Cultural Humility when Serving the Whole Person Health Needs of Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families Brandon Wilson Managing Director Veterans Services of the Carolinas, ABCCM Meredith Comer, MSW, LCSW MHSU CCM Manager and Veterans Point of Contact, Vaya Health
Veterans Snapshot • 725,313 Veterans live in North Carolina • Approximately 73,000 live in Vaya’s catchment area1 • Only about 30,000 receive medical care through the VA Medical Center2 • 28% of our state’s Veteran homeless population resides in Buncombe County3 1.
2019 data (https://www.va.gov/vetdata/veteran_population.asp)
2.
2018 data (https://www.va.gov/vetdata/Expenditures.asp)
3.
2019 Preliminary Point-in-Time Count (www.ncceh.org/veterans)
Veterans in Vaya’s Catchment Area
Asking the right Question We have an opportunity to better identify Veterans who need to be connected with services paid for by Vaya • We need to ask the right question
• Have you or a family member ever serve in the Active Military, Guard or Reserve?
What Constitutes a Culture? • Shared language • Artifacts, symbols, rituals • History and traditions • Play, recreation and art (ways to “blow off steam”) • Organization, structure, hierarchy • Mission, goals, shared world view • Ethics and values
The Transition from Military Service These feelings can include: • Loss of Confidence • Loss of Authority • Loss of Accountability • Loss of ‘Esprit de Corps’ • Loss of Structure
“Stupid people make me Mad!!!” These feelings hinder the transition not only from Military Service but can definitely jump start and/or enhance symptoms of PTSD or depression/anxiety.
Stage 1 Worry Anxiety Apprehension
Stage 2 Excitement
Stage 3 Detached Unmotivated Angry Bitter Lost
Stage 4 Depression
Post Traumatic Stress and Stigma • Civil War: ‘Soldiers Heart’ • WW I: ‘Shell Shock’ • WWII: ‘Shell Shock’ • Korea: ‘Battle Fatigue’ • Vietnam: ‘Battle Fatigue’ In 1980, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was first recognized as a disorder with specific symptoms that could be reliably diagnosed and was added to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
• Gulf War - Present: ‘PTSD’
Veterans Services of the Carolinas provides services for Veterans and their families within 74 counties in North Carolina. •Intensive Outreach Services to homeless Veterans through Healing Outreach Partnership for Empowerment (HOPE) •Rapid Rehousing and homeless prevention through Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) •Employment and training support through Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) •Service Coordination (NCServes)
1-855-962-8387 www.abccm-vsc.org
Service Appreciation
Supporting Veterans
Know Resources
Empowerment (supporting confidence/ military rank)
Summary Listen
Small/short “Missions�
What is Vaya Doing? In Partnership with NC Department of Health and Human Services and Governors Institute, Vaya now manages the state wide effort of NCServes and is working to expand network to all 100 counties in NC. In addition, Vaya is a provider in the NCServes Western network. Complex Care Managers identify veterans, military service members or family members through a Health Risk Assessment and make referrals into this Veterans network. • Task “Link member to NCServes”
• Referrals can be made via three point people in CCM who can input referrals into the UniteUs platform on behalf of the member: Meredith Comer, Zachary Shepherd, Anissa Johnson
What is Vaya Doing? Peer Trainers can receive referrals for Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) training via NCServes. • In 2019, Vaya Peer Trainers trained 50 veterans in PSS curriculum. Vaya Member Services (1-800-849-6127) links individuals with Medicaid, those without insurance or those who lack Veterans benefits to behavioral health supports in our network.
Additional Efforts
• Works with NC Department of Health and Human Services and VSC on intensive outreach program for chronically homeless Veterans through new HOPE program in 6 NC counties. • Collaborates on the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court • Participating in the Governor’s Working Group on Veterans and the Governor’s Challenge to End Veteran Suicide
Opportunities for Veterans Training and Certifications Certified PSS with Veterans Stamp North Carolina Peer Support website www.pss.unc.edu VSS Training – Veterans Support Specialist North Carolina Governors Institute vss.ncgwg.org Pysch Armor Military Culture and Veteran Ready Organization Certificate psycharmor.org
Thank You