Community Resources for the Military and Veteran Population

The National Association of Social Workers is offering “Community Resources for the Military and Veteran Population” as a free webinar to members on March 29^th, 1-3pm ET.  If you don’t have the opportunity to open up that time on your schedule just register later and listen at your convenience. I previewed the power point slides and it seems like the webinar will be very informative for those who are not familiar with the military. The webinar qualifies for 2 CE units.  

So You Want to be an Uniformed Social Worker?

Are you thinking of becoming a social worker that wears a uniform?

Army Officer: Social Worker (73A)

If you want to go the officer route and have no military experience contact the ROTC department at your nearest university for a chat with someone in the field.  If none of the ROTC instructors are from the mental health field then they should be able to put you in contact with ROTC instructors from other universities and/or those in active duty /National Guard /Reserves. To find out about the military commissioning process contact your local recruiter.

Review the following pdf document for more general officer information.  Army Regulation 135-156

Army Enlisted: Mental Health Specialist (68X)

Here is a link to the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) description. MOS Book  68X is on page 342.  This document describes the duties, expectations and a brief description of the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) that a 68X would receive. 

Consider the following when going through the enlistment process with your local recruiter.  It is important to consider the type of work you are looking.  Is this occupation in high demand, does it require a higher aptitude, does it require a team or is it independent.  The answers to these questions will give you a good estimation of how many slots will be available.  Considering the close of many combat operations there is a high demand for Mental Health Professions for Active duty, National Guard, and Reserves.  So we could safely assume that slots are being created to meet the needs of the military.  Now study to get as high an ASVAB (Armed ServicesVocational & Aptitude Battery) test score as you can. 68X requires a score of 101 as of 2004. After you have established as physically capable you and taken your ASVAB you will be given a print out of the MOSs that you qualify for.  They don’t make it that obvious that that list changes depending on the current needs of the military. You can increase your chances of getting the MOS you want by getting to this point of the process near the beginning of the Fiscal Year, and when the military needs have been reevaluated.  I believe that the results of the ASVAB are good for 2 years so keep going back.

How about some uniformed Social Workers in Action? Here is a list of articles that describe Combat Stress Control (CSC) Teams.

Team Helps Troops in Afghanistan Fight Stress

Therapists deployed to war zone to fight stress disorders

Placement of Combat Stress Teams in Afghanistan: Reducing Barriers to Care  (free downloadable)

Additional Sources of information:

Document that helps sort out some codes for the enlistment process and MOSs AR 611-201

Anthrax Vaccination Tests on Kids?!

Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethics released Safeguarding Children: Pediatric Medical Countermeasure Research. This report is creating a bit of a commotion but actually this is a study for ethically testing children in the case of that the study is commenced.  This report is in response to the January 6, 2012 request by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Here is a little of the back story on a 2012 blog post on a nature.com blog.

The conclusion of the March 2013 report was as follows:

The Bioethics Commission concluded that before ethical pre-event pediatric AVA trials can be considered, further steps must be taken, including additional minimal risk research with adult participants, in order to determine whether the research risks to children—who do not stand to benefit directly from it—can be reduced to a level that poses no substantial risk to their health or well-being.

There won't be any testing any time soon. 

Is Anthrax a real threat?

After reading more about Anthrax  it is not so scary.  Anthrax aka Wool sorter’s disease and/or Rag picker’s disease has always had a strange and scary connotation to me however this article and many others say that the likely human affected are those who work with hoofed animals.  Below is an image from Howstuffworks.com. Why are we not hearing about anthrax infections of farmers and vets all the time?  Shouldn’t that be the topic of discussion at the local rural diner? This leads me to believe that this dangerous disease is not that much of a threat.

So we know how it is naturally occurring but what is the potential that it will be a real threat to children. What if it is easy to make?   Most of my findings suggest that to make anthrax you have to have a lab which led me to believe that it is not easy to produce and manage.

Amy Gutmann, the chair of the bioethical issues commission, says that a strong case for the study would be made “if the community that’s most supportive of moving this forward would volunteer their own children for the study”. Parker, Major General John Parker, the chair of the National Biodefense Science Board, responded to the comment: “There are people in our population [the armed forces] that would like their family immunized.”

 I would like to know what service members want their family to endure the same hard ships they do. As a veteran parent I would not allow my child to be tested with anthrax vaccinations even though I had no adverse experiences.  I got anthrax vaccinations in preparation for combat and maintenance vaccinations while in the combat zone.  For more info on the military vaccination program visit the AVIP website.  The actual process for fabricating weapon-grade anthrax is classified and I would not share it even if it were unclassified.  However during the process of taking my anthrax shots the military temporarily suspended the program.  This suit was more about choices than adverse health risk. Let me put a little bit more perspective on the suspension, according to the linked article the suit was filed in March of 2003.  The 10th anniversary of the first day of bombing of Baghdad was just yesterday March 19, 2003.  In such haste it is scary to be at the mercy of someone else’s decision for what is best for you. A child cannot file a suit for the option of taking the vaccination.

I believe that it is important to protect our children however I do not believe that this is the best method.  I would suggest review documented cases and starting studies in rural areas, tanneries, or locations where hoofed animals and human interact that look for anthrax cases. What I found was that weaponized anthrax was enhanced to last longer in the natural elements in order to more wide spread as opposed to more devastating.  This validates the study of naturally occurring infections. 

Army Social Services

Red Cross: Everyone 
Linking Military Families During an Emergency 
Connecting Families with Local Community Resources 
Providing Resiliency Training 
Supporting Wounded Warriors and Military Hospital
http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do/support-military-families

Army One Source Website
Developed in the last couple of years because of the lack of one access point for services.  This should provide many options for services.
Army One Source: Service Locator

Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Service members, family members and in some cases civilian contractors. Governed by AR215-1c and DoD Instruction 1015.10
Most social services fall some where under MWR. Military libraries, bowling allies, movie theaters, arts and crafts buildings, and similar facilities are most directly associated with MWR.
Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) soldiers only
Organization for the better treatment of Single Soldiers. Single Soldiers tend to get the raw deal when it comes to extra task and duty assignment due to not having family members. Falls under MWR.

Army Community Serves (ACS) Soldiers, family members and in some cases civilian contractors. Governed by AR 608-1
Provides a wide range of services that are dependent on local resources. Some programs that will be found at most if not every post/installation is the Lending closet,Family Advocacy (FAP),Domestic Violence & Child Abuse,Sexual Assault Prevention/Response, New Parent Support (NPSP),Survivor Outreach Services (SOS),Exceptional Family Member (EFMP), Army Family Team Building (AFTB), Children & Deployment

Army Emergency Relief (AER): Active Duty Army soldiers
 "Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own."
Mostly Financial Assistance. This website has links to other organizations that may be helpful.
http://www.aerhq.org/dnn563/

Family Readiness Group (FRG) family members typically geared towards dependents and close family members Governed by Army Regulations
Group that works as a support group or source of information. Find more information at the following website  https://www.armyfrg.org/skins/frg/home.aspx

This is just a brief overview of  Army Social Services.  Let me know about any agency or service that you want to share with others.

Military Sexual Assualt Policy and Cultural Reform

Brand new hot off the press!


Please take a moment to watch this video to see policy and cultural reform in action
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/45755883/ns/msnbc-the_last_word/vp/51157076#51157076
  
What kind of justice is this? When a victim risks their career to pursue charges of sexual assault in a male dominated culture. Then when successful in proving the case the ruling is shot down by a unrelated general! How can anyone feel safe? How can anyone see the benefit in pursuing charges in the military? What stops the assaulter from continuing these horrible acts on victims that have to just deal with it.  How can this be acceptable practice?

For more on Military Sexual Trauma I suggest watching the documentary The Invisible War.
You can also see the other services and mission of Service Woman's Action Network at   SWAN

Stay tuned to see how this develops. Will it actually be the tipping point or will the good ole' boy network win again?

Smells and PTSD

Sunday evening as I was driving home in the rain I listened the following interview on NPR.http://ttbook.org/book/olga-nunes-voice-mail. In this interview artist Olga Nunes explains her project. She asked people to call into her Google voice mailbox. The voice mailbox greeting walks the caller through an explanation of how smells trigger memories and asks the caller to give their own example. You can find links to Olga Nunes Project at the above link.  There you can listen to even more personal stories of memories triggered by scents. You can also participate in Olga's project at This is a Memory Of.com.

If you listened to the interview many of the memories are of sad or traumatic events. It is important to consider a scent or aroma being a trigger to PTSD flashbacks.  An aroma trigger can be difficult to identified out of context of other recognizable triggers.  If someone is having strangely timed and unexpected flashbacks it is important to take a note of the circumstances. Once the situation has dissolved attempt to identify what may have been the trigger and how to avoid or manage that trigger.  Try to note time, day, location, situation, people around you. Physical reactions, sensations, feelings,emotions and automatic thoughts are not likely to be triggers but they can be a road maps or indicators.Stress is not a trigger but it does make a person more sensitive and weakens the ability to manage. However under stress some triggers may effect the person that don't  typically effect them. 


Unfortunately there is little research on the olfactory triggers for PTSD. Here are some interesting tidbits .

A 2006 study researched olfactory identification and war veterans with PTSD. The study reported a correlation between veterans with more sever symptoms of PTSD had more trouble identifying smells. Another article at Science Alert explains more about the study.  In that news article the authors of the research study explain that smell identification is correlated with other psychological disorders such autism, ADHD and schizophrenia. The authors suggest

CONCLUSIONS: This research contributes to emerging evidence of orbitoprefrontal dysfunction in the pathophysiology underlying PTSD. This is the first study to report OIDs as a predictor of aggression and impulsivity in this clinical population. It prompts further exploration of the potential diagnostic utility of OIDs in the assessment of PTSD. Such measures may help delineate the clinical complexity of PTSD, and support more targeted interventions for individuals with a greater susceptibility to aggressive and impulsive behaviors. [Author Abstract](Dileo & et al., 2008)

 In a 2009 study suggested hypnotherapeutic olfactory conditioning (HOC) for individuals with PTSD that is influenced by smells. The researchers report a 50% or more reduction of Impact of Event results. They also reported a maintenance of that reduction at a 12 month follow up.(Abramowitz & Lichtenberg, 2010) In earlier published case studies by the same authors, I discovered that the authors have developed this technique.  I do not endorse this treatment because a lack of research and information. Below is the information for further investigation.

In 2011,the Orlando Sentinel and the Miami Herald reports that  psychology professor Dr. Deborah Beidel, of the University of Central Florida led a study that incorporates smells in to the utilization of a virtual Iraq program. Check out those articles and keep an eye out for the possible publication of this study. 

Bottom Line: Don't underestimate the sense of smell.

References

Abramowitz E. G. , Lichtenberg, P. (2010). A new hypnotic technique for treating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: A prospective open study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (58)3.

Dileo, John Frank, Brewer, Warrick James, Hopwood, Malcolm John, Anderson, Vicki Anne, Creamer,Mark Christopher. (2008). Olfactory identification dysfunction, aggression and impulsivity in war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological Medicine, 38(4), 523-531. doi:10.1017/S0033291707001456

Some Networking Ideas for Military Veteran Jobhunters

Start before you separate from the military. Sharpen your computer and online navigation skills. You will have to be creative but opportunities to find employment opportunities are everywhere. For example check out sponsors but beware of advertisements.

Start by joining organizations and associations. First try veteran organizations such as the American Legion, VFW, student veterans organizations. Once you relocate it is much easier to network with fellow veterans that are already established in the community.  Socializing with these veterans is a good transition to socializing. These people will understand what you have experienced.  For female veterans, look for female veteran organizations such as Women Vets Rock Organization or Women's Memorial Organization There is a online community of  female veterans. Second try organizations and associations that are related to your branch or field of expertise.  Newsletters and publications will help you figure out what the civilian employers are looking for. You can find out what kinds of schooling or license is required. Another way to find out what is needed is to search the state website for required license and/or professional registration. Many of these organizations and associations will have Facebook pages.  Comment, ask questions and build a network of social resources.  While on the Facebook subject, keep your page appropriate if you have to voice something that is off colored send a private message.

Many veterans are going the educational route. In this case join student organizations, associations, clubs.  Unlike in the past, students are now volunteering to get work experience. Post 9/11 veterans can also get paid to volunteer.  Check out The Mission Continues Fellowship Program for details about the program.

Another online resource is online forums. This is an online discussion about a range of subjects. If you can't find the topic you are looking for start a discussion.  Websites such as Military.com and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association host a comprehensive array of forums.

Volunteer! I know volunteering seems ummm unproductive, but it will help! Don't think of it as working for free because you are developing a resume, network resources and social outlets. So just do it. It might be difficult to find volunteer opportunities. Try hospitals or nursing homes, they depend on volunteers.  If it is close enough, you can start in the VA hospital and/or clinic. You can start with familiar settings such as VFW Bingo and American Legion Events.  If you are not ready for a lot of social interaction, try the human society, forestry or even Meals on Wheels/Books on Wheels for individual encounter with the elderly or disabled. It may take a while but you will encounter someone that is in your field. Volunteering in your field may require some creative thinking.  Through these generic volunteer experience you may meet an elderly person who needs your expertise.  That elderly person may have some connections  to people in your field.  It used to be that everyone was connected by 6 degrees of separation.  Now it is thought that gap of 6 degrees has shrunk considerable maybe even by half.  So one of my Facebook friends may be friends with one of your Facebook friend.

Do you have any other networking suggestions?

March is Social Work Month!

Do you know the difference between Social Workers and other types of counselors? It can be confusing because of the wide range of positions that Social Workers fill.  Here is a video that demonstrates the variety.  Social Workers can be found in schools, hospitals, public health, mental health, substance abuse, employment, training and education, administration, and policy-making areas. 

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) defines the profession as….

Professional social workers assist individuals, groups, or communities to restore or enhance their capacity for social functioning, while creating societal conditions favorable to their goals. The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior, of social, economic and cultural institutions, and of the interaction of all these factors.  (http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/features/general/profession.asp)

Basically the difference is that social workers assist with alleviating problems with a special concern with social factors such as environmental influences and social justice.  This can be approached on an individual basis or on a large population basis by influencing policy.  Clinical social workers will typically work on an individual basis however when they observe a pattern they can and should speak up or advocate to influence social policies that influence patterns of problems.  It is a challenging but rewarding profession to be in.

Let’s not leave out Military Social Work.

My interest is in veterans however social workers do work on military installations and with the National Guard.  I believe that it is important that all Social Workers keep their eye on Military Social Work because of the resources of that specialty field that can advance social policy and evidence based practices.  Policies that were initially geared towards veterans have developed into national programs that now benefit the general population such as disability assistance and vocational rehabilitation. That sounds like another post. Social worker still fill the same wide range of roles however they are mindful of the unique challenges and culture of the military.  The Social Workers who work in the VA with the VA have their own organization simply called Association of VA Social Workers (AVASW).  Social workers working with the veteran population can expect to assist with homelessness, substance abuse, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  The NASW provides talking points about Military Social Work such as the unique stigma of mental health care in the military.  Some of these talking points I hope to discuss in later posts. For the social work student, the Council on Social Work has published educational guidance in the Advanced Social Work Practices in Military Social Work.

 

So let me know what you think about this post.  If there is a topic that you want to hear about let me know.  Thanks for your time. :)