A publication of the American Red Cross, European Division
November 2017, Vol. 3
Division Resiliency Spotlight By: Christian P. Geye, Division Resiliency Program Lead Resiliency. This is the new buzzword coming from various organizations and is being promoted in a variety of programs. But what is it? Why does it matter? Resiliency, in the most basic terms, is the ability to overcome adversity. Friedrich Nietzsche stated it best, “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.� Indeed, without adversity it is impossible to become resilient. Resiliency allows us to face difficulties and traumas and survive them. Resiliency encourages us to not just survive, but to thrive in the face of troubles. In the last several years, the American Red Cross saw a need within military populations to teach skills that encourage resiliency due to the increase in deployments and the extended time families were spending apart. The Red Cross enlisted the aid of behavioral health professionals to create programs that could address this need. The facilitators of these programs are all independently licensed mental health professionals with additional training from the Red Cross to ensure participants receive the best care in a non-clinical, relaxed environment. The first program, Coping with Deployments, was developed in direct response to that need. This course provides information for military families on how to respond to the challenges encountered throughout the deployment cycle. It is designed specifically for the spouses, parents, older children, siblings, and significant others of service members, as well as for the military member in the family. This course uses classroom-style learning to teach participants the meaning of resilience and ways to build their own and others’ ability to cope. Attendees also learn how to use psychological first aid actions to support others, help children cope with stressors, locate resources, and make referrals if needed. These coping mechanisms and resilience skills are applicable to many life situations beyond military deployments.
The Red Cross developed Re-Connection Workshops in response to a growing need to help ease readjusting to life after deployment, move, or separation from service and other transition within the military. Some common challenges faced by military families include: readjusting to partners who assumed new roles during periods of separation, engaging children who have matured and may resent additional oversight, redefining the family routine, managing long-term health care concerns, and/or changing careers. These workshops utilize small-group discussion to help participants learn strategies to reconnect with their family members, work environments, and communities. Group members are encouraged to share their experiences with others and make connections through practicing resilience-building activities. The most recent addition to the Red Cross Resiliency Program is the Mind-Body Workshops. These workshops help participants learn ways to improve their well-being and practice skills that aim to connect the body with the mind. Attendees learn the foundational tools from which they can build a mind-body practice for themselves to reduce stress and improve personal wellness. Participants are guided through mind-body techniques for personal and professional growth. These workshops offer a relaxed environment and encourage participants to practice and reflect on each technique. The focus is on personal growth with minimal discussion. Within the European Division of the American Red Cross, there are 14 professionally trained workshop facilitators ready to provide these programs anywhere within Europe, Africa, and the Middle-East. Requests for workshops go through the local Station Manager to the European Division Resiliency Program Lead, Christian P. Geye, for approval and logistical support. Those interested in volunteering with this program can contact Ms. Geye directly to begin the application and training process.
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Program Highlight: Clinic Volunteers By: Jill McCarver, MTF Program Lead; LRMC I am the Military Treatment Facility Team Lead at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. I serve as the liaison between the hospital and the Red Cross, giving me the unique privilege of directly assisting volunteers as well as hospital staff. One of my primary responsibilities is a quarterly Needs Assessment – I work with the various hospital clinics and departments to discuss their needs and how Red Cross volunteers can fill them. The hospital staff fills out the Needs Assessment form, listing a brief description as well as the requirements for any open positions. In our office, I help our volunteers find those positions, often by referring them to our Volunteer Opportunity Binder. Looking through the Needs Assessments lets us know how to better direct volunteers and gives us an opportunity to forge a closer relationship with the hospital and the staff. If a volunteer wants to work in a department that hasn’t previously placed a volunteer, I work with the department to finalize the process and get the volunteer settled. Many times, military spouses with medical skills, licenses, or backgrounds who are unable to find employment come to us. It's great that we're able help them stay current and maintain those skills through volunteer placements at Landstuhl. Occasionally, these placements can even lead to employment. If the hospital is able to open up a paid position, they already have a working relationship with our volunteers, and they often choose to hire them. It is a pleasure to help volunteers find rewarding positions, while also helping the hospital meet their needs. Our goal is to keep the Red Cross visible in the hospital, while continuing to be a useful, necessary resource for the community.
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Red Crossers in the News (A portion of this article appeared on the Stripes website on 25 October, 2017) Air Force Staff Sgt. Alberto Garcia-Vidal was one of 145 people recognized by the European Red Cross for their hurricane volunteer efforts at call centers the relief group set up at Sembach Kaserne, Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Garcia-Vidal wanted to deploy to Puerto Rico to help, but his current orders in Germany and a hip injury that sidelined him from his normal duties removed that option. Instead, Garcia-Vidal made himself available around the clock, earning added recognition from the Red Cross for his dedication. Because of his service and expertise, the European Red Cross appointed him Disaster Action Team manager for Europe. Garcia-Vidal answered phone calls from people looking for lost children and other relatives, even while waiting to hear word of his own mother’s fate. All he knew was that her town, Cabo-Rojo, was hit hard when Hurricane Maria struck the island on Sept. 20 with 155 mph winds. “I was just hoping for my mom to call the Red Cross while I was there,” Garcia-Vidal joked. Several days after the call center closed, Garcia-Vidal received a phone call from a relative that his mother was fine. Garcia-Vidal’s desire to help arose from a long history with the Red Cross. On January 11, 2011, his father died from complications due to an enlarged heart. The death came suddenly when Garcia-Vidal was a new airman in technical school. With a young family, Garcia-Vidal said he was faced with either overextending his finances or not going to his father’s funeral. The Red Cross took care of him. “They bought my ticket back to Puerto Rico and didn’t ask for anything back,” he said. “Now, they have an airman volunteer for life.”
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