Virginia Military Advisory Council

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VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM

• Virginia Military Advisory Council
• July 22, 2009
• Catherine A. Wilson
• Executive Director

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WARTIME STATISTICS U.S. Forces

• Approximately 1.6 million service members have
  deployed since the beginning of U.S. military
  operations in Iraq
• 600,000 have been National Guard and Reservists
• 30,852 U.S. service members have been wounded in
  hostile action
• As of December 2, 2008, according to the Defense
  Department's weekly tally.

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CAUSES AND INCIDENCE OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
(TBI) AND PTSD

• Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for military
  personnel in war zones
  
• rocket-propelled grenades
  
• improvised explosive devices
  
• land mines
• Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) is a set of reactions
  that immediately follows a traumatic event and
  can be normal. It is when these reactions
  continue long after the traumatic event has
  finished that it becomes a disorder (PTSD).
• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center Second
  Edition 06/07 Fact Sheet
• Welcome Home OEF/OIF Resource Guide Salem VAMC
  10/16/2008

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CHALLENGES

• Increased demand for behavioral health care that
  exceeds the capacity of the VA and DOD
• Those with PTSD have 15 times the rate of suicide
  attempts compared with the general population
• Between 45,000 and 90,000 troops have been
  treated for traumatic brain injury symptoms
• (4-5 times higher suicide rate)
• 10-20 of Soldiers and Marines screened positive
  for TBI-about 180,000 individuals

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We do not have the ability to affect military
members while they are on active duty but we do
have complete ability to affect how they are
treated when they return to the Commonwealth.
Governor Timothy Kaine, October 17, 2007
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Legislation aimed to Ensure adequate and
timely assessment, treatment, and support are
available to veterans, service members, and
affected family members.for stress-related
injuries and traumatic brain injuries resulting
from service in combat areas. 2.2-2001.1 Code of
Va.
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OPPORTUNITIES

• Community Service Boards (CSBs), Behavioral
  Health Authorities and Brain Injury Service
  Providers already providing service
• Expansion of existing programs
• Ability to identify gaps in services through data
  collection
• Collaboration between VAMC, CSBs, brain injury
  service providers and community groups

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STAFF STRUCTURE
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Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Services Department of Rehabilitative
Services Brain Injury Association of
Virginia Department of Social Services Virginia
National Guard Department of Defense Veterans
Administration Veterans Service Organizations
Volunteers
Partnerships
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COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS

• Infusion of funds into the community
• Five regional requests approved
• Funding for new or service expansion
• - PTSD and TBI
• - Veterans and their family members
• Total of 1.7 million

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REGION I
Awarded 300,000

• Eight CSBs
• Central Virginia Harrisonburg-Rockingham
  Northwestern Rappahannock Area
  Rappahannock-Rapidan Rockbridge Region Ten and
  Valley

• Services
• Outpatient counseling
• Medication management
• Crisis intervention on priority basis
• Peer Services
• TBI services
• Education Outreach

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REGION II
Awarded 400,000

• Five CSBs
• Alexandria Arlington Fairfax-Falls Church
  Loudoun and Prince William
• Services
• Case management
• PTSD TBI education and services
• Childrens services
• Spouse focused outreach (veteran involvement not
  required)
• Emergency Services

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REGION III
Awarded 190,000

• Two CSBs
• Mount Rogers and New River Valley
• Services
• Case management
• PTSD TBI awareness seminars
• Brain Injury Services
• Emergency Services
• All other CSBs in Region III are not
  participating at this time

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REGION IV
Awarded 190,000

• Eight CSBs
• Chesterfield Crossroads District 19 Henrico
  Area Southside Goochland-Powhatan Hanover and
  Richmond Behavioral Health Authority

• Services
• Case management
• Community education
• Peer to peer mentoring
• Collaboration with veteran organizations and
  community groups

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REGION V
Awarded 620,000

• Services
• Case Management
• Brain Injury services
• Peer to peer program
• Children services
• Education Outreach
• Emergency Services
• Established links for referrals
• Primary and acute providers
• Housing and housing assistance programs
• Employment assistance
• Workforce development
• Colleges and Universities

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Sample of Accomplishments

• Hired Staff
• Held state-wide training
• Distributed funds via competitive grant
• Conducted orientation/kick-off
• Obtained 3 year grant for training
• Conducted first regional training
• Co-investigator on jail diversion grant
• Established Interagency Executive Strategy Group
• Established VWWP Advisory Panel
• Conducting needs assessment

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Questions