Behavioral Health and Primary Care Professionals Prepare for Returning Veterans and Their Families

Webinar to launch professional education program for providers about the unique needs of Veterans and their families

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As 39,000 U.S. service members are slated by Presidential order to return home from Iraq by year's end, behavioral health and primary care providers are preparing to meet their needs by participating in a new program that will train them to provide culturally sensitive and clinically competent care for Veterans and their families.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, in partnership with U.S. Department of Defense Center for Deployment Psychology and Essential Learning, is launching the Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate on November 10 to ensure that support is available for returning Veterans and their families as they transition back to civilian life.  

Join us for a Webinar to learn more about the expanding role of civilian providers caring for Veterans and their families, and how the Serving Our Veterans curriculum will enhance the services they offer. Also, hear about how the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona has built a number of support services for Veterans and their families, as well as the perspective of one Veteran who has benefited from these services and has become an advocate for others.

WHAT: WEBINAR: Serving Our Veteran's Behavioral Health Needs in the Community
Followed by Facebook live chat

WHEN: Thursday, November 10, 2011
Webinar: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST

Facebook chat: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. EST

REGISTER: Register for the free webinar: www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/webinars
Participate in Facebook chat: www.facebook.com/TheNationalCouncil
Learn more: www.thenationalcouncil.org/veterans

FEATURING:
Jeannie Campbell, Executive Vice President of the National Council and Retired       Master        Chief Petty Officer
Linda Rosenberg, MSW, President and CEO of the National Council
William Brim, Psy.D., Deputy Director of the Center for Deployment Psychology
Vanessa Seaney, MSW, BS, LCSW, CPHQ, Chief Clinical Officer of Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA)
Brett Rustand, Veteran's Advocate and Board Member of CPSA

Many of the more than 43,000 Veterans injured during the past decade have returned home with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, traumatic brain injury, and addiction disorders, and many have died from suicide(i). In fact, mental health disorders caused more hospitalizations among U.S. troops in 2009 than any other reason (ii).

Based on the latest evidence and clinical practice guidelines, the Serving Our Veterans Certificate will create a community of civilian healthcare providers who are fully equipped to provide culturally sensitive and clinically competent care for Veterans and their families in community health settings.  This is especially important for National Guard and Reservists -- or "citizen soldiers" -- who make up nearly 40 percent of those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These Veterans will rely on civilian healthcare providers to be informed about their unique needs because many will return to communities without a military base or Veterans Affairs facility nearby.

For more information about the webinar and interview requests regarding the Serving Our Veterans Certificate, please contact Veronica Anderson at (202) 248- 5473 or [email protected].

About Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate

The Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate is designed to help providers offer culturally sensitive and clinically competent healthcare services -- to address posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression, other mental illnesses and addiction disorders -- to America's Veterans and their families. This 14-course, online curriculum offers 20+ continuing education hours and is based on the latest evidence and clinical practice guidelines for treating Veterans. Each course threads real-life cases with applicable knowledge and skills to prepare civilian providers for meeting the needs of Veterans and their families. The certificate program is a collaboration among the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the U.S. Department of Defense Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University, and Essential Learning.

(i) Tyson, A.S. and White, J. (2007). Strained Army Extends Tours To 15 Months. The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR2007041100615.html

(ii) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA's Roles and Actions 2011-2014. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 11-4629. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2011.

SOURCE Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate