how community information and referral organizations can better support our military forces, their...
TRANSCRIPT
WHAT CAN WE DO?
How Community Information and Referral Organizations can better support our military forces, their families, and veterans.
DEANNA DALTON
ROLE AT 211INFO
Military Liaison
Insure a comprehensive database.
Know specific taxonomy for population
Know the top referrals for veterans and service members
Add agencies and programs into special events, database, and maintain records.
ROLE AT 211INFO- LIAISON
Social Media/Cloud work. website content and functionalityBlog posts on current events, climate, agencies and programsFB/Twitter presence like Blog presenceResource lists, email lists
211INFO ROLE- LIAISON
Outreach and Action means to:
ConnectPresentPartnerConsultTrainTable
TODAY
How Community Information and Referral Organizations can better support and assist Military installations, its service members and dependents, veterans and their families.
AGENDA
Issue and Need around 20 min
Discuss Need in communities 10 min(The need in your community)
Action and Examples 20-30 min
Discuss Action in communities 10 minutes(how can you implement/brainstorm!)
Where do we go from here/conclude- 10 minutes
ISSUE AND NEEDS
TODAY’S SERVICE MEMBER IS TOMORROW’S VETERAN!
US VS THEM
Growing divide between Civilian and Military All volunteer forceBases are built in culturesLess than 1% of population Has worn uniform in recent conflicts Decrease in enlistment Decrease in the veteran population Media representation
THE ELUSIVE COMMUNITY
A community we interact with only when we want to(or when the media tells us to)Interfacing with the military is at the discretion of the civilian.ORNG/Reserve component- one weekend a month
ONE STOP SHOP: BASES
MILITARY CULTURE
General characteristics, not blanket assumptions
Understand these are not applicable for all service members or veterans.
CIVILIAN CULTURE
General Characteristics and not blanket assumptions
Understand these are not applicable for all civilians.
THE MILITARY/VETERANSTend to relocate near bases, armories, or in rural pocketsRetiring veterans more likely to exhibit triggering of PTSDHave a desire to give back and provide mutual support
CURRENT ERA MILITARY AND VETERAN
Unprecedented Complexities and needs
Injuries which would have been fatal in previous wars
Multiple and uncertain deployments
Many come back fine and reintegrate without complications
Those that do not- family has moved on without their physical presence
Hard to reintegrate when one knows they will be deployed again
Constant fear of safety- Flight/Fight mode for 11+months.
AND THEN THERE ARE THE NUMBERS…
Plus the decline of veteran numbers…
ADD THE RURAL COMPONENT….
Rural veterans are more likely to believe mental health stigma
85% Mental health professional shortages occur in rural communities
Communication lines more deeply rooted and social interaction more intimate than urban counterparts
Lack of accessibility, transportation, options,
and exploration of identities
THERE IS HELP! PROGRAMS DO EXISTBUT……
Often underfunded Large caseloads Lack non-VA affiliated services understaffed Many duplicate services Lack communication and cohesiveness Lacking culturally specific services
WHAT WE NEED IS….
DISCUSSION TIME (10-15 MINUTES):
Group up Based off of the wave of information
received: Think about your community-
What issues discussed do you see in your community and what needs do you see for your active military or veteran community members?
ACTION:
So what in the world can we possibly DO?
Where in the world do we START?
HIRING OUR HEROES
How many veterans work at your agency?
How many Reservists or Guard Members?
Does your agency have a Veteran’s preference?
Do they have encourage veterans to apply?
WHY VETERANS?Cultural competency starts with hiring those that can navigate the culture. Veterans are the best for this.
CREATE A LIAISON ROLE
Whether voluntary or paid, a designated person to begin thinking about and supporting military and veterans
Provide trainings of cultural competency
Be a reference point for agency on culture
Outreach to community Acquire programs and services for
database
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM
Federal Department of Veteran Affairs State Department of Veteran Affairs County Veteran Service Officers National, Localized chapters: DAV, AL, LA, VFW, VVA, VFP, NABVETS Non- profits that have Veteran programs Faith Based initiatives Guard and Reserve Family Readiness
THE VETERAN PROVIDER COMMUNITY
Knowing the links in the chain….
ECOMAPPING TO FIND RESOURCES
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Education:Community CollegesUniversitiesTrade SchoolsHigh SchoolsSchool Districts
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
County and State VSO’s
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Government:
Congress membersSenate MembersState legislatorsAdvisorsRepresentativesCommittees
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Military Leadership:
National Guard/Reserve Base CommandersChain of Command
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Family Readiness:
Joint TransitionYellow Ribbon Family Assistance SpecialistsMilitary OneSourceArmy OneSource
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Minority Groups:
TribesLGBTQCommunities of ColorWomenOther than honorabledischarged
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Social Service Providers
Homelessness ProgramsUtility AssistanceFood PantriesShelters
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Health Providers
HospitalsClinicsVansQMHPDental
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Business and Employers
Veteran Owners/ownedVeteran friendly employers
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Civic Organizations
DAVALWAVFWVVOANABVETS
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Public Safety
PoliceProbation OfficersVeterans courtsPrisonsFire/Rescue
AREAS OF SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
State and Federal agencies
Dept. Human ServicesSelf Sufficiency OfficesDept. of LaborEmployment
MORE AREAS OF ACTION
Faith based community
Resource Fairs
Non- Profits
Local Papers
Mutual Support
Volunteer Programs
Events for Families
Community Centers
THIS IS WHAT I DO!
I HAVE…
Partnered with CVSO’s and FAS’s
Spoken to over 200 veterans and provided services on site
Cultural Competency trainings (in house and out)
A Behavioral Health Alliance member with Army One Source
Testified/letters of support Texting/ Follow ups
On the Multnomah Veteran Task Force Committee
OMSN Partner Provided over 50 outreach
visits to agencies Numerous blogs Free Resource Guide Highlight other programs
and services in social media Consultations for networks Support for Social Workers Community event supporter
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS….
FOR FOUR MONTHS!
YOU CAN DO ALL OF THIS AND MORE! With authenticity With passion With dependability With consistency With integrity
You can become a trusted and vital resource!
DISCUSSION
What steps can be taken in your agency and community to strengthen the military/ veteran safety net?
(About 10 minutes)
ONE MORE THING…
Curiosity
Inquiry
Be Patient
Be Authentic
YOU ARE VERY IMPORTANT
What you do matters
You are a resource
You change lives
If not us, Who?
RESOURCES FOR YOU!!
http://www.sapr.mil/ http://www.socialwo
rk.va.gov/links.asp http://www.socialwo
rkers.org/military.asp
http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces
http://maketheconnection.net/
http://www.operationhomefront.net/
http://www.jointservicessupport.org/fp/default.aspx
http://www.justicepolicy.org/news/category/324
http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp
http://nacvso.org/
READINGS
https://advancesinsocialwork.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/1891/1951
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10900-012-9583-7#page-1 (Rural Veterans and Dual Care)
http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=1090304 (Association of Perceived Barriers With Prospective Use of VA Mental Health Care Among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans)
http://jaapl.org/content/40/3/348.full.pdf+html (Risk of Death for Veterans on Release From Prison)
http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/40/307-8/pdf/jvp25012_789_790.pdf (Veterans and the Affordable Care Act)
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/200/4/317.full.pdf+html (Trajectories of trauma symptoms and resilience in deployed US military service members: prospective cohort study)
https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/2391/3907 (Peer Support, Self-Efficacy, combat-related symptoms among returning OIF/OEF Veterans)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
503-416-2632
www.211info.org