1 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Programs & Services for Veterans

Presenter: Diane Manwill, EDM Sr. Assoc. Mental Health Services, American Red Cross

Service to the Armed Forces2025 E Street NW

Washington, DC 20006http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do/support-military-families

2 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

“For a certain subset of the population, my service means that I—along with all other veterans—must be, in some ill-

defined way, broken.”Phil Kay, Veteran, Wall Street Journal,

5/2014

3 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Veterans Today

• Older, married and with children• Experienced multiple deployments• Better educated than counterparts• Increased survival rate of seriously injured• Growing military-civilian divide• Larger Veteran population• All Volunteer force which means a greater

reliance on Reserve and Guard Support

3

4 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Reserve & Guard Challenges

• Older than Active Duty• In the community• More isolated from military supports• Financial hardships• More displaced issues regarding medical supports• Job interruptions and lack of job advancement

because of disruptions in service• Higher incident of Suicide

5 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Challenges of Veterans

• Stigma in seeking mental health services• Financial difficulties as a result of frequent moves• Unemployment at its highest level• Disability Claims are difficult to navigate• Educational challenges• Physical Needs due to combat survival rates for

the veteran and caregiver• Relationship difficulties

Service to the Armed Forces

8 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Continuum of CareThe American Red Cross is there every step of the way for service members and their families.

ENLISTMENT ACTIVE SERVICE LIFE AFTER THE MILITARY

Get to Know Us Before You Need Us Briefings

Information & Referral Services

Coping with Deployments

Deployment Teams (Support for In-Theater Service Members; Integral in Emergency Communications Network)

Emergency Services(Emergency Communication Services; Military Family Case Management)

SAF Station Services(Health & Safety Courses;Nurse Assistant Training; Information & Referral)

VA Hospital (Support Services)

Reconnection Workshops

Military Hospital & Clinic Programs(Morale & Therapy Programs; Material Assistance)

9 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Life after the Military

• Information and Referral• Veterans Claims for Benefits• Volunteer opportunities for para-professional and professional

Veterans in VA & Military Hospitals• Resiliency Programs that promote Reintegration to the

community • Community Outreach• Employment Support• Disaster Response in VA hospital services

10 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Red Cross Veteran’s Appeals Support Project• Vet to Vet (in partnership with Vetcorp) with VSO certification• Community Outreach including homeless shelters• Job skills for job readiness• Financial Literacy Services• Information & Referral• Basic comfort kits & snacks• Transitional housing• Healthy lifestyles – substance abuse/health care• Claims assistance

11 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Services in Military And Veterans Hospitals

• When loved ones are far away, Red Cross visits are critical to patients.

• Patients benefit from recovery and comfort items.

• Animal visits provide cheer and companionship during increasingly longer hospital stays.

• Patient rehabilitation, recreation, administration and personal services.

• Volunteers engage in activities such as gardening, arts and crafts, physical therapy support, companionship, video games, and birthday parties.

Recovery and comfort items were distributed by the Red Cross in FY13.

140,000+Military Hospitals VA Hospitals

ENLISTMENT ACTIVE SERVICE LIFE AFTER THE MILITARY

12 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Referrals to Community and Local Red Cross Resources• Case Collaboration / Coordination• Disaster response needs—food, shelter, clothing & financial aid• Counseling services & referrals (financial, legal, mental health)• Temporary Housing, shelters

13 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Reintegration Support

• Led by a licensed Red Cross mental health professional.

• Participants learn about…

• Communicating clearly;

• Stress, trauma and depression;

• Relating to children and

• Working through anger.

• Peer support is an important part of reintegration.

When returning service members are readjusting to civilian life, our Reconnection Workshops ease the transition.

Reconnection Workshops

ENLISTMENT ACTIVE SERVICE LIFE AFTER THE MILITARY

service members and military family members participated in “Reconnection Workshops”

in FY14.

~3,500

14 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

The Future of Red Cross Services & Programs

• Continued Community support for VA disability claims -- Expansion of West Virginia’s disability support project

• Ongoing resiliency support--Mind-Body Skill-based groups for Veterans and their families—Anticipated launch 2017

15 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Disability Claims Support Project• Vet to Vet• Trained and Certified through VA• Volunteers certified by VSO• Services include: transitional housing, mental

health referrals, skill building support workshops, healthy living support, employment & educational support services through outreach and case coordination/management

16 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

Resiliency Support Groups

• Mind-Body Skills Group -- Endorsed by Active Duty military

• Evidenced-based practice for self-care• Allows for the self-management of PTSD

and TBI symptoms• Facilitated by Licensed Mental Health

Practitioners

17 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

‘We don’t want pity, we’re not broken…we just need a little help to reintegrate back to the new normal…’

18 | Service to the Armed Forces Partnership Opportunity

American Red Cross

Diane Manwill, Sr Assoc Mental Health Diane.manwill@redcross.org Policy and Program DevelopmentService to the Armed Forces2025 E Street NWWashington, DC 20006202-303-7779