CONFERENCE SERIES: COMBATING STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
On April 29, Bob Woodruff, a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivor and ABC News correspondent, reported about two soldiers and their families’ experiences dealing with the psychological impact of war. View the segment below then read on to learn about just one of the several discussions that will take place at this year’s CIAV conference regarding mental health issues. READ MORE »
EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE FAMILIES RECOGNIZED ON CAPITOL HILL
April marks the Month of the Military Child, and the nonprofit organization Our Military Kids recognized four children with parents currently or recently deployed in the National Guard and Reserves as Military Kids of the Year, as well as one Military Family of the Year. The event, “A Celebration of Our Military Kids’ Star Power,” was held April 13 in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
Recently published studies by the RAND Corporation and the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College support the importance of Our Military Kids’ mission. READ MORE »
CONFERENCE SERIES: VETERANS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
In the wake of the Conflicts in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, large numbers of veterans were caste through a series of punitive-reactive responses in the criminal justice system when a set of preventative-supportive (Public Health) responses would have been more appropriate.
Once again, combat veterans are coming in contact with the justice system not through express criminal intent, but through the manifestation of symptoms of combat psychological trauma (PTSD, TBI, substance abuse). READ MORE »
CONFERENCE SERIES: THE VETERANS DISABILITY CLAIMS PROCESS
It is widely accepted that the current delivery of veterans benefits is outdated and wrought with barriers to service disabled veterans. Last week Ron Abrams, joint executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), spoke with Michelle Williams from NationalJournal.com regarding the veteran disability claims process and his recommendations for reducing the backlog in claims. The edited interview is available below. READ MORE »
CONFERENCE SERIES: DOCUMENTARY FILM “RESTREPO” TO BE SCREENED AT CIAV CONFERENCE
With the 3rd Annual Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans conference just weeks away the CIAV staff are making final preparations and arrangements to make this year’s the best conference yet. Over the next several weeks please check back at CoalitionforVeterans.org for updates in a series of posts titled “The Conference Series” wherein we will provide current stories and discussions related to the topics to be discussed and presented at this year’s conference. READ MORE »
THE DEFENSE AND VETERANS BRAIN INJURY CENTER RELEASES TBI CAREGIVERS CURRICULUM
The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC ), the primary TBI operational component of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), has released the family caregiver curriculum titled Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans. The curriculum was required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 Section 744. The Act established a 15-member panel to develop a curriculum to train family caregivers of service members and veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. READ MORE »
TAPS RAISES $1 MILLION AT ANNUAL HONOR GUARD GALA
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a group dedicated to helping families of fallen servicemembers, raised $1 million at its annual fundraising gala on Tuesday, April 13.
TAPS has helped the families of more than 25,000 servicemembers who have died in the line of duty, in accidents or by suicide since 1994. The group provides a peer mentoring program, seminars for adults and a “good grief camp” for children on how to deal with grief, as well as casualty case management assistance for families on a variety of issues. READ MORE »
NEW TBI TREATMENT TO BE TESTED ON CAMP PENDLETON MARINES
Dozens of brain-injured Camp Pendleton troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan soon will climb inside a pressurized chamber and breathe pure oxygen to see whether the treatment speeds their recovery. Up to 100 Marines will take part in the experiment, which will measure whether the technique can ease the headaches, memory loss and other ailments from the injury most often suffered in roadside bomb attacks.
PHIL MICKELSON WINS MASTERS TOURNAMENT AND RAISES MONEY FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS IN THE PROCESS
Phil Mickelson has been a huge supporter of Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) since 2005 through Birdies for the Brave, a non-profit organization established by Mickelson and his wife, Amy to provide support for U.S. troops and their families
Each season, Mickelson donates $100 for each birdie and $500 for each eagle he makes on the PGA TOUR. Homes for Our Troops has received over $260,000 from Phil Mickelson’s efforts. With his victory in the Masters Tournament this past weekend, Mickelson shot for 16 under par with 16 birdies and 3 eagles – raising a total of $3,100 for Homes for Our Troops. READ MORE »
SESAME STREET’S ‘WHEN FAMILIES GRIEVE’ TO AIR NEXT WEEK (PREVIEW EMBEDDED)
Sesame Street’s newest initiative, When Families Grieve, launches April 14th at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with a television special featuring Katie Couric, Elmo, and the courageous stories of families coping with the death of a parent. Immediately following the special, When Families Grieve resource kits in English and Spanish will be distributed nationwide. Visit sesamestreet.org/grief to find out more.
