even as the overall homeless veteran population has dropped by 12 percent in the last two years to about 67,500, officials say.

“It can’t get any worse,” McLamb says matter-of-factly, “’Cause I’ve already been through hell.”

Veterans’ homelessness, the subject of a March congressional hearing, has received fresh attention amid government reports documenting the numbers and identifying widespread flaws in buildings that shelter veterans......

More Here: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/04/ap-housing-scarce-homeless-women-veterans-040812/

DoD to Host Caregivers Conference in 2013

By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 14, 2012 7:16:24 EDT

The Defense Department will hold a conference next year to discuss issues facing military caregivers, a senior defense official announced Thursday.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Warrior Care Policy John Campbell said the Pentagon will bring together Defense Department caregiver program personnel, military and veteran service organizations, the private sector, and caregivers — spouses, parents, family or friends who help a service member following an illness or injury — to address the caregiver community’s needs.

Campbell made the announcement during the 2012 Warrior and Family Symposium sponsored by the Military Officers Association of American and the National Defense Industrial Association.

“I’ve been worried and concerned for a while about caregivers … the sisters, the brothers, the spouses, who really need our support,” Campbell said.

His remarks came after Annette Slaydon, the wife of a seriously injured Air Force explosive ordnance technician, told an audience of her husband’s struggles with his family, which doesn’t understand his post-traumatic stress disorder and recovery, and their marriage, left in shambles by their changed relationship.

“There’s no instruction booklet on how you move forward. There’s nothing that talks about how your relationship changes from that of a husband and wife to that of a patient and caregiver … and you wake up one morning and you wonder how it happened,” Slaydon said.

More than 49,000 service members have received physical wounds in Iraq or Afghanistan and as many as 300,000 may have personality changes related to multiple concussions or mental health issues such as combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder or depression.

During recovery, which often takes months or years — and for some, a lifetime — troops and veterans often rely on family members or friends to assist with tasks ranging from basic needs, such as bathing and feeding, to activities like managing their finances, coordinating medical appointments, securing jobs and regaining independence.

READ MORE HERE: http://militarytimes.com/news/2012/09/military-dod-to-host-2013-caregivers-conference-091412w/

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Mind Field: PTSD & the Military

Can the Armed Forces afford to accurately diagnose soldiers--and their families--with psychological issues stemming from war?

By Keegan Hamilton Wednesday, Aug 8 2012

Nature calls, even in a war zone. And so, in April 2008, when John Byron Etterlee was stationed at an American military base in Baghdad, working the night shift at an Army tactical operations center, he carried his rifle as he stepped outside to use the outhouse. Suddenly, just as he began to relieve himself, he heard an ominous buzz in the sky above.

Etterlee, a stout Georgia native with a blond crew cut and thick spectacles, hustled out of the portable toilet and gazed up into the darkness. The buzz sounded like a small airplane approaching, but Etterlee, already midway through his second tour of duty inIraq, realized the white streak tearing through the night was an incoming rocket.

"For a split second I thought, 'Oh my God, am I going to die?' " the 35-year-old soldier recalls matter-of-factly in his slow Southern cadence. "I thought it was coming toward me. Fifteen seconds later I heard a loud explosion that shook the buildings. The rocket hit maybe 50 yards outside the gate."

Nobody was injured in the attack, and Etterlee's desert outpost incurred no serious damage. In hindsight, he says, it was just another close call during a span when he and his unit became accustomed to mortar fire, IED detonations, and other random explosions. But for some reason, perhaps because of the embarrassing circumstances, this particular brush with death has stuck with him. "I almost pissed in my pants," Etterlee says with a halfhearted chuckle. "It wasn't funny when it happened, but it's kinda funny now."

A chemical-weapons specialist tasked mainly with keeping records and maintaining equipment, Etterlee had limited combat experience during his time in Iraq. Nevertheless, his vehicle was once nearly struck by a roadside bomb, and one of his closest friends was killed in action in a separate incident. When he returned home toJoint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in late 2008, the chemical weapons specialist was clearly rattled. His wife forced him to spend nights on the couch because he punched, kicked, and thrashed in his sleep. He was prone to outbursts of anger. He tried to avoid conversations about the war, and, when co-workers inevitably swapped battle stories, his heart pounded and his mind raced.

He says he tried to seek help, but to no avail. "I went to chaplains more times than I can count," Etterlee says. "I went to my chain of command, and basically got the runaround. Nobody put me on any kind of formal treatment program."

On top of his mental issues, Etterlee was struggling financially. He and his wife divorced. And then, during a training exercise at Fort Lewis, he suffered herniated discs in his back while dragging a fellow soldier in a simulated rescue situation. Despite the painful back injury, he was briefly redeployed to the Middle East. Back at the base again in 2010, Etterlee was at the end of his rope.

READ MORE HERE 

Reports of Military Suicides on the Rise: Will Licensed Counselors be Allowed to Help Now?

After over a decade as an Army Behavioral Health Specialist, BH-related experiences on 2 overseas deployments, from reports I was privy to while working in my active duty position in Washington, D.C., and from countless stories from military friends, co-workers, and clients, I have personally noted that interpersonal relationships were/are the most common theme amongst Troops contemplating or attempting suicide. This is something not “treated” with a diagnosis and a pill but that’s what our Troops typically get. Finally a U.S. publication has printed the truth: Our Troops need therapeutic counseling to address their most serious mental health needs. See the article link below.

The article reveals research clearly indicating that our Troops need the services of professionals who can specifically address the actual reasons behind the suicide rates, among other things. Troops’ mental health issues need to be addressed with actual counseling and therapy—not what they most often receive. As I’ve discussed in previous blogs, currently no military branch allows Licensed Counselors/Therapists to serve in the military as a Behavioral Health Officer. That is, of course, unless they are also a master’s level Social Worker, a Psychiatric Nurse, a Clinical or Counseling Psychologist, or a Psychiatrist. With the VA it’s not much better. Despite the efforts of organizations such as the ACA and despite Congress’s recent mandate to start hiring Licensed Counselors and Therapists, they are still only opening up the positions to Social Workers in most cases.

I have been running my mouth to anyone who would listen about this for years. Why is every military branch still excluding the Professional Counseling and Therapist professions? Why is the VA still not hiring professionals in THE fields of expertise to best address what Troops and their Families are needing most? NOT just diagnoses, NOT just pills, NOT just Army Social Workers pumped out of an accelerated program. But a well-rounded mental health care system. One that stops excluding professionals who are best suited to assist in the most common mental health issues.

READ MORE HERE

Overcoming Homelessness with the Support of VA- One Veteran Mom's Story

Invisible Injuries of War: What Heals and Who's Listening?

By: Joseph Bobrow
Founder of the Coming Home Project

We all know the story of the Three Little Pigs: The house made of bricks proved to be the strongest. The flagship DoD facilities built by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Tex.,  and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence or NICoE, in Bethesda, Md., are state-of-the-art facilities. I have visited them, met their leaders, and seen the service members receiving excellent care. Having also contributed the invaluable Fisher Houses for service members' families, the Fund is now planning to build a total of nine treatment centers for brain injuries and psychological disorders at the largest military bases, at a cost of over $100 million, which they will raise as they did the previous $150 million.

By catalyzing public attention, the Fund is not averse to using public embarrassment as a motivator. Martin Edelman, an original Fund Board member, said that building things for the military could "force it's balky bureaucracy to act." Given the urgency of the issue, the thousands needing care and the tens of thousands soon to be needing care, I have no argument with the Fund's tactics.

But stop and think a minute. How long has it taken governmental health entities, Congress, the military, private and public funders and the general public to even begin to recognize and address the dangerous tendency to see only the visible injuries of war and to ignore the unseen wounds? We humans privilege what we can see. It is far more difficult to grasp the powerful impacts that escape the eye such as the PTS continuum and mild-moderate TBI. Might this factor now be at play in what kinds of resources are funded? I think the answer is yes.

In five years of caring for thousands of post 9/11 vets and families, our data has convinced me that most potent force in combating PTS and related unseen impacts of war trauma is hidden in plain sight: the experience of community and a trustworthy network of peer support. Why? Because this is what bonds service members to one another in the war zone and family members and caregivers on the homefront. We can and must leverage it to facilitate the most healing and empowering transition to civilian life.

The DoD medical command is strapped for staff and funds and this situation will become worse not better over the next few years. According to the recent Institute of Medicine report, the Department of Defense has "a woeful lack of information on the effectiveness and related costs of its post-traumatic stress disorder treatment programs, despite having spent millions of dollars on various initiatives to address psychological health and traumatic brain injury." Programs must address the whole person, including the family and wider support systems such as the community.

Although forcing the Pentagon's hand is not in itself objectionable, the question I raise is a pragmatic one: Is the 100 million dollars for the nine centers on military bases, and the hundreds of additional millions of dollars needed to properly staff, fund and maintain excellence at these centers for decades to come, the best use of these massive financial investments? I maintain that the answer is no.

The New York Times article refers to these nine centers as a "network." We need networks alright: real, empowering and durable support networks of veterans, spouses, parents, teens and other family members. Networks of professional care providers and family caregivers. Isolation kills and community heals. Troops come home to a community, not a series of isolated services. A safe place of welcome, belonging, and understanding, without judgment -- a true home -- is a palpable but ignored and therefore invisible factor. Brick and mortar structures in no way guarantees a real home.

READ MORE HERE 

Help for Veterans and Their Families: National Institute of Mental Health’s “Outreach Partnership Program”

The National Institute of Mental Health’s “Outreach Partnership Program” has made information available to veterans and their families who have concerns about depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other behavioral health problems. The information in this article comes from that resource.

Depression interferes with daily life, and even though each person may experience depression in a unique way, there are some signs and symptoms that one should be aware of, including:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Irritability and restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that one once found enjoyable/pleasant/fulfilling
• Fatigue or decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Sleep disturbance of one kind or another (like insomnia, too much sleep, or early morning wakening)
• Eating problems: eating too much or a loss of ones appetite
• Thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempts
• Aches, pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not respond to medical treatment

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not uncommon among returning veterans. When the following signs and symptoms last longer than a few weeks, one may be experiencing PTSD:

• Flashbacks
• Bad dreams
• Frightening thoughts
• Avoiding places/events/objects that are reminders of the experience
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Strong guilt, depression, or worry
• Losing interest in activities that were once enjoyable
• Having trouble remembering the dangerous or traumatic event
• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or “on the edge”
• Sleep disturbance
• Outbursts of anger
• "Drinking" to forget

SELF TESTS FOR PTSD, DEPRESSION & MORE AVAILABLE HERE:

• https://www.vetselfcheck.org/welcome.cfm

• https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=mentalHealth&contentPage=mh_screening_tools/PTSD_SCREENING.HTML

• https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=mentalHealth&contentPage=mh_screening_tools/PHQ_SCREENING.HTML

Many veterans have a difficult time adjusting to life back home after they’ve been deployed. Behavioral health services can help. 

Help is available 24 hours a day, every day 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1

 or 

Send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

or

Chat Online 24/7 here: Veterans Chat

If you are in immediate need of help and do not want to use the above please CALL 911

Here are some websites where reading material on PTSD, depression, anxiety, and related subjects may be obtained:

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/Resources.asp

www.nimh.nih.gov

www.nami.org

Military Mental Health Crisis Exposed with Camp Liberty Killings

By ELLIOT BLAIR SMITH 

Bloomberg News

Published: August 2, 2012

Sergeant John Russell lay awake, wondering what his wife would do if he killed himself.

He was so messed up that his first lieutenant removed the firing pin from his M16 assault rifle. Six weeks from the end of his fifth combat-zone tour, and five years from retiring on a 20-year Army pension, he suspected he wouldn’t see any of it.

Before dawn, shaking and stuttering, Russell walked through the still desert outside Baghdad to the quarters of Captain Peter Keough, the 54th Engineer Battalion’s chaplain. Keough listened, and hastily made the sergeant’s fourth appointment in four days at an Army mental-health clinic.

“I believe he is deteriorating,” Keough e-mailed an Army psychiatrist. “He doesn’t trust anyone.” Russell, the chaplain wrote, “believes he is better off dead.”

It was 10:07 a.m. on May 11, 2009. The battalion, military police and combat stress specialists had three hours and 34 minutes to avert tragedy. Instead, after lost opportunities and miscalculations, the blue-eyed sergeant from Texas used a stolen gun to kill three enlisted men and two officers in the deadliest case of soldier-on-soldier violence in the war zone. His victims’ bodies are buried across the U.S., from Arlington National Cemetery to the Texas panhandle.

Russell slipped through the safety net constructed to catch troubled soldiers. More and more are falling. The armed services’ mental-health epidemic has deepened since the Camp Liberty killings. In June, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered a Pentagon review of every diagnosis from 2001 on.

Court Martial

“The military and the nation were not prepared for the mental-health needs from being in combat for more than a decade,” said retired Colonel Elspeth Ritchie, the top psychiatric official in the Army’s Office of the Surgeon General from 2005 to 2010, in an interview. “We now confront ourselves with a mental-health crisis that is a legacy of war.”

Prosecutors paint the 6-foot, 4-inch (1.9-meter) Russell as a cold-blooded killer, cunning enough to slip through a back door into a mental-health clinic where he mowed down unarmed men. His lawyers contend that he’s not guilty by reason of insanity, undone by repeat deployments and misdiagnosed in that same clinic.

His hands and feet shackled, Russell said in an interview that he doesn’t remember much about that day three years ago. He’s awaiting court martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the shadow of Mount Rainier in Washington.

Military Life

The Army decided May 15 to seek the death penalty on five counts of premeditated murder, overruling the recommendation at a pre-trial hearing that Russell’s “undisputed mental disease or defect” made that punishment inappropriate.

“It scares me,” Russell said.

Prosecutors declined to comment. This account is based on thousands of pages of Army records, civilian documents obtained with public records requests and more than two dozen interviews.......

MORE HERE: http://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/military-mental-health-crisis-exposed-with-camp-liberty-killings-1.184668?localLinksEnabled=false

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Over 50 Pieces of Veterans Legislation sent to President To Be Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last night, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (H.R. 1627). The bill, now headed to the President for signature into law, will bring immediate VA healthcare to Camp Lejeune veterans and their families who have been diagnosed with a disease related to the water contamination that occurred at the base between 1957 and 1987. In addition, H.R. 1627 increases VA accountability to veterans by streamlining the disability claims process, ensuring transparency in VA funding, protecting veterans from sexual assault, and transforming how VA does business in the 21st century.

“This legislation is a culmination of more than a year’s worth of work on behalf of America’s veterans, and an example of what lawmakers can accomplish working together in a bipartisan manner,” stated Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 will make an immediate impact in the lives of veterans, their families, and survivors by providing the care and support they have earned through their service to our nation.”

“I am pleased that the House of Representatives came together in a bipartisan manner to support H.R. 1627, which included legislation I authored to help streamline the claims process for our veterans,” stated Rep. Jon Runyan, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much and it is an outrage that many have to wait months for benefits claims to be processed. The backlog at VA must be addressed and fixed, and I believe the passage of this bill is an important first step. I look forward to continuing my work to ensure the backlog is eliminated.”

“Every year, VA spends millions of dollars on conferences and, while there is a need for such meetings, Congress must be able to provide proper oversight of this spending. I’m proud that this legislation will require VA to report on conferences costing $20,000 or more,” stated Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. “Transparency and accountability are essential as VA conducts its mission to serve our veterans.”  

“Caring for our nation’s veterans and their families is one of our most crucial duties as legislators. I am especially pleased that the Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention and Health Care Enhancement Act is part of this legislation and will be sent to the President for consideration,” stated Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health. “Negligence related to sexual assault within the VA cannot be tolerated. This legislation will correct a fundamental weakness in VA’s system by setting in place the procedures and accountability measures necessary to ensure the protection of veterans and staff.”

“America’s veterans deserve the very best of the benefits and care they have earned, and VA consistently falls short when it comes to addressing the needs of our heroes. More than half of disability claims have been pending for more than 125 days and the backlog has surged to more than 900,000 claims,” stated Rep. Bill Johnson, Chairman of Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations. “This is completely unacceptable. The Modernizing Notice to Claimants Act, included in H.R. 1627, which I introduced, will modernize how VA communicates with claimants while holding VA’s feet to the fire in making sure America’s veterans are being properly served by VA.”

To learn more about the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, click: http://veterans.house.gov/hr1627

Veterans' Health: Beyond PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury

By: Margaret Stone
The Huffington Post

Over the past decade, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense have expanded their efforts to meet the mental health needs of our service men and women. In particular, a better understanding of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury (TBI) has led to major changes in how the healthcare community addresses veterans' needs.

But the intense focus on PTSD and brain injuries can mask deeper, more complex problems. Beyond the physical and psychological trauma lies an inextricably linked group of behavioral and physical health issues -- drug and alcohol addiction, chronic pain and depressive disorders. They're all serious medical conditions, and too often they're overlooked or untreated.

Alcohol abuse is the most prevalent problem among U.S. military personnel and one that poses a significant health risk, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Twenty-seven percent of Army soldiers screened three to four months after returning from deployment in Iraq met criteria for alcohol abuse, according to an April 2011 study. Alcohol abuse puts these vets at increased risk for other harmful behaviors such as drunk driving, drug use and suicide.

Veterans often self-medicate with alcohol or drugs to push down the painful memories, fight insomnia and dull the physical pain. Those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan also face multiple deployments and less "dwell" time at home to recuperate and reconnect with their communities and families.

Today, chronic pain is a leading cause of disability among military personnel. While TBI and concussive brain injuries capture today's headlines, other combat wounds and "wear-and-tear" injuries from heavy equipment and grueling patrols still account for a majority of disability cases. That in turn has sparked a wave of prescription-medication addiction among vets -- the unintended consequence of modern medicine's reliance on powerful narcotics to manage both acute and chronic pain.

The military has slowly begun to recognize the value of alternative, non-narcotic therapies for pain management. A May 2010 report by the Pain Management Task Force makes numerous recommendations for alternative therapies in conjunction with pain physicians such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage and occupational therapy. Realistically, though, all of these therapies require long-term commitment and support -- hence the beckoning "quick fix" of the prescription pad.

Undiagnosed and untreated PTSD and TBI are in many cases accompanied by depressive disorders, which can be as crippling as the physical wounds a veteran may bear. Depression, moodiness, lethargy and sleeplessness all play a part in these conditions. Without treatment, many veterans self-medicate to seek the mental peace and quiet they find so elusive.

The government and VA have begun to address these complex issues. Under General Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army has made significant strides in preventive measures, programs and support for our troops and how best to address brain injuries. A recent study, "Army 2020: Generating Health and Discipline in the Force Ahead of the Strategic Reset Report 2012," lays out a comprehensive analysis of the behavioral and physical health needs of our troops.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-stone/veterans-health_b_1652230.html

Women Veterans Services (Part 1)

Our nation’s current military force is comprised of nearly 15% women. Given this fact and the changing roles women are playing in the military, the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are implementing new programs designed specifically to meet the needs of today’s servicewomen and women veterans.

Services 101:

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has established services which address the unique needs of women veterans. The Women’s Program includes the Women's Primary Care Clinic, Gynecology Clinic, Reproductive Clinic, Breast Clinic, Mental Health Services and The Sexual Trauma Treatment Center.

The Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 enabled the VA to significantly improve its programs for women veterans. VA has established state-of-the-art facilities which focus on women’s health, as well as create an environment that is warm, comfortable and private. It is important to note that under the “Patient Care Bill of Rights” you are entitled to request a different physician at any time. If you feel you are not receiving the highest quality of care VA has to offer, or if you are uncomfortable with seeing a male doctor, you may request to be seen by a female doctor for your gender specific care.

Examples of Women Veteran’s Primary Care Services (PCS):

•          Family Planning and Birth Control
•          GYN & Maternity Care
•          Infertility Evaluation & Treatment
•          Midlife and Menopause Issues
•          Cancer Screenings        
•          Wellness and Healthy Living
•          Mammograms

    Your Primary Care Physician (PCP) may also refer you for mental health services. Mental health services can help with:

•       Depression and mood disorders
•       Anxiety disorders
•       Intimate partner and domestic violence, sexual trauma, elder abuse, or neglect
•       Parenting and anger management issues
•            Marital or family-related stress
•            Post-deployment adjustment

  

    VA also provides free confidential counseling and treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST). If you feel you have experienced MST you may receive free care at any Vet Center, regardless of your enrollment in a VA healthcare system or combat status. Some problems associated with MST include:

•          Disturbing memories or nightmares
•          Difficulty feeling safe
•          Feelings of depression or numbness
•          Problems with alcohol or other drugs
•          Feeling isolated from other people
•          Problems with anger or irritability
•          Problems with sleep
•          Physical health problems

VA provides pregnancy care and services through arrangements with community based providers. VA will pay for prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care if you meet the eligibility requirements. You should contact your Women Veterans Program Manager as soon as possible to discuss local processes relating to your prenatal care, and to explore options for healthcare services for your baby. Currently, VA is not equipped with the resources needed to provide care in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

     

Your Primary Care Physician can also make referrals for:

         -  Management and screening of chronic conditions

     - Rehabilitation therapy

     - Home-bound therapy

      - Long-term care

VA Services are Provided to any Veteran, Active Duty Military, National Guard or Reserve Member who:

·        Completed active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), or

·       

            Was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, or

·       

     National Guard members and Reservists who have completed a federal deployment to a  combat zone.

    ~Please note that only emergency services can be received through VA until your enrollment is processed. For more information, and to apply for VA healthcare services, complete the Online 10-10EZ Application. 

If you are currently serving in the military, and need assistance with your transition from DoD healthcare to VA healthcare, you may get assistance from a military liaison. Military liaisons are present at Base Readiness Centers and are instrumental in providing a multitude of connections between the military and civilian communities. Liaisons are responsible for ensuring that military orders are in place and all service-related transitional needs are addressed in a timely manner.  

SERVICES: 

Every VA Medical Center (VAMC) in the country has a Women Veterans Program Manager. This person is your advocate. S/he can help you access VA services and programs, state and federal benefits, and resources in the area where you live. If you need help, call your local VA and ask to speak to the Women Veterans Program Manager.

Currently the VA is offering women veterans the following additional services and programs:

·      

       ~ Women's Stress Disorder Treatment Teams (WSDTT’s), which are special outpatient (not live-in) mental health programs. They focus on treatment of PTSD and other problems related to trauma,

·        

    ~ Specialized Inpatient and Residential Programs for Women, which include live-in programs for women veterans who need more intense treatment and support. While in these programs, women live either in the hospital or in a residence with other women. For help locating a program, ask your Women Veterans Program Manager, 

    ~ Cohort Treatment or Separate Wings for Women, which are like the live-in programs discussed above, except these programs treat both men and women. Some locations accept women in groups that start treatment together, while others offer a separate wing, or space set apart for women,

   ~ Women Veterans Comprehensive Health Centers, which are complete health centers for women veterans located in many VAMC's around the country. They provide outpatient mental health services to women veterans. Check with your local Women Veterans Program Manager to see if there is a women's health center that provides mental health services near you,

   ~ Women Veterans Homelessness Programs can help you find shelter if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Certain VAMC locations have programs for homeless women veterans and homeless women veterans with children. Contact your Women Veterans Program Manager for resources near you. You can also contact the Social Work Services department at your local VAMC. For more information, go to Homeless Veterans.

Please note services and programs vary from one location to another. For example the Palo Alto VAMC is currently leading the way in the development and implementation of services, programs and facilities dedicated to women veterans.  

The Women's Prevention Outreach & Education Center (WPOEC), was created to provide gender specific services to women veterans regardless of service era. Located in Menlo Park, CA, WPOEC provides preventative healthcare services such as; screenings and assessments, case management, promoting healthy living, mental health, outreach, and education. Women veterans can choose to participate in group and individual treatment.

All VAMCs offer gender specific counseling services such as:

•          Sexual trauma counseling
•       Substance abuse treatment
•       Psychological support groups
•       Vocational rehabilitation programs
•       Programs for survivors of domestic violence
•       Evaluation and treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
•      Current research involving stress, end of life issues, depression, medical, spiritual,       social, and wellness issues.

Getting Your Benefits?

Any woman veteran already enrolled in the VA healthcare system is eligible for treatment and benefits relating to gender specific care, programs and benefits.

If you are not already enrolled in the VA healthcare system, but are entitled to care and benefits, you need to enroll by using VA Form 10-10EZ. The 10-10EZ may be obtained by visiting, calling, or writing any VA healthcare facility or benefits office. You can also call toll-free 1-877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387).

Any veteran in need of immediate assistance due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) may be seen, free of charge, at any Vet Center, regardless of enrollment in the VA healthcare system. You may be seen on a walk in basis, or through the scheduling of an appointment. No veteran seeking help for sexual trauma will be denied care. You can locate a VA Vet Center by zip code utilizing the Vet Center Locator Directory.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM:

The Patient Advocacy Program is for all veterans and their families who receive care at 

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and clinics.  We want to be sure you have 

someone to go to with your concerns in a timely manner and to help you receive care.  

If you need help getting care or getting your problems resolved, talk to the Patient 

Advocate at your VA Medical Center.  We want to provide you with world-class veteran 

customer service and this is just one important way in which we do that! 

The Patient Advocate works directly with management and employees to facilitate 

resolutions.  You  may contact the Patient Advocate at your facility. FIND YOURS HERE!

Sources:

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/womens_mental_health_services.asp

http://www.va.gov/womenvet/

http://www.paloalto.va.gov/index.asp

http://www.paloalto.va.gov/wpoec.asp

http://www.va.gov/

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/topics/women/index.htm

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/03/usat-va-scopes-out-medical-needs-of-female-vets-030111/

http://www.nchv.org/women.cfm