Developed by Lisa Najavits, Ph.D., in 1992, Seeking Safety is a manualized treatment for clients with a history of trauma and substance abuse. Seeking Safety focuses on coping skills and psychoeducation and can be used for both genders, all races, and in a variety of settings. The overarching goal is safety and is an integrated treatment that focuses on PTSD and substance abuse simultaneously. The manual addresses 25 topic areas. For more information, visit: www.seekingsafety.org.

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) offers free training and resources on a variety of topics, including cognitive processing therapy. Developed by Patricia Resick, Ph.D., in 1991, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a manualized cognitive based therapy offered in 12 sessions. Clients complete worksheets and homework assignments to gain further understanding and insight about past traumatic events. In addition to the MUSC website, more detail about CPT can be found here.

To provide care that is tailored to servicemembers, veterans, and their families, civilian treatment providers need to be cognizant of military culture and other issues related to deployment and post-deployment reintegration.  Free online courses are available through the following websites:

• NC Area Health Education Center, Citizen Soldier Support Program, and VISN 6 MIRECC
• Center for Deployment Psychology
• VA National Center for PTSD
• National Center for PTSD, the Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Red Sox Foundation
  • Series I
  • Series II

Council of State Governments Justice Center

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. Staff provides practical, nonpartisan advice and evidence-based, consensus-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities.  The Center offers a wealth of resources; examples include the following publications:

• Adults with Behavioral Health Needs under Correctional Supervision: A Shared Framework for Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery
• Navigating the Mental Health Maze: A Guide for Court Practitioners
• Statewide Law Enforcement / Mental Health Efforts: Strategies to Support and Sustain Local Efforts

Pro Bono Resources For Veterans – North Carolina Resources Pg. 48

Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Resources

During March, in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, Health Net Federal Services, LLC (Health Net) is taking steps to increase awareness about traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and highlighting the reduction of stigma for those who seek care.

Project Healing Waters – www.projecthealingwaters.org

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. This program is very active throughout the U.S. and especially in North Carolina, with seven programs, including programs at three VA Medical Centers and two VA  Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

  Toll Free Numbers Updated 2/28/2012

  Responding to the Needs of Justice-Involved Combat Veterans with Service-Related Trauma and Mental Health Conditions

A Consensus Report of the CMHS National GAINS Center Forum on Combat Veterans, Trauma, and the Justice System

  Jail Diversion & Trauma Recovery - Priority to Veterans

The SAMHSA National Gains Center

Certified Recovery Peer Specialist for Veterans (Florida Drug Abuse and Alcohol Certification Board)

Individuals holding the CRPS-V credential are veterans who are competent and certified to provide recovery support to other veterans facing mental

illness, substance abuse, or trauma issues. Click here for details.

You may apply for this credential in one of two ways:

Option 1: Download the Application Portfolio from the link below (free download). The application includes credential standards, instructions, and mandatory forms.
Option 2: Contact the FCB at (850) 222-6314 to request an Application Portfolio for $15. All documents will be mailed to you and must be returned via the U.S. mail.
Click Here to Download CRPS-V Application

There is a $100 certification processing fee that must accompany your application. Application fees are non-refundable.

The FCB also offers three levels of Recovery Peer Certification:

The Certified Recovery Peer Specialist – A (CRPS-A) provides peer mentoring and support to individuals who are consumers of mental health service systems and achieves resiliency and recovery as defined by the individual consumer. The CRPS-A must be a true peer; this means that the peer specialist is also a consumer of public or private mental health services.

The Certified Recovery Peer Specialist – Family (CRPS-F) credential provides peer mentoring and support to families that include at least one child diagnosed with a mental illness before his or her 24th birthday. The CRPS-F must be a true peer; this means that the peer specialist must be a first-degree relative or primary caregiver of a child diagnosed with a mental illness.

The Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) credential is for those persons who possess competency in both family and adult peer mentoring. The CRPS must be a true peer; this means that the peer specialist must be a consumer of private or public mental health services AND is a first-degree relative or primary caregiver of a child diagnosed with a mental illness.

Click here for the details.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Pocket Guide Mobile Application Now Available

The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), working together with the National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), has developed a mobile application of the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Pocket Guide. This app presents providers and other health care professionals with a comprehensive, quick reference that includes clinical practice guidelines for assessing and treating service members and veterans who have sustained a mild TBI. The mobile application is free and available for download on Android smartphones.

For more information on the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Pocket Guide Mobile Application and how to access it, visit the T2 website.

You can also download a flyer on the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Pocket Guide Mobile Application

Now Available to Providers – the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit Training Video

The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) just released the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit Training Video, a companion educational tool to help providers learn how to use the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Psychological Health.

The Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit, released in February 2011, is a comprehensive clinical guidance tool to help primary care providers assess and manage patients with co-occurring mild TBI and psychological health disorders. DCoE partnered with the U.S. Army to develop the companion video to provide an overview of mild TBI and co-occurring conditions and offer detailed instructions on how to apply the toolkit to clinical practice. Specific content of the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit Training Video includes:

• Defense Department (DoD) definitions for mild TBI
• Characteristics and descriptions of co-occurring conditions
• Step-by-step instruction on how to use the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit in clinical practice
• Patient case vignettes to illustrate the application of the toolkit

To order DVD copies of the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit Training Video, contact the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) at info@dvbic.org or call 800-870-9244. Just as with the actual clinical toolkit, the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit Training Video is intended to be a hard copy, on-the-job reference, however an electronic version of the training video can also be viewed here.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center  - sprc.org

• SPRC.org is the home of over 490 web pages and 250 library resources on suicide prevention information. This site is also a portal to other valuable resources about suicide prevention, receiving an average of 26,229 visits per month. Visitors can find a range of information from suicide prevention and mental health news to strategic tools for developing suicide prevention programs. The site includes individual state suicide prevention pages, news and events, an online library, training, and links to other web sites. We invite you to explore the site and to give us feedback on it by emailing info@sprc.org.

  National Caregiver Support Line Toll Free Numbers

• The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is pleased to announce the launch of a toll-free National Caregiver Support Line 1-855-260-3274. The Caregiver Support Line was created to recognize the significant contributions made by caregivers allowing Veterans to remain at home surrounded by family and friends. Open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time; licensed clinical social workers will be available to answer your questions, listen to your concerns and directly link you to the Caregiver Support Coordinator at your local VA Medical Center. Each VA Medical Center has a Caregiver Support Coordinator who can locate assistance tailored to your unique situation.

Depression after Brain Injury: A Guide for Patients and their Caregivers

• The consumer guide, Depression After Brain Injury: A Guide for Patients and their Caregivers, explains TBI, and highlights the symptoms of depression, treatments and possible side effects. The guide also offers a short list of questions that patients can discuss with their clinician.

  Substance Use Disorders in Military Servicemembers Bulletin

  Evidence-Based Identification and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Servicemembers Bulletin

  Post Deployment Mental Health Bulletin

  Hospital and Outpatient Care for Veterans Released From Incarceration to Transitional Housing, Action: Final Rule

• This document affirms as final a proposed rule that amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations to authorize VA to provide hospital and outpatient care to a veteran in a program that provides temporary housing upon release from incarceration in a prison or jail. The final rule permits VA to work with these veterans while they are in these programs with the goal of continuing to work with them after their release,which will assist in preventing homelessness in this population of veterans.

DCoE Releases New Children of Military Service Members Resource Guide

• Deployment not only affects our military service members individually, but also has a significant effect on their families, especially the children. From toddlers to teenagers, children may face difficult separations, strong emotions, and note parental changes once the deployed family member returns.

In support of the DCoE mission to identify and promote effective instructional material for wounded warriors, families, and health care providers, we developed theChildren of Military Service Members Resource Guide – an online resource to assist families and health care providers address the mental and emotional health needs of military children. The guide identifies age appropriate resources addressing such topics as:

• Deployment
• Homecoming
• Loss of a Parent
• Mental / Emotional Wellbeing
• Moving

The guide is now available and debuts in advance of the DCoE April 2011 Monthly Webinar entitled Supporting Military Children in School Settings. For more information or to register for the Webinar, contactDCoE.MonthlyWebinar@tma.osd.mil.

New App Offers PTSD Sufferers Support

• Veterans and service members with post-traumatic stress disorder can now get support from a new iPhone application from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments; app for Droid coming soon.

American Women Veterans

• Enlighten. Engage. Empower.  American Women Veterans is the nation’s preeminent, non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of servicewomen, veterans and their families. We welcome veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service.Enlighten. Engage. Empower.  American Women Veterans is the nation’s preeminent, non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of servicewomen, veterans and their families. We welcome veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service.

Treating Clients With Traumatic Brain Injury, Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory, Volume 9, Issue 2

• This advisory will help substance abuse treatment and behavioral health professionals whose clients are affected by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI frequently co-occurs with a behavioral health disorder, and it can cause a wide range of cognitive and behavioral effects that interfere with a client’s ability to adhere to substance abuse treatment. It also provides guidance to substance abuse treatment and behavioral health professionals on working with their clients affected by TBI to promote their successful recovery from both conditions.

Talking With Your Adult Patients About Alcohol, Drug, and/or Mental Health Problems: A Discussion Guide for Primary Health Care Providers

• This guide will equip primary health care providers with questions to begin discussions with their patients about alcohol, illicit drug, and mental health problems, as well as co-occurring disorders. It also includes resources for patients who need an evaluation based on positive screening results.

SAMHSA Newsletter: March/April 2009, Volume 17, Number 2

• Includes a write up on treatment as an alternative to jail for people with mental illness and a View column  from Dr. Broderick  on “Why Jail Diversion Makes Sense.”

Suicide Prevention Resources – NationalResourceDirectory.gov

DCoE Releases New Mild TBI Case Management Guidance

• Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) has released two documents—the “Case Management for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Guidance Document” and the “Case Management for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Guidance Fact Sheet.” These documents were created for military case managers who support servicemembers and their support systems living with concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Click here to read this article on the DCoE website

eBenefits: Your One-Stop Shop for Online Benefits-Related Tools and Information

eBenefits is your one-stop shop for online benefits-related tools and information. This portal is for Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Service Members, their families and their caregivers. Check out eBenefits and become a registered user. The My eBenefits Dashboard provides useful tools for updating your personal information, checking on the status of a claim, applying for benefits and managing your health.

As a registered eBenefits user, you can set up a personalized space where you can accomplish several different tasks, including:

• Check the status of compensation and pension claims
• View payment history of VA benefits you’ve received
• Obtain or submit an application for the home loan certificate of eligibility
• Access and retrieve copies of official military personnel records including DD-214s active/reserve orders

For more information about benefits visit https://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/benefits_and_compensation

  North Carolina National Guard Family Programs Legal Assistance Program

Keeping Veterans with PTSD out of the Justice System

• In recent years, programs have been developed to keep war Veterans with mental health problems from being put in jail or prison. The programs aim to assist Veterans who become involved in the justice system to get treatment for mental health problems that may exist. This includes the numbers of Veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

www.JusticeForVets.org

• The National Clearinghouse for Veterans Treatment Courts is the most comprehensive site on the Web for Veterans Treatment Court news and resources.

Individuals Released From Prison or Workers with a Relative in Prison

  Best Practices Identified for Peer Support Programs

• As part of its ongoing mission, the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) explored how to most effectively apply peer support in the military environment. The military has created a culture in which service members take care of each other. Common experiences, particularly for those who have served in combat, bind individuals together. Shared experiences are the foundation for peer support, as they foster the initial trust and credibility necessary for developing relationships in which individuals are willing to open up and discuss their problems despite concerns about stigma. Peer-to-peer programs facilitate opportunities for individuals to talk with trained peer supporters who can offer educational and social support and provide avenues for additional help if needed.

AfterDeployment.org: Wellness Resources for the Military Community

• Our mission is to help you and your loved ones manage the challenges that are often faced following a deployment. Here you will find information and self-guided solutions for dealing with post-traumatic stress and war memories; conflict at work; depression; anger; sleep problems; alcohol and drug abuse; stress; relationship problems; kids and deployment; spiritual guidance and fitness; living with physical injuries; and health and wellness.

  Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General: Review of Combat Stress in Women Veterans Receiving VA Health Care and Disability Benefits

• As directed by the Conference Report to Accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-117), the Office of Inspector General conducted a review to assess the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) capacity to address combat stress in women veterans. We assessed women veterans use of VA health care for traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions, and whether the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) properly adjudicated women veterans’ disability claims for these conditions. We also assessed whether VBA developed and disseminated military sexual trauma (MST) training and reference materials and policies to claims processors and the feasibility of requiring MST training and testing as part of VBA’s claims processor certification.

VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Post-Traumatic Stress

Combat Leader to Corporate Leader: 11 Career Planning Tips from Chad Storlie

Combat Leader to Corporate Leader: 8 Career Development Tips from Chad Storlie

Combat Leader to Corporate Leader: How to Create A Networking Plan Utilizing Military Training to Advance Your Career

Combat Leader to Corporate Leader: Military-to-CEO Inspirational Career Transition Success Stories for Veterans

  Guide to VA Mental Health Services for Veterans & Families

  Military OneSource Tax Cut Flyer

Dealing with the Effects of Trauma – A Self-Help Guide

Recovery and the Military: Treating Veterans and their Families

Handbook for Family and Friends of Service Members Before, During and After Deployment

SAMHSA News September/October 2008

SAMHSA’s Eight Strategic Initiatives

  Responding to a High-Profile Tragic Incident Involving a Person with a Serious Mental Illness: A Toolkit for State Mental Health Commissioners

  Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families

  VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post Traumatic Stress

  VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) or Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) in Primary Care Module - Pocket Guide

  VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post Traumatic Stress Acute Stress Reaction (ASR) Module - Pocket Guide

  Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Assessment of the Evidence

  Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress

  Understanding PTSD Booklet

  Veteran Related Websites

  VA Publishes Final Regulation on "Presumptive" Illnesses for Gulf War and Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans

  Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accomplishments Summary

  Leveling the Playing Field: Practical Strategies for Increasing Veterans' Involvement in Diversion and Reentry Programs

  Homeless Veterans and the Criminal Justice System: New Developments and Other Resources

  Dispelling the Myths about Information Sharing Between the Mental Health and Criminal Justice Systems

  Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America's Prison Population

  Avoiding Failures of Implementation

  NIDA Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for CJ