Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, MD, Founder

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

RESURRECT A HERO- STRENGTHEN A NATION

Blue Star Mothers

Power of Mother’s Love

Mother’s Love is the fuel that enables a normal human to do the impossible.

Marion C. Garretty

A Group of Mothers

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Veterans Reintegration

AWARENESS/EDUCATION of TBI/PTSD is key

Only 1% of nation serves in military/ 99% resources in the civilian world

Only 10% of health care providers treat TBI/PTSD

THE FACTS

BACKGROUND INTEL

• Over 3.7 million service personnel have been deployed to the war zone in Iraq and Afghanistan; many with multiple deployments.

• TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) has been estimated in nearly 25% of the nearly 3.2 million returning Veterans returning from Iraq & Afghanistan, and an estimated 20% have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). These two conditions often coexist.

• Estimated 450,000-TBI + 300,000-PTSD =750,000

The Stats Matter

• 750,000 young men and women from GLOBAL War on Terror struggle with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of their service.

• Fewer than 30% receive treatment at the VA

• Nearly 400 die every year by suicide from Global War on Terror

Comorbidities Matter

• 40%-70% substance abuse issue in a year

• Unemployment higher than non-veterans

• Homelessness follows #1 and #2

• Incarceration occurs more frequently in homeless veterans population

• Suicide 8 X greater for Veterans with TBI

One Is Too Many

• MORE than 22 veterans /day die by their own means – all branches of service- all wars

per Veterans Administration

RESURRECT A HERO –

99% SOLUTION

All VOLUNTARY military - 1% of the population, mainly from

rural areas with limited access to healthcare and employment

resources.

Civilian world - 99% of the resources – abundant opportunities,

but there is a disconnect and a lack of coordinated military

separation plan.

RLF - An organizing force for collaboration between our military,

and Department of Defense (DOD), Veterans Administration (VA),

as well as the civilian world to promote recovery and reintegration.

TBI is an International Concern

• PTSD- proven to be a form of TBI by – Bazarian 2014

• Technology of war causes TBI –(IED, RPG)

• New technology of Emergency medicine and extraction from combat zone = survival

Therefore, survivors of these injuries are more numerous and in need of expert care.

World Health Organization

• Proclaimed Traumatic Brain Injury as Global Pandemic

• By 2020, TBI will be 4th leading health concern worldwide

HOW are Veterans Affected ?

Sons and Daughters – 750,000 and counting

Symptoms Headache- tension vs. migraine

Vision Issues – Photophobia, Blurred Vision, Poor Tracking

Cognitive Issues – Memory, Reaction Times, Processing, Learning

Balance Issues – Dizziness, Clumsy

Emotional Issues – Depression, Easy to Startle/Anger-Hyperaware

Sleep Disturbance – Stay Awake/Stay Alive

Results of symptoms

REAL Life Situations and Consequences:

Remote control vs. cell phone

Driving to work in small town

Relieved from first job due to “anger” issues

Comes home and family has moved

Disorientation, Depression, Despair

What are they Feeling?

• Lost; chaotic; out of control; failure; loner

• “Dissed” – Disconnected; Dishonored; Disoriented; Dismissed; Disregarded; Diseased

BECOMING a BURDEN –

#1 reason for suicide – Unable to serve

Where do you find them?

• Parents’/friend’s couch

• Living in a car or van

• In the streets

• Under over passes and on beaches

• Back of the squad car

How can we help?

• EDUCATE - yourself and your community on the plight of returning veterans and their families

• VALIDATE – the veterans that they are “out of their brains not out of their minds”

• LEGISLATE –for health care (MISSION ACT)

for Employment ( vs. Hire)

Employment Initiative is Key

• Education of HR departments in military culture -

• Acceptance of military resource groups within the company

• Knowledge is power – Knowledge negates fear

NEW Employment Focus – Diversity

• The race of Active Duty and Selected Reserve members across the Military:

• Whites represent the largest proportion of the total DoD force 71.5%

• Black or African American members represent 16.5 %

• Hispanic 11.4%

• Asian, 3.6 %

• American Indian or Alaska Native , 1.2 %

• Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander 0.9 %

• Multi- racial 2.3

2013 Military Demographics Report * The Army National Guard does not report “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander” or “Multi-racial.” The Army and the Army

Reserve do not report “Multi-racial.”

Note: Percentages may not total to 100 due to rounding.

DMDC Active Duty Military Personnel Master File (September 2013);

DMDC Reserve Components Common Personnel Data System (September 2013)

Military Diversity

Diversity of the Military is Greater than High School Graduates

Military Members Already Have Proven Skills

Hiring at Military Bases Provides an Excellent Transition for Military Members and their families

Hiring at Military Bases Provides Skilled Labor for Companies

Strategies for Retention

• Successful employment measured at 1 yr.

• Pilot Study -2017 -Collaboration with David Lynch Foundation and Transcendental Meditation for 20 vets

• Formation and support of veterans groups within each place of employment - 2017

• HR education on military culture/TBI/PTSD

National Strategies

• ALASKA – large % of population have connections to the military

• SAD Light Project - Providing “sunlight” to businesses and homes with veterans struggling with 20 hrs/day in darkness over winter months

• 2017-2018 – SUCCESSFUL Program for work retention

MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS

• RETENTION

• Attendance

• Safety Record

• Quality of Work

• Productivity of Work

• Conduct

• Evaluations

• Awards/Promotions

ReVAmp the VA

• Easy to register

• Easy to share records

• Easy to obtain appointment

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• VETERANS HOTLINE – 125,000 Suicide Threats/yr + White House Line – 120,000

• Delaware Co., OHIO – 10,000 cases/yr

Who will change status quo?

We will – because we MUST!

We must shed light on the issues facing our veterans upon return and their difficulties with access to care.

TURN the LIGHTS ON!

Why I Shared My Story

• VA volunteer tour of duty – for the VETERANS

• HR Departments – Dial Down the Fear Factor

• Health Care Providers- “Listen to the Patient”

• Civil Leaders – Improve the transition

Most Important reason :

HOPE for Survivors and Families

BE the VOICE

• Health care – Mission Act – 6/6/19

• Employment – 1 year commitment

• Education – trade skills, associate degree

• Community life - housing, finances, resources transportation, life skills

• BLUE CARD – (Australia = Gold Card)

Here’s to the CRAZY ONES

• Steve Jobs – An Apple a Day

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjvrBzYt3d8

When do we begin?

Yesterday is gone.

Tomorrow has not yet come.

We have only today.

Let us begin.

• Mother Teresa

6724 Perimeter Loop Road, PMB #317

Dublin, Ohio 43017

Tax ID: 45-3554793

614-602-1753 (1RLF)

www.resurrectinglives.org