VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Northern Region Service Members and Suicide: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES Post-Deployment Transition Before deployment, developed combat skills and mindset that sustains soldier’s survival in the combat zone Same skill and mindset is hazardous to social and behavioral health back home Generally, poor preparation for transition from combat environment to civilian life

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES Post-Deployment Transition Veterans and service members were trained for combat: –Non-defensive driving –Lethally armed –Targeted aggression Same skills make it difficult to re-adjust to civilian life: –Following driving rules –Being armed –Overly aggressive in inappropriate situations

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES Post-Deployment Transition Family Transition –Detachment & Social Isolation PTSD may exacerbate & disrupt relationships –Domestic Violence & Abuse 20% of military couples in which service members deployed for at least 6 months –Divorce Overall increase in the number of divorces in active duty service members since the start of OEF/OIF

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES Post-Deployment Transition Substance Abuse –OEF/OIF Veterans: 40% alcohol abuse/dependence & 23% report binge drinking –No data available data on OEF/OIF, but previous experience suggests opiates will be relied upon Suicide –Historic suicide rates –Combination of PTSD/TBI & substance abuse increase risk

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES Post-Deployment Transition National Guard & Reserve components face more complex transition back to civilian life –Stress of re-connecting with families –Returning to civilian employment –Communities in which they return are unevenly prepared to provide care for service-related conditions

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM In response to the growing need to improve and expand services to our nation’s veterans and service members, the Commonwealth of Virginia established the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP) in Operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Rehabilitative Services.

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES A PARTNERSHIP MODEL Community Service Boards (CSBs), Behavioral Health Authorities and Brain Injury Service Providers already serve veterans and family members exhibiting symptoms of combat/operational stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and PTSD Expansion of existing programs Ability to identify gaps in services through data collection Collaboration between VAMC, CSBs, brain injury service providers and community groups Cooperation with Criminal Justice system

Northern Virginia: Overview of Veterans Services & Population Ft. Belvoir Community Hosp. Vet. Center VA OP Clinic Stephens City * * * Walter Reed National Military Medical Center * * VA Med Center DC VA Med Center Martinsburg WV * No. Va. Vet Population City or County Alexandria10,48110,016 Arlington13,23112,060 Fairfax County, Fairfax City & Falls Church 94,31197,562 Loudoun22,43224,288 Prince William, Manassas Park, & Manassas 50,26350,807 Total190,718194,733 9 VA OP Clinic CRRC (homeless) * Vet. Center *

Albemarle Amelia Appo- mattox Buckingham Campbell Caroline Charlotte Clarke Culpeper Fairfax Fauquier Fluvanna Frederick Goochland Greene Greensville Halifax Hanover Loudoun Louisa Lunenburg Madison Mecklenburg Nottoway Orange Page Pittsylvania Powhatan Prince Edward Rappa- hannock Shenandoah Spotsylvania Stafford Warren Prince William Region 2 Northern Accomack Essex Gloucester Henrico Isle Of Wight King George King William New Kent Northampton Northumberland Prince George Richmond Southampton Surry Sussex Westmoreland Norfolk Portsmouth Suffolk Amherst Augusta Nelson Rockingham Alleghany Bath Bedford Bland Botetourt Buchanan Carroll Craig Dickenson Floyd Franklin Giles Grayson Henry Highland Lee Mont- gomery Patrick Pulaski Roanoke Russell Scott Smyth Tazewell Washington Wise Wythe Newport Alexandria Lynchburg King & Queen Rockbridge Hampton James Charles City Co. Cumberland News York Region 1 Northwestern Region 5 Greater Hampton Roads Region 3 Southwest Arlington Charlottesville Statewide toll free number: Feb. 29, 2012 edition VWWP Regional Consortia Tom Forrest Ben Shaw Louis Alvey Mark Taylor, Reg. Coord. David Galloway,, Maria Stewart, Michelle Wickham, (vacant) Lisa Yost, Reg. Coord. & Leanna Craig Jan Blankenship Karen Smith Jason Parsons Lana Frye ext Teri Herron Martha Woody Edward McIntosh, Reg. Coord., Brandi Jancaitis , Lawrence Davis Daphne Eaton Don Howell, Reg. Coord., Jimmy Brinkley , Mahlon Johnson , Tammy Harper Sarah Persinger Harry Davis, Reg. Coord., Linell Hunter Mackensie Abridello Mico Lay Middlesex Matthews Lancaster Chesapeake Virginia Beach ext Keith Blake Chesterfield Dinwiddie Brunswick Richmond Delano Medley Region 4 Central Kerri Gerke (Vacant)

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES CRITERIA FOR ENROLLMENT Veterans of any era who are Virginia residents, or are members of the Virginia National Guard or Armed Forces Reserves but not in active federal service Family members of veterans and service members Must be suffering from stress-related injury (example: PTSD, depression, anxiety) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) resulting from military service

VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES SERVICES PROVIDED Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Case Management/Care Coordination Peer Support and Family Support Linkages to Healthcare, Behavioral Healthcare and Veteran Benefits Linkages to Financial Assistance and Employment Services

13 Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Legislation aimed to… Ensure adequate and timely assessment, treatment, and support are available to veterans, members of the Guard and Reserves, and affected family members….for stress- related injuries and traumatic brain injuries resulting from military service. § Code of Va. (as amended 2010) Statewide toll free number Jim Thur, Regional Director, Northern Region For service in Northern Virginia: Cathy Wilson, Executive Director, Mark Taylor, Regional Coordinator

Key Resources to Assist Veterans and Their Families Edition - Prepared by Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Crisis Line TALK (8255) #1 Homeless Services Vet Center Combat Call Center WAR-VETS ( ) Coaching into Care (M-F/ 8-8) Caregiver Support Line VA Benefits OEF/OIF Healthcare Agent Orange Helpline #3 Post 9/11 Caregiver Application VETS (8387) DoD Safe Helpline for Military Sexual Trauma National Resource Directory DCoE PTSD/TBI Outreach Center Virginia 211 Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment Call Center Military OneSource Counseling VA National Center for PTSD Free mobile app: PTSD Coach Real Warriors Campaign Free mobile app: