Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV)

2nd Annual Conference | Open to the Public May 7, 2009

Washington, D.C.

All welcome to learn about services and advocacy for those impacted by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Click here for more information about the Conference and to register.

Agenda

Outreach and Support for Military Children

No one feels the burden of deployment more than military children. Emotional and educational support is crucial to helping these children cope with the stress and anxiety of having a parent deployed overseas in a war zone. Panelists:

Mary Carolyn Voght, Development and Community Resource Specialist, Our Military Kids, will address the unique challenges of children of the Guard and Reserve and how Our Military Kids addresses those needs.

Patty Barron, Director, Youth Initiatives Department, National Military Family Association (NMFA), will speak on children’s mental health, the stressors of deployment, collaborations of NMFA with other organizations, and initiatives for military children. She will also speak about NMFA’s Operation Purple camps for children of deployed service members.

Kate Wheeler, Director of Development, United Through Reading, will speak about the ways her organization supports deployed OIF/OEF troops and their families.

Suicide in the Military: Caring for the Surviving Families

Today’s military members are enduring multiple deployments, extended tours, combat fatigue and losing buddies all while trying to maintain their relationships and lives at home. The costs of war are taking a toll on the military family which unfortunately is resulting in a drastic increase in the suicide rate among service members both at home and abroad. Panelists:

Bonnie Carroll, Director, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will be speaking on her program’s peer support, grief and trauma resources, casualty casework assistance and crisis intervention for all those affected by the death of a loved one serving in the armed forces.

Kim Ruocco, a surviving spouse and mother of two, counsels fellow survivors and potential victims.

Public, Private, and Community Partnerships

This panel illustrates how collaborative efforts between government, private, nonprofit organizations, and the community strengthen the system of care and support for those who serve. Panelists:

Bill Nelson, Executive Director, USA Cares, will discuss their program-Warrior Treatment Today-working with military bases in an effort to remove financial barriers to accessing PTSD treatment.

Barbara Lau, Executive Director, Cause, will describe how a small organization with limited resources is able to bring its programs to the military’s largest medical facilities and Warrior Transition Units through a grassroots network of dedicated volunteers.

Tara O’Connor, Assistant Director and CFO, Veteran Homestead, Inc., will discuss the Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center, an innovative collaboration between the Veteran Homestead and Mt. Wachusett Community College that is designed to meet the rehabilitative needs of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

Lynn Chwatsky, Senior Director of Outreach Initiatives and Partners, Sesame Workshop, will discuss Sesame Street’s partnership with the USO to bring the Sesame Street Muppets to children and families at military installations across the world.

Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Pain: Treating the Whole Person

Not all physical injuries and wounds are visible and often the development of mental health issues begin with untreated or under-treated pain related to combat and the physical stress of military life. This panel will address the importance of addressing the physical as well as emotional wounds of combat. Panelists:

Brenda Murdough MSN, RN-C, is the Coordinator for the Military and Veterans Initiative for the American Pain Foundation. Brenda will be sharing information and resources for those who have been wounded, injured or have persistent pain, and the importance of appropriate, effective, comprehensive pain care.

Elizabeth Hawkins, Executive Director of ONE Freedom,will review stress and trauma from an adaptive standpoint of how the brain and nervous system rewire around intense events. This presentation will discuss ways to empower veterans and families to become engaged with their own internal processes for managing the trauma spectrum.

Fred D. Gusman, MSW, Executive Director of the California Transition Center for Care of Combat Veterans-The Pathway Home, is an internationally-recognized expert educator, clinician, mentor, program administrator and developer, and consultant in the field of traumatic stress.

Joseph Bobrow, Founder and President of the Coming Home Project, will speak about the spiritual injuries of war, cultivating spiritual resilience, and the role of meditation and compassionate community in transforming trauma.

Physical and Mental Healthcare: Access to Services and Amplifying Needs

Accessing care is the first step in the journey of coming home. This panel will address the importance of quality treatment and access to services for service members and veterans. Panelists:

Derek McGinnis, Amputee Program Advocate for the American Pain Foundation will discuss his story coping with TBI, traumatic amputation, pain and depression that will be highlighted in his upcoming book, “Exit Wounds.”

Horst Laube, Transition Assistance Advisor for the California National Guard, will discuss “The Hidden Majority: Addressing the Needs of a Special Population, National Guard and Reserves.”

Paul Rieckhoff, Founder and Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), will discuss the groundbreaking Veteran Support outreach campaign IAVA has launched in partnership with the Ad Council.

Peer Support: Helping Each Other Find A Way Home

Peer support is an integral component for many CIAV organizations in helping veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This panel will discuss what peer support is and how it contributes to the veteran’s well being. Panelists will discuss how to develop a wellness model and integrate peer support into ongoing services and programs. Panelists:

Jon Wilson, Executive Officer of J1 Manpower and Personnel of the California National Guard, will speak to their peer-to-peer support program and how it integrates with their other veteran support programs.

Abel Moreno, Community Development Director for Vets4Vets, will discuss overcoming barriers to communication and how to build an interactive veteran community through peer support.

Mike Judd, Group Session Facilitator and Outreach Coordinator for Veterans Village of San Diego - The Warrior Traditions Program, will speak about their free, confidential support group program for OIF/OEF veterans who gather together to talk about their combat experience.

Economic Welfare: Access to Benefits, Housing and Employment

This panel will discuss the economic components of transition for the OIF/OEF veteran. CIAV panelists will address housing, access to VA compensation, legal services, and employment and training programs. The dialog will also touch upon homelessness, military discharge status, and mental health as job readiness, and other issues that complicate the transition process. Panelists:

Ken Crawford, Senior Job Developer, Swords to Plowshares, will speak about Swords’ employment and training program and effective methods of outreach this department has implemented.

Elinor Roberts, Director of Legal Services, Swords to Plowshares, will address how to help new veterans navigate VA claims and the military discharge upgrade process.

Ed Gonzalez, Program Supervisor for New Directions’ Operation Welcome Home, will speak about housing and treatment programs for OIF/OEF veterans.

Bart Stichman, Joint Executive Director of NVLSP and responsible for our Lawyers Serving WarriorsTM Project, will speak about disability benefits for returning service members and veterans and discuss how their network of volunteer attorneys serves this population.

Engaging the Media: A Look Inside Coverage of the War and Where We Go Next

How can two media outlets tell one story so differently? With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we have seen our news outlets arrive at different conclusions and shape the opinions of the American public. For nonprofit organizations and activists, it is important to recognize how the stories of these two wars are shaped and to be aware of how journalists shape their stories. This panel will consist of renowned journalists including:

Mark Benjamin, award-winning investigative reporter with salon.com’s Washington bureau will focus on national security issues with an emphasis on the plight of returning veterans and detainee abuse. He has exposed problems at Walter Reed, been a consultant for 60 Minutes and has won many awards, including the Raymond Clapper Memorial Award and the GLAAD Media Award.

Ami Neiberger-Miller, a moderator for this panel is TAPS Communications and Public Affairs Officer and a consultant to the National Veterans Legal Services Program.

Amanda Spain, Producer for Brave New Foundation’s In Their Boots, is excited to be working on her second season. This program focuses on bringing awareness to the American people about the issues facing OIF/OEF military, veterans, families, and survivors.

Thank you to the American Pain Foundation for this information.