1st Annual CIAV Conference May 13-15, 2008
“…we have begun to prevail, and we’ve now planted the seeds for the inevitable if not essential partnerships that we as a nation must implement and sustain if we are to serve our service members in a fashion that both dignifies their service and meets their needs now and in the future.”
-Nancy Berglass
The First Annual Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV) Conference was an opportunity for over 45 military and veteran service organizations to convene and address vital issues facing active duty, veterans, and their families. For three days we conducted panels and breakout sessions covering diverse areas from the needs of military and veteran families to self- care for providers. These interactive sessions helped to foster collaboration within the Coalition to offer better and more comprehensive services.
The conference helped us to realize the vitality of assessing our individual strengths of our organizations and embarking on a long-term strategic planning process with simple goals: to ensure access to appropriate quality resources for military, veterans, families and survivors. Moving forward, we hope to capitalize on our individual strengths and work together to break down barriers between the military and civilian community to build a stronger, more effective, more efficient, more caring and more comprehensive system of care for decades to come.
For a full report on the conference, read
“Moving Forward: Strengthening Services for our Military, Veterans, Families, and Survivors”
(pdf document).
Veterans Issue Area: PTSD
PTSD
What is PTSD?
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a natural reaction to the extreme trauma and chaotic circumstances of war. For Iraq and Afghanistan veterans this can include trauma from combat, sexual assault, repeated deployments, and urban warfare. Symptoms may include: hypervigalence, loss of sleep, disassociation, flashbacks, numbing, and avoidance. Symptoms of PTSD may be onset or not appear for months or years after the traumatic event(s). The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD) and the VA have resources that can help veterans and their families.
Prevalence: As of October 2007, over 100,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD or other mental health conditions. Women veterans are showing higher rates of PTSD, with nearly 3,800 treated for it in 2006 alone.
What the CIAV is Doing:
- ONE Freedom, Inc. www.onefreedom.org provides returning veterans and their families with meaningful education and training on prolonged stress, trauma, and personal, self-managed skill-sets for maintaining strength after service.
- The National Veterans Foundation, Inc. www.nvf.org manages and operates the nation’s only toll-free helpline for all veterans and their families as well as spotlights the needs of America’s veterans and provides much needed outreach services.
- New Directions, Inc. www.newdirectionsinc.org , like many of the members of the CIAV is made up of veterans helping veterans. They have licensed staff you can call 24/7, seven days a week with mental health concerns. If they can not help you, they will find someone who can.
Get Involved: Pain Management
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
Veterans Bill to be considered in the Senate this week!
To All Pain Advocates, Members of the American Pain Foundation,
and supporters of Veterans:
Senator Akaka, Chairman of the Veterans Committee, introduced the Veterans Pain Care Policy Act of 2007 (S 2160) that would require the Veterans Administration (VA) to establish a comprehensive pain management program for Veterans. This legislation has now been revised and supported by Senator Burr, Ranking Minority Member of the Veterans Committee. The content of the Veterans Pain Care Policy Act has now been incorporated into S 2162, as amended. It is expected that the combined legislation will be considered by the full Senate later this week.
We are asking that you contact your Senator TODAY to request their support for this critical Veterans Legislation. Click here to send a letter, e-mail or fax to your representative. If you would like to call your Senator, visit the Senate’s website for your Senator’s phone number and contact information.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Background
Military/Veteran Pain Fact Sheet
Although today’s body armor and rapid evacuation to medical care are saving lives, there are more non-fatal injuries than any previous war in US history. Instances of amputation are double previous rates. Pain management is critical to restoring the lives of our servicemen and women.
The Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007 (S 2160) was introduced into the Senate on October 15 and was co-sponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). This bill is designed to focus attention on pain management and pain research as a new generation of veterans suffering from pain enters the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system; joining an already substantial group of aging veterans from prior wars. This bill has now been incorporated into the Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act of 2007, S 2162. Please contact your Senator to ensure they support our veterans and this critical legislation.
This legislation and our Veterans need your support!
IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU ACT TODAY!
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Please join us by having your organization endorse the Consensus Statement supporting appropriate pain care for our military and their families. Please click here to see our organizational request. Click here to view the Consensus Statement and the full list of organizations who endorse the Military and Veterans Pain Care Acts.
There is strength in numbers!
Show your support for Veterans by taking action
and asking your Senators to support this bill.
Thank you for being part of this united effort to eliminate the
undertreatment of Pain and to support our Veterans!
Tamara Sloane Anderson requests your agencies sign onto the American Pain Foundation’s consensus letter in support of legislation to improve pain management in Military and VA medical centers. A strong showing of support among our members and you other colleagues in military and veteran’s services and advocacy will go a long way to ensure that our wounded receive appropriate pain management. Please read on and click through to endorse this very important initiative.
Dear Friends of Veterans and Military,
The American Pain Foundation has created a Consensus Statement for the Military and Veterans’ Pain legislation. The Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007 (S 2160) was introduced into the Senate on October 15 and was co-sponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). If the bill becomes law, the Veterans Administration (VA) would be required to establish a pain care initiative at every VA health care facility, with each utilizing a professionally recognized pain assessment tool or process to ensure that every patient with chronic or acute pain is diagnosed and treated properly. A key component of this bill requires the VA to increase its research effort in the areas of acute and chronic pain, including identifying priority research areas most relevant to veterans; emphasizing education and training of VA personnel in pain management; and establishing cooperative research centers for acute and chronic pain, including one with a special focus on central and peripheral nervous system damage. The companion piece for the DoD regarding pain is still pending legislation. Organizational endorsement for this legislation is needed to help passage. If your organization is not on the list, please consider getting your organization’s endorsement for the statement.
Click here: http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?file=Action/MilVetPCPA2007/ConsensusStatementEndorsers.htm
if you want your organization added to the list of endorsers - just email me back and let me know if you want your organization included. If you would like further information on APF’s efforts for military/veterans and pain, follow this link:
http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?file=Veterans/Intro.htm
Thank you!
Tamara Sloan Anderson, MSW
Director of Program Development
American Pain Foundation
A United Voice of Hope and Power over Pain
