Army OneSource Partners with Government and Provider Organizations to Better Address the Mental Health Needs of Service Members Returning from Deployment.

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, waves of Service members from Pennsylvania are making happy reunions with their loved ones back home.  But the joy can be short lived once the realities of readjustment into every day life begin to sink in.

Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs, Department of Health, Pennsylvania Community Providers Association and National Association of Social Workers are partnering  with Army One Source making a major effort to help Service members returning from deployment successfully transition back into their communities. The  campaign provides free online continuing education training to behavioral health providers, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, registered nurses, and professional counselors and therapists. Four courses developed by the Center For Deployment Psychology will be offered beginning March 6 through April 24. The courses cover military culture, the impact of combat stress and deployment on children and families and PTSD. Beginning March 6, providers and professionals who may treat our Service members, Veterans and their families will receive a series of emails, which provide information about the challenges facing our military and easy access to these online courses. The campaign will also be promoted through LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. 

The agency and associations partnering are asking their members and local behavioral health care professionals to participate in this important and timely training opportunity.  

"The service members from Pennsylvania and their families have made huge sacrifices for our country and I encourage all behavioral health professionals licensed in Pennsylvania to help these heroes by getting the training they need to help them treat the invisible wounds of war," said Brig. Gen. (PA) Mike Gould, deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs. "The more we can understand military culture and the unique problems their families face, the better we can help our Service members and Pennsylvania Veterans transition to a happier quality of life."

Ron Simon, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter, states, "As a former VA social worker and now directing an organization that represents over 6,000 social workers, treatment of our Veterans is very important to us. Since social workers are the largest providers of mental health treatment, it is our ethical responsibility to assure that we have the latest training available and are highly competent. We are proud and honored to collaborate and offer these trainings to our social workers so they can serve those who have served us."

"Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA) is proud to be a part of this important project. PCPA represents mental health and substance use disorder providers that serve every county in the commonwealth. We are pleased to assist our members in accessing this crucial training tailored to meet the needs of our heroes and their families. Community providers look forward to helping our service members successfully transition back into their home communities," says George Kimes, PCPA, Executive Director.

Training is FREE, online and nationally accredited. If you are a Pennsylvania behavioral health professional or if you know one, please sign up for this important training opportunity and help bring our local heroes the rest of the way home.

SOURCE Army OneSource