SPOKANE VETERANS CENTER VISION First Issue Extravaganza Quarterly News Updates. Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Services

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1 SPOKANE VETERANS CENTER VISION First Issue Extravaganza Quarterly News Updates Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Services Volume 1, Issue 1 1 September 2012 Special points of interest: Dealing with going back to college Spokane Veterans Center Upcoming Events Vet Center Groups Letter from a Veteran Spouse History of the Veteran Centers Eligibility Inside this issue: Team Leader Tidings Adjusting and Accommodating Upcoming Veteran Outreach Events Vet Center Groups 2 Vet Center Meetings 3 Vet Center History 4 Vet Center Eligibility 5 Are you a Veteran with Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Post Traumatic Stress? Are you enrolled in college and having difficulty with school? If so, you may need help. You may not be aware that your condition(s) may make academics difficult. Some of the cognitive difficulties associated with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress, which may affect academic performance, include: Attention and concentration difficulty. Information processing challenges. Inland Northwest Veterans Headed Back to Class Learning and memory deficits. Sluggish abstract reasoning. Slowed executive functions (problem solving, p l a n n i n g, i n s i g h t / awareness, sequencing). Other challenges associated with difficulty in classroom performance may include the effect of additional stressors (home, work, unit, etc.), sleep disturbance, diffi- culty with time management, and panic attacks. Seek help at your Veteran s Affairs Hospital, Veteran s Center, or local provider to help you get through the school year. Do not wait until the issue is out of control, seek help immediately. As always, for immediate emergencies dial 911. Vet Center Team Leader Tidings Article 1: A New Mission Greetings, my name is Dave Baird and I m the team leader here at the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center. I m a retired Navy chief and the proud grandson of a WWII infantryman who received a purple heart for injuries sustained during the Battle of the Bulge. In this first Team Leader Tidings the very first message I want to convey is to thank each and every Veteran for your service to this country. When you first put on the uniform you wrote a blank check to the United States of America in the amount of up to and including your life, to preserve our precious liberty and way of life. When I tuck my four children into bed at night I am fully aware that the safety they feel was hard-won by men and women who were and are willing to take the fight to the enemy. Many of you came home broken and scarred. Many of your wounds are physical. (Continued on Page 7) Mobile Vet Center 6

2 SPOKANE VETERANS CENTER Page 2 No matter what political views faculty and staff members have, they should honor a student Veteran s service and respect the student s privacy. Adjusting and Accommodating on America s Campuses For all that colleges and universities have already learned about accommodating individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), a confounding reality must also be recognized few medical conditions express themselves as individually and uniquely as TBI/PTS. The brain consists of many localized functions. Consequently, each injury may affect different sets of functions and similarly, no two traumatic events are the same (Smith- Osborne, 2009). A Veteran may experience survivors guilt (Caplan, 2004) while another may have a learned perception that any abandoned vehicle is likely to contain explosives (Global Security, 2004). Moreover, stressors may exist that exacerbate symptoms at certain times, but not at others. Both TBI and PTS are commonly associated with depression and suicidal ideation (Huang, 2010). Other factors that may worsen symptoms include: academic stressors, health concerns and interpersonal issues such as dissolution of SEPTEMBER rd Annual Native American Honoring/Memorial Ceremony-8 Sep-Spokane 12:00-6:00pm Welcome Home Veterans Resource/Job Fair-11 to 12 Sep-Spokane Red Cross/ SCC 8:00am- 4:00pm Moses Lake Stand Down-15 Sep-McCosh 10:00am-1:00pm Colville Stand Down-15 to 16 Sep-Colville 8:00am-4:00pm personal and marital relationships, sleep deprivation, alcohol and drug abuse, notice of redeployment, separation from battlefield and unit colleagues, and death of such a colleague (Kato, 2010). Institutions must recognize that many student Veterans are facing other life-adjustments, as well as entry into higher education, such as reintegration into the social and family lives they held before their activeduty assignments (Knox et al., 2010). However, other factors may have restorative effect, such as social support particularly by other Veterans and service members, professional treatment, balanced participation in recreational or pleasurable activities, and good health habits (Larsen, Highfill, & Booth, 2008). Not all student Veterans with TBI or PTS will require adjustments or accommodations to succeed in a college atmosphere, and others may require only a few modifications to the learning environment (Shea, 2010; Smith- Osborne, 2006). Though such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, 92d Air Refueling Wing Alumni Gathering-23 Sep- Waterfront Park, Medical Lake, 1:00pm- 4:00pm Wall Walla VAMC Flu Shot Clinic NEW Tobacco-Free Support Group Starts 28 Sep Spokane 1-2:15pm, call to reserve a spot. Time of Remembrance for Grieving Families Sep -Richland, 8:00am many, likely most, Veterans and service members with TBI or PTS qualify as an individual with a disability under two federal disability anti-discrimination laws applicable to colleges and universities: the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Grossman, 2009; Shackelford, 2009). As a civil right, these individuals are entitled to attend a campus with programs and facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities as well as a wide range of academic adjustments and auxiliary aids (accommodations), as long as such accommodations do not fundamentally alter the academic program in question (Grossman, 2009; Shackelford, 2009). The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice enforce these rights. Unfortunately, Veterans and service members with disabilities are less likely than most students to access the accommodations they are (Continued on Page 6) Upcoming Veteran Events (Sep Dec 2012) Coeur D Alene Stand Down-29 Sep-Coeur D Alene 8:00am OCTOBER 2012 Libby Stand Down 6-7 Oct -Libby Montana National Guard 8:00am Coeur D Alene Tribe Veterans Symposium-9-11 Oct- Coeur D Alene Casino and 10:00am-3:00pm (Continued on Page 3)

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Upcoming Veteran Events (continued from Page 2) Vet Center Groups Meetings Free Vietnam Veterans BBQ-13 Oct-Spokane Vet 12:00-3:00pm Veterans with Washington State Residence Will Clinic- 13 Gonzaga University, Sign-up online at Planet Beach Contempo Spa and Paul Mitchell Thank Our Troops/Military Appreciation Day am-4pm, call (509) to make a reservation LeGrande, OR VAMC Flu Shot Clinic-15 8:00am Women Veteran s Basic Self -Defense Clinic-20 Oct- Spokane Vet 2:00-4:00pm Spokane Falls Community Falls Veterans Resource Fair -16 Oct SFCC Building 9:00am-2:00pm Yakima VAMC Flu Shot Clinic-23 8:00am Lewiston, ID VAMC Flu Shot Clinic-23 8:00am Richland, WA VAMC Flu Shot Clinic-26 8:00am NOVEMBER 2012 Veterans Resource Fair-1 Nov, Centerplace Region Event Center, Spokane 9:00am-4:30pm Okanagan Stand Down, 3 Nov-Okanagan National Guard 8:00am The Holidays-How Much is Enough? Workshop- This workshop will help parents navigate the stresses of the holiday season- 1 and 9 6:00-8:30pm Spokane Vet Center Thanksgiving Feast-20 Nov, Spokane Vet 11:00am-3:00pm Call the Spokane Vet Center at (509) for the most updated schedule and information. All Group Meeting are held at the Spokane Vet Center unless otherwise indicated. Mondays Art Therapy Workshop- Purpose is to process trauma through guided art exercises-8 Weekly Session (Offered based on demand) Tuesdays Vietnam Vets Group- Readjusting to civilian life after serving in combat Spirituality Group Purpose is to facilitate readjustment to civilian life after serving in combat with a focus on wellness. Mixed war-eras. (Offsite Post Falls, ID) Women s Yoga A practice using physical postures, meditation and relaxation, Focus on calming the mind and body with the intention of addressing the symptoms associated with trauma. (Held in Fall and Winter) Spokane Vet Center Groups Meetings (Continued) Spokane Veterans Center Corpsman and Medic Group Purpose is to address the unique readjustment issues of combat medics and corpsman Tuesdays (Continued) Women Warrior Group- Coping with readjustment issues, dealing with stress and functioning in society. Bi-weekly OIF/OEF Group- Address unique Readjustment issues for combat Veterans. Bi- Weekly Wednesday Wise Older Warriors (WOW)- War zone issues, WWII Support group- War zone issues, support, stress reduction here and now support, stress reduction, issues, etc. Monthly (various convalescent communities) (support, stress reduction, WWII and Korean War) here and now issues, etc. Bi-monthly (Off Site) Co-ed Yoga- Yoga, a practice using physical postures, meditation and relaxation, will be taught as a way of calming the mind and body with the intention of addressing the cognitive, emotional and physiological symptoms associated with trauma. Weekly (When instructor is available) North Idaho Readjustment- Address unique readjustment issues for combat Veterans. Bi-Weekly (Off Site in Coeur d Alene) Sandpoint Readjustment- Address unique readjustment issues for combat Veterans. Bi- Weekly (Off Site in Sandpoint, ID) Corpsman and Medic Group- Purpose is to address the unique readjustment issues of combat medics and corpsman (Continued on Page 8)

4 SPOKANE VETERANS CENTER Page 4 Entering Through the Door As the first person to greet our Vets as they come through the door, I have the wonderful opportunity to interact with our Vets and their families. First off, I thank you all for your service. Secondly, I thank you for all the stories you share with me along your ventures, as I myself am not a Vet. I am in fact the wife of a Vietnam Vet, and feel very fortunate to be part of your world. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it. For years I have sat in the waiting room with my husband watching as many Vets filtered through the doors. Each person s face tells a different story, some of hope, some of anguish, and some of pain, and some that simply just seek acknowledgement that they exist. At times it is sad to watch and wish I could do more. Perhaps that is why I work here at the Spokane Veterans Center. If I can even just brighten a Vets day with a happy voice on the phone or a friendly greeting when they walk through the door that makes them feel welcome and that they have a place to belong, lending an ear to their problems or stories, whatever it takes, that s what I want to do. My hope is that when you enter the Vet Center you feel welcome and that the doors are not shutting you out or slamming on your face, that we show we do care about you and want to help. So, keep coming through our doors, sit down for a cup- of- Joe, and visit a spell while you re waiting for your appointment. We Welcome You With Open Arms. Rikki Montague- Lead Front Desk My hope is that when you enter the Vet Center you feel welcome and that the doors are not shutting you out or slamming on your face, that we show we do care about you and want to help. Veterans Center Eligibility: War Zone Veterans WORLD WAR II Three eligible categories - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign-Medal (7 Dec to 8 Nov. 1945), Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal (7 Dec to 2 Mar. 1946), or American Campaign Medal (7 Dec to 2 Mar. 1946) AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINES In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, 7 Dec to 15 Aug KOREAN WAR 27 June 1950 to - 27 July 1954 (eligible for the Korean Service Medal) VIETNAM WAR 28 Feb to 7 May 1975 LEBANON 25 Aug to 26 Feb GRENADA 23 Oct to 21 Nov PANAMA 20 Dec to 31 Jan PERSIAN GULF 2 Aug to TBD SOMALIA 7 Sept to TBD BOSNIA 21 Nov to 01 Nov KOSOVO 24 Mar to TBD OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 7 Oct to TBD OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 19 Mar to 17 Feb OPERATION NEW DAWN 17 Feb to TBD *TBD = To Be Determined OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR, OPERATION JOINT GUARD, AND OPERATION JOINT FORGE Veterans who participated in one or more of the three successive operations in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces above those areas). Veterans who served or have served in Kosovo either in its waters or airspace after March 24, 1999, and before a terminal date yet to be established. GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM Veterans who serve or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism on or after September 11, 2001 and before a terminal date yet to be established. Includes OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPER- ATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION NEW DAWN. (Continues on the bottom of Page 5)

5 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 Who We Are We are the people in VA who welcome home war Veterans with honor by providing quality readjustment counseling in a caring manner. Veterans Centers understand and appreciate Veterans war experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful post-war adjustment in or near their community. The Veterans Center Program was established by Congress in 1979 out of the recognition that a significant number of Vietnam era Veterans were still experiencing readjustment problems. Veterans Centers are community based and part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In April 1991, in response to the Persian Gulf War, Congress extended the eligibility to Veterans who served during other periods of armed hostilities after the Vietnam era. Those other periods are identified as Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, and Kosovo/ Bosnia. In October 1996, Congress extended the eligibility to include WWII and Korean Combat Veterans. The goal of the Veterans Center program is to Veterans Center History provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to eligible Veterans in order to help them make a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life. On April 1, 2003 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs extended eligibility for Veterans Center services to Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and on June 25, 2003 Veterans Center eligibility was extended to Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and subsequent operations within the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The family members of all Veterans listed above are eligible for Veterans Center services as well. On August 5, 2003 VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi authorized Veterans Centers to furnish bereavement counseling services to surviving parents, spouses, children and siblings of service members who die of any cause while on active duty, to include federally activated Reserve and National Guard personnel. We understand, and most of all, we care. Spokane Veterans Center Information Address East Mirabeau Parkway Spokane Valley, WA Phone and Fax (Main Desk) (Fax) Hours of Operation Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday by Special Appointment Website Combat Call Center (WAR-VETS) Veterans Crisis Line Press 1 Confidential Chat at: VeteransCrisisLine.net Confidential help for Veterans and their families Veterans Centers understand and appreciate Veterans war experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful postwar adjustment in or near their community. Veterans Center Eligibility: War Zone Veterans (Continued from Page 4) SEXUAL TRAUMA AND HARASSMENT COUNSELING Veterans of both sexes, all eras Vet Center services include individual readjustment counseling, referral for benefits assistance, group readjustment counseling, liaison with community agencies, marital and family counseling, substance abuse information and referral, job counseling and placement, sexual trauma counseling, and community education. BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING Bereavement counseling is offered to parents, siblings, spouses and children of Armed Forces personnel who die in the service to our country. Also eligible are family members of Reservists and National Guardsmen who die while on federally activated duty.

6 SPOKANE VETERANS CENTER Page 6 Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the Veteran or family. Adjusting and Accommodating on America s Campuses (Continued from Page 1) entitled to for a host of reasons, reducing their chance of persisting to graduation and placing a burden on faculty to address problems on an ad hoc basis (Madaus, 2009). What Else Can Be Done? No matter what political views faculty and staff members have, they should honor a student Veteran s service and respect the student s privacy. Faculty must recognize that student Veterans provide a unique opportunity that may (positively) challenge how they teach and assess. This recognition of the need to provide more flexible ways to teach and assess student learning benefits not only student Veterans, but also any other students who may appreciate having the same flexibility extended to them. In doing so, institutions may experience improved retention and graduation rates. And, more importantly, faculty and staff will have helped the student Veterans achieve their mission to earn a degree. Spokane Mobile Veterans Center The Mobile Vet Center (MVC) is the Department of Veterans Affairs latest effort to reach the underserved Veteran populations of rural America. Our primary mission is to help combat Veterans and their families readjust to life after war. We do that by helping the Veteran identify problems and then offering individual, family, and group counseling for a host of issues including Post Traumatic Stress, military sexual trauma, and bereavement. Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach service to all Veterans who served in any combat zone or experience military sexual trauma. Services are also available for their family members for military related issues. Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the Veteran or family. While these programs have been available for years at our Vet Center in Spokane, the new mobile facility can go wherever there is a need in Washington, Northeast Oregon, North Idaho, and Northwest Montana. MVC Rural Site Visit Schedule Call the Spokane Vet Center at (509) for the most updated schedule and information. Sand Point, Idaho North Idaho College, Coeur D Alene, Idaho Moses Lake, Washington Okanagan, Washington Colville, Washington Tonasket, Washington What is Readjustment Counseling? Readjustment counseling is a wide range of psycho social services offered to eligible Veterans and their families in the effort to make a successful transition from military to civilian life. They include: Readjustment Counseling Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families Family counseling for military related issues Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death Military sexual trauma counseling and referral Outreach and education including PDHRA, community events, etc. Substance abuse assessment and referral Employment assessment and referral VBA benefits explanation and referral Screening and referral for medical issues including TBI, Depression, etc. The Spokane Mobile Veterans Center

7 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7 Vet Center Team Leader Tidings (Continued from Page 1) Many of you have emotional wounds that are hidden and cannot be seen by others. We at the Spokane Vet Center honor you and I thank you for your service. Thank you for having our back and for supporting this great nation even when its government and its agencies have, in times past, not done its part to fully support you. Additionally, I want to convey a huge thank you to our family members who stood vigil while we were away. Their sacrifices were huge. And, as we all are aware, some of our families paid the ultimate sacrifice. We honor them and those whom we have lost. Now, I want to take a quick moment to speak to what I believe is one of the biggest readjustment challenges for each of us once we hang up our uniforms and enter the civilian sector. I call this challenge Creating a New Mission, finding a new purpose for our lives. One of the things I miss most about serving in uniform is the camaraderie I felt with my brothers and sisters in arms. We had a mission, we had a purpose. Sometimes our missions were lofty and idealistic. At other times the mission was simply to survive and to do our best to help our fellow troops survive. Regardless of our mission, one thing could always be said: We had each other s back. I m not sure about your experience of the civilian sector, but in my experience, it s a little bit different. We are not given a clear mission. We actually have to think about what we re going to wear for the day. And, sadly to say, we can t always count on the fact that our associates have our back. Many of us who have traded in our cammies and dungarees for a set of blue jeans or a shirt and tie still find ourselves floundering. What is our purpose? What is the meaning of it all? What is my mission? Does anybody have my back? When you re at the Vet Center, I want the answer to always be YES! We ve got your back! In addition, when you re at the Vet Center or at one of our outreaches, it is likely that you in the company of other Veterans. While there, please take a good look around you. These are your fellow Veterans, and if you ll let them, they will also have your back. Here s my challenge to you: No matter where and when you served, what branch of service, whatever your age, and whatever your background. My challenge is to have each other s back! In being there for your fellow Veterans, you have a new mission, a new purpose, and a new meaning. When I discovered this purpose, my life was transformed from an empty experience to a life of adventure. Having your back has given me a reason to move forward. My belief is that this can be true for you too. I challenge you to rise up again. To unite, as a team, to help each other navigate the murky waters of civilian life and the challenging bureaucratic systems that we rely on to meet our needs. As for this Veteran, I m in! And I make a pledge to you that we as a team will bring every resource we have to bear to ensure that you are well taken care of. We, at the Spokane Vet Center are Veterans or family members of Veterans who have been there, done that. When you come through our front door, you won t find us in suits and ties; we ll probably be in blue jeans with our sleeves rolled up, busy doing everything we can for our fellow Vets. We are here for our combat Veterans and their families. We re here for those who have suffered sexual trauma in the military. We re here for the grieving families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. We will help you readjust to civilian life. We will help you network with other Veterans and their families so that you no longer have to walk this journey alone. We ll ask you to come along side of us in helping our fellow Veterans. There are ample opportunities here! And in so doing, you will find a new purpose and mission like we have done. Welcome Home, Veterans! Now let s get to work helping out our fellow Veterans and their families, and in so doing, helping ourselves! When you re at the Vet Center, I want the answer to always be YES! We ve got your back! Thank you, Dave Baird, Team Leader

8 SPOKANE VETERANS CENTER Page 8 Spokane Vet Center Groups Meetings (Continued from Page 3) Thursday Vietnam Wellness Group- Coping with readjustment issues, dealing with stress and functioning in society Gold Star Families Group- Support group for loved-ones of military killed on active duty. Monthly Friday Transition Assistance Program- Vet Center services, assistance, benefits, etc. Fairchild AFB. Monthly Saturday Significant Others Support (SOS) Group Workshop- Family members of combat Veterans provide fellowship and support to one another. Also a place to learn about the effects of postcombat reactions on the family and how to best support the Veterans in our lives. 5 Weekly classes (Offered Bi-Quarterly) Significant Others Support (SOS) Alumni Group-To provide ongoing support to spouses who have completed the initial five week S.O.S group. Quarterly Vietnam Veterans Group- Coping with readjustment issues, dealing with stress and functioning in society. Bi-Weekly Fly Fishing Group- Introduce therapeutic activities that encourage physical activity, social interaction, concentration and stress reduction. All eras and genders. 10 Bi-Weekly sessions Call the Spokane Vet Center at (509) for the most updated schedule and information. Gold Star Families Group Support group for loved-ones of military killed on active duty Meet Your Spokane Veterans Center Staff STAFF David M. Baird, USN, LICSW, Team Leader, BA, MSW Brenda L. Thurman, USA, LICSW, Family Therapist, BA, MSW Mary C. Delateur, LICSW, Sexual Trauma Counselor, BA, MSW Donald E. Sullivan, USAF, Readjustment Counseling Tech, Mobile Vet Center Operator Dante S. Rumore, USMC, MVC Counselor, BA, MSW Amanda R. Adams, USN, Readjustment Counseling Therapist, BA, MSW Jeffrey L. Jensen, USMC, LICSW, Counselor, BA, MSW Robert I. Sturtevant, USAF, Office Manager, AAS, BA Jack P. Stell, USN, LMFT, CDPT, Family Therapist, BS, MA, MS Eliseo Joe Dumlao III, USAF, Global War on Terrorism Counseling Technician, AAS, BS Joshua G. Anderson, USA, Assistant Office Manager INTERNS Taunnia M. Bockmier, BA Jason A. Haynes, USN, BS Kristin N. Lewis, BA Angela V. Mathias, BS Jamie N. Yotz, BS WORK STUDIES Lynn Steve Holbert, USAF, AA Ricarda A. Montague, AAS VOLUNTEERS Marci D. Anderson Carol D. Cooper Curley L. Lawson, USAF, MSW Andrew C. Rowley, USA, MSW Warren A. Simas, USN Kathleen M. Stell, BA John P. Stine, USA SERVICE OFFICERS John S. Custer, USN, VFW Adrian D. Wall, USA, BS, MOPH