The Office Of Warrior Care Policy Education & Employment Initiative (E2I) Operation Warfighter (OWF) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Military Adaptive Sports Program (MASP) July 2017 1
Mission and Vision Mission: proactively support wounded, ill and injured (WII) Service members in recovery and reintegration or transition Vision: ensure nation s WII Service members, their families, and caregivers are not forgotten 2
DoD s Internship, Education and Employment Initiatives Mission and Vision Office of Warrior Care Policy (OWCP) Wellness to Wholeness of Recovering Service Members (RSMs) Operation Warfighter (OWF) Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) E2I and OWF Regional Coordinators (RCs) 3
Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Authority: USC Title 10, Section 1142-1144 Governed by: DoDI 1300.25 Guidance for the Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation WARFIGHTER (OWF) March 2013 E2I: Assists WII Service members begin seeking new career opportunity beyond military Works with VR&E counselors who assess and identify new skills Reinforces using skills by finding certifications and training for no cost; aids in use of available resources for furthering education needs Coaches and mentors for employment and assists in finding employment opportunities OWF: Federal internship program for WII Service members Maximizes recovery time, provides valuable work experience in a non-military environment, and assists with developing new skills Provides benefit of career preparedness upon transition to civilian life Connects identified Federal agency internships with interested WII Service members 4
Why We Do It The Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Programs: Enhance recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration for WII Service members assigned to Warrior Transition Units or enrolled in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Promote wellness to wholeness as part of comprehensive recovery plan by proactively and timely engaging the WII Service member Strengthen Services management of WII Service member s wellness to wholeness goals 5
OSD E2I and OWF Partners/Resources Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) E2I refers WII Service members to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services VR&E counselors help Service members and Veterans early in recovery process and premilitary transition VR&E counselors located on most military installations Department of Labor (DOL) OWF Internships Referrals to America Job Centers (AJCs) Regional Coordinators (RC) work with Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialists, Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERS), and other resources available through DOL VETS office *Resources offered by VA and DOL continues after the member transitions from military 6
Operation Warfighter (OWF) 9,100 wounded, ill, and injured Service members placed into Federal agencies since 2009 Program Highlights: 900+ Federal agencies and offices participating Over the last 12 months, 81% of OWF participants have been assigned to one of 13 Cabinet agencies or Congressional offices In last 12 months, 206 outreach events hosted Key partnerships with Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council, Executive Federal Board, and Civilian Personnel Advisory Group to expand internships Continuing Imperatives: Increase awareness among Federal agencies Expose RSMs to a variety of internship opportunities Promote career preparedness and employability Collaborate with VA to reduce joblessness and homelessness My internship gave me the opportunity to explore some options and continue to serve my country. It was a godsend. ~ FBI Operation Warfighter intern Debra Gipson 7
Partnering Agencies (900+) 8
Approval to Participate in OWF Internships WILL NOT interfere with medical profile or adversely affect recuperation Must be approved by medical and command representatives A medical evaluation concludes the Service member is medically, physically, and emotionally ready to participate while continuing medical treatment Command evaluation concludes the Service member demonstrates initiative and selfdiscipline to participate E2I / OWF 9
OWF: Approval to Participate 3 Signatures * WII SM * Medical Approval * Command Approval ---------------------------- Complete Package *Signed Form *Quality Resume 10
OWF Process Agency submits Intern Request Form Use existing job description National office submits to E2I/OWF Program Office Local office submits to appropriate Regional Coordinator (RC) RC reviews existing resumes; advertises to population approved to participate Resume(s) submitted for review to National and local offices SMs Interviewed Limitations, security clearance, and transportation requirements Upon selection, OWF Placement Form signed by agency representative, SM, and SMs command Intern Development Plan completed and submitted Evaluation: Monthly and Final 11
Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) 10,200 WII Service members connected with education and employment opportunities since 2012 Program Highlights: Prepares SM for a successful mil-civ transition Over 2,000 Vet-ready private sector employers and education providers VR&E and DOL support; education and/or employment opportunities Imperatives: Increase outreach to Commanders to foster awareness and support of program Encourage participation in education/employment as early as possible in recovery process Emphasize focus on preparing for a competitive job market (e.g., quality resumes, interview techniques) E2I and NAVSEA s Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Command University Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Twenty-one recovering Service members were introduced to the world of business process improvement making these transitioning Warriors more competitive for their transitions into the 21 st century workforce. 12
E2I Partners (1000+) 13
E2I Process Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Assessment Completed Signed E2I form from Service Member (SM) authority to distribute resume Resume Certifications and Formal Training Potential Employment Interests & Locations Goal is to match SM with opportunities prior to separation Education (Resume not required) Employment 14
Application Key data points SM lists on form: Desired Employment Organizations Jobs Prefer to Avoid Desired Jobs Job Location Preferences Two signatures Servicemember (SM) E2I/OWF Coordinator Resume required Employment post-transition 15
E2I/OWF Regional Coordinators REGION 6 (South) Lance Dowd, E2I ldowd@deloitte.com 210-717-4624 Erasmo Valles, OWF evalles@deloitte.com 210-452-5125 REGION 7 (Mid-West) Ned Hall, E2I/OWF nhall@manconinc.com 270-498-6911 REGION 8 (Great Plains/Rocky Mt.) Craig Whiting, E2I/OWF cwhiting@manconinc.com 719-524-0540 REGION 9 (Northwest) Ronald Metternich, E2I ronald.j.metternich.ctr@mail.mil 253-970-1936 Craig Guffey, OWF cguffey@afsc.com 253-302-9291 REGION 10 (Southwest) Christopher Graham, E2I cgraham@manconinc.com 619-977-5224 Julie Rodriguez, OWF jrodriguez@afsc.com 858-888-5316 # = Region Number = Location of Regional Coordinators REGION 1 (Northeast) Vacant REGION 2 (NCR) Stephanie Williams, E2I Stephanie.e.williams22.ctr@mail.mil 571-722-8217 Chris Daleske, OWF christopher.r.daleske.ctr@mail.mil 571-232-3987 REGION 3 (Mid-Atlantic) Albert Welcher, E2I/OWF Fort Bragg albert.d.welcher2.ctr@mail.mil 757-339-4750 William Oldenburg, E2I/OWF Camp Lejeune william.h.oldenburg.ctr@mail.mil 850-602-0440 REGION 4 (Southeast) Lisa Goenen, E2I/OWF Fort Stewart lisa.g.goenen.ctr@mail.mil 520-234-1160 Biff Hadden, E2I/OWF Fort Benning mhadden@afsc.com 706-615-2455 REGION 5 (South Central) William May, E2I wmay@manconinc.com 682-216-5896 Eric Gehring, OWF egehring@afsc.com 254-226-4405 16
Military Caregiver Support Objectives Describe why support for military caregivers is a national concern, and identify key challenges that military caregivers face when caring for their wounded, ill, and injured service members. Describe how the Military Caregiver PEER Forum Initiative is designed to address the challenges that military caregivers face on a daily basis. Describe how, in your role as an RCC, you are connected and can provide additional support to military caregivers. Identify available resources that address a plethora of military caregiver needs 17
RAND Study on Caregivers RAND released the most comprehensive study of America's Military caregivers to date. Sponsored by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the report quantifies military caregiving in the United States, including how it affects individuals, their families, and society. 18
RAND Study: Key Findings There are an estimated 5.5 million military caregivers in the United States. Of these, 1.1 million are caring for post-9/11 Veterans. Post-9/11 military caregivers tend to be younger, caring for a younger individual with a mental health or substance use condition, employed, and not connected to a support network. Military caregivers consistently experience worse health outcomes, greater strains in family relationships, and more workplace problems than noncaregivers, and post-9/11 military caregivers fare worst in these areas. Twelve percent of post 9/11 military caregivers and 10 percent of pre 9/11 military caregivers reported spending more than 40 hours per week providing care. 19
Military Caregiver Support Gap Military Treatment Facility Care Management Team Wounded Warrior Caregiver Support Gaps Caregiver Recovery Care Coordinator Military Family Life Counselor Peer Support 20
Military Caregiver PEER Forums The Military Caregiver PEER (Personalized, Experiences, Engagement and Resources) Forum Initiative established military caregiver forums at designated installations across the United States. These forums provide caregivers the following outcomes: Military Caregiver centric training and delivery o Content created based on the real-life experiences of caregivers and delivered by caregivers. Military Caregiver focused communication and information strategy o Caregiver communication and information is supported through the initiative and reaches more caregivers than the traditional outreach methods. Military Caregiver inclusiveness o Caregivers given an opportunity to interact directly with their peers, thus, reducing feelings of isolation by supportive forums. 21
Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) 22
Who are PEER Support Coordinators? PEER Support Coordinators (PSCs) are individuals that are deployed to 10 geographical regions to provide regionalized support to military caregivers and caregiver stakeholders. PSCs assist in convening Military Caregiver PEER Forums, conduct outreach activities to caregivers, identify & report on gaps in support, assist in locating & providing information on military caregiver- support services, and act as the military caregivers point of contact for his/her region. 23
PEER Support Coordinator Map 24
Where Do PSCs fit into the Military Caregiver PEER Forum Coordination Process? Installation POCs/ Installation Facilities Military Family Life Counselors Peer Support Coordinators Military Caregivers Recovery Care Coordinators Military Caregiver PEER Forums 25
RCCs Support Military Caregivers Often subtle methods of support are most helpful Hold short, frequent discussions Provide ongoing support Use effective listening skills Demonstrate empathy for their challenges Be on the look out for warning signs of extreme stress, depression, mental and physical fatigue, and self-care neglect Goal is to stir their thinking and help them take action Ask questions to spark a discussion of their needs Point military caregivers to available resources that address their needs 26
Available Support Resources Military Caregiver Virtual PEER Forums Caregiver Resource Directory (CRD) Military Caregiver Webinars Warrior Care Blog VA Caregiver Website 27
Military Caregiver Virtual PEER Forums For those caregivers who are unable to attend a PEER Forum in person, online Virtual Forums have been established by WCP. Virtual PEER Forums are hosted from WCP Headquarters and are held every 1 st and 4 th Thursday of the month at 11:00EST and 14:00EST. Attendees are asked to RSVP to osd.caregiver@mail.mil with their name, location, branch of service, and for who they serve as a military caregiver to. Once attendees have provided information, call information is distributed to the group. Virtual PEER Forums are open to military caregivers across the nation. 28
Caregiver Resource Directory (CRD) Military Caregiver perspective and input Variety of vetted resources, including 24/7 helplines, Military Caregiver emotional support, benefit information, support for children s needs, and much more Government and nonprofit organizations E-version always available on WCP-Blog and NRD (updated monthly) 2017 version now in print 160,000 copies printed to date. http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/caregiver-resources/ 29
Military Caregiver Webinars In 2014, WCP, in conjunction with MC&FP, began hosting quarterly webinars designed to support military caregivers by providing an educational resource that focused on key topics of concerns for military caregivers. Webinar topics are generated by military caregivers through the Military Caregiver PEER and Virtual PEER Forums. Topics addressed thus far include: Coping with Military Caregiver Stress; Coping with PTS, PTSD and How to Renew Self Esteem and Keep Family Life Fun Coping with TBI Safe Medication Use Enhancing Intimacy and Bolster Relationships after Traumatic Brain Injury. 30
Warrior Care BLOG (Caregiver Resources Tab) The Caregiver Resources Tab on the Warrior Care Blog provides information about support resources, upcoming events, helpful guides and tips, and much more. Find a PEER Forum function allows users to search for nearby PEER forum locations. Regional PSC Bios are available Visit the link for additional information. http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/care giver-resources/ 31
VA Caregiver Support Program VA provides programs that are available both in and out of the home to help care for Veterans, Wounded Warriors, caregivers and their family members. DoD and VA work together to facilitate a warm hand off for transitioning military caregivers. 32
Points of Contact Ms. Sandra Mason Director, Recovery Care Coordination Office of Warrior Care Policy sandra.r.mason10.civ@mail.mil Austin Bell, Program Manager, DoD E2I/OWF/Caregiver Support Programs Office of Warrior Care Policy austin.d.bell2.ctr@mail.mil 33
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Objectives 35
Objectives https://youtu.be/fmlmmznbqbm 36
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Recent Physical Activity and Disability Findings 38
Recent Physical Activity and Disability Findings 39
Military Adaptive Sports Program Overview 40
Military Adaptive Sports Site Coordinator 41
Why Military Adaptive Sports Program Works? Physical benefits of physical activity include reduced stress, increased quality of life, lower blood pressure, weight management and enhancement of rehabilitative process Adaptive Sport and activities provide a social support system, of individuals facing similar situations Adaptive athletic activities allow Service members to focus on the team and contribute to the team s success The sports and activities can allow the Service member to include family members. 42
Program Highlights Office of Warrior Care Policy (WCP) provides guidance and oversight to each Service and USSOCOM in the development, implementation and expansion of adaptive sports and reconditioning programmatic efforts WCP works with the Service/ USSOCOM adaptive sports and reconditioning program leads to develop best practices and cross Service collaborative efforts Adaptive Sports Site Coordinators placed at medical treatment facilities, WTUs, USSOCOM-HQ, Air Force Warrior Care Support, USMC Warrior Athletic Reconditioning Program (WAR-P) and Navy Safe Harbor-HQ to facilitate daily engagement in adaptive physical activity and recreational opportunities 43
Warrior Games Is the pinnacle MASP sporting event, showcasing what wounded, ill, and injured Service members do on a daily basis USOC hosted the event from 2010-2014 Seven sports: Archery, Cycling, Shooting, Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball, Track and Field, and Swimming US Airforce will host WGs at Air Force Academy 44
Questions & Comments Ms. Sandra Mason Director, Recovery Care Coordination Office of Warrior Care Policy sandra.r.mason10.civ@mail.mil Keith Cooper Program Lead MASP Office of Warrior Care Policy Keith.m.cooper8.ctr@mail.mil 45
Stay Connected 46
Questions and Comments Questions? 47