Welcome all Committee Members and Guests

1
Welcome all Committee Members and Guests!
2
Rhode Island Task Force Meeting Agenda 22 Apr 08,
0900 - 1100 VA Hospital, 5th Floor Advisory
Committee - Welcome, Review Dr. Susan
Storti/CMSgt Lori Ashness Addictive Disorders
Committee SSgt Alida Roa/Cindy Williams Woman
Veterans Committee LTC Jeannine Vachon/Carla
Murchelano Public Awareness Committee LtCol
Denis Riel Community Outreach Committee LtCol
Bruce Fletcher/Nigel Unarie Peer Support
Committee MAJ Michael Manning/Christopher
Morse Family Network Committee LtCol Judy
Ferriera/Kathy Neil Dr. Pedro/David
Cram Cortical Integrative Therapy - TBI
Services Eliza Vorenberg Legal Services Dr.
Lawrence Hirshberg NeuroDevelopment Center
3
Veterans Task Force of Rhode Island Highlights

• Program Activities
• 2 Jan/5 Mar Chief Ashness and Dr. Storti
  attended the New Bedford Mental Health Meeting,
  assisting in starting MA Task Force.
• 3 Jan Chief Ashness and Dr. Storti briefed Lt.
  Governor Roberts about the RI Blueprint and
  Veterans Task Force of RI.
• 3 Jan Meeting held w/MG Bray, to provide update
  on Task Force activities.
• 3 Jan Chief Ashness, Col. J. Vachon, Col. L.
  Hague, S. Usler, and Dr. S. Storti met to discuss
  the creation of medical screening protocols for
  military members leaving on multiple deployments.
• 30 Jan Chief Ashness, Dr. Storti, and Ms.
  Williams met to revise training outline for RI
  Council of Community Mental Health Organizations.
• 6 Feb Meeting w/Donna Callahan (ESGR),
  discussion of educational classes for employers
  of deployed members.

4
Veterans Task Force of Rhode Island Highlights

• Program Activities
• 29 Feb Met w/Deb Kelty (VA) to identify key
  informants for the Women Veterans study.
• March Information forwarded to Kentucky and
  Oregon SSA Directors.
• 4 Mar Col Vachon and Chief Ashness attended
  Warwick Teachers Assoc and briefed on VTFRI,
  specifically Woman Veterans Committee activities.
• 21 Mar Dr. Storti and Chief Ashness presented
  VTFRI briefing at VA Regional Office.
• 21 Mar Gave VTFRI briefing at State Elks
  meeting, invited to give briefing at annual State
  conference, May 08 (Nigel Unarie will attend).
• 27 Mar Attended URI deployment issues briefing,
  potential partnering for URI undergrad to intern
  w/FRG.

5
Veterans Task Force of Rhode Island Highlights

• Program Activities

• 3 April Chief Ashness and Dr. Storti briefed
  Veteran Service Organizations about the RI
  Blueprint and Veterans Task Force of RI. LtCol
  Fletcher and Nigel Unarie in attendance.
• 17 Apr Meeting held for military/civilian
  liaisons, great discussion on potential
  activities/gaps needing attention.
• Dr. S. Storti presented one-day trainings - PTSD
  and Substance Abuse Understanding the Challenges
  Experienced By Returning Military Members Reno,
  NV 11 April Las Vegas, NV 14 April 2008.
• Chief Ashness attended two pre-deployment
  briefings (w/families) and one departure
  ceremony.
• Chief Ashness attended monthly family meetings,
  there is a need for this to continue (currently
  only for the deployed Security Force Flight).

6
Addictive Disorders Committee
SSgt Alida Roa/Cindy Williams

• Program Activity
• The RI National Guard will have a Prevention
  Coordinator as of April 21, 2008 for all
  Substance Abuse Prevention for both Army and Air
  National Guard. (SSG Stephanie Riotte)
• Our goal is to address the alcohol issues that
  our service members are dealing with, to include
  prevention and testing.
• Increased number of military members coming in
  for substance abuse treatment because of legal
  problems.
• Guest speaker now coming to the Evening program
  to educate participants about sexual dysfunction
  issues.

7
Women Veterans Committee LTC Jeannine
Vachon/Carla Murchelano

• Program Activity
• Sexual Assault Resource Manual Fund Raising
• Women Veterans Resource Manual (Next project)
• Sat. 3 May Women Vets Benefits Fair, Schofield
  Armory (9am 1pm)
• 29 April, Women Legislative Tea, hosted by LT
  Gov Elizabeth Roberts. Women Veterans meet Women
  Legislators.

8
Public Awareness Committee LTC Denis Riel

• Program Activity
• No Report
• In need of a civilian liaison

9
Community Outreach Committee LTC Bruce
Fletcher/Nigel Unarie

• Program Activity
• 3 Apr Attended VSO Meeting
• 17 May Presentation of VTFRI at State Elks
  Convention

10
Peer Support Committee MAJ Michael Manning/Chris
Morse

• Program Activity
• Peer-to-Peer Program update

11
Family Network Committee LtCol Judy
Ferriera/Kathy Neill

• Program Activity
• Family Symposium (Kathy)
• Additional VA Benefit Briefings to be scheduled
  on UTA weekends (Lt Col Ferriera)
• Partner w/LtCol Matt Santos and Family Program
  staff on various initiatives.

12
Presentations

• Dr. Pedro/David Cram
• TBI Services
• Eliza Vorenberg
• Legal Services
• Colin Foote
• NeuroDevelopment Center

13
Next Meeting22 July 2008