EngagingThe Military

in the Strategic Prevention Framework

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WELCOME Welcome and Introductions Webinar Facilitators

Erin Bowers, Community Prevention Specialist, Employee and Family Resources

Clare Jones, Community Prevention Specialist , Helping Services for Northeast Iowa and Capacity Coach for SPF SIG

SFC Heather Brown, IA Counterdrug Task Force, Civil Operations NCO

RATIONALE

SAMSHA has made it a requirement of all of their new grants to engage the military as a stakeholder in this project.

Recognition, at the federal level, that the unique stressors for the military, especially those related to combat exposure, put this population at increased risk for substance abuse, especially excessive alcohol use, and other behavioral health disorders.

“The President has made the care and support of military families a top national security policy priority. We recognize that military families come from the active duty Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the Reserves. They support and sustain troops fighting to defend the Nation, they care for our wounded warriors, and they survive our fallen heroes. The well-being of military families is an important indicator of the well-being of the overall force. At a time when America is at war and placing considerable, sustained demands on its troops and their families, it is especially important to address the family, home, and community challenges facing our all-volunteer force.”

-Strengthening our Military Families, from the office of the President of the United States, 2011

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM“While the 2008 Department of Defense Health

Behavior Survey reveals general reductions over time in tobacco use and illicit drug use, it reported increases in other areas, such as prescription drug use and heavy alcohol use. In fact, prescription drug abuse doubled among U.S. military personnel from 2002 to 2005 and almost tripled between 2005 and 2008. Alcohol abuse is the most prevalent problem and one which poses a significant health risk.”

-National Institute On Drug Abuse, Topics in Brief: Substance Abuse among the Military, Veterans and their Families (revised 2011)

7% of veterans meet the criteria for substance use disorders

1 in 6 veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has a substance abuse problem and about 25% have symptoms of a mental disorder or cognitive impairment

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

PREVALENCE OF TOBACCO USE 50% higher among active duty military

personnel and veterans than civilian population

Smoking rates are an additional 50% higher among personnel who have served in war zones

PREVALENCE OF ALCOHOL USE 43% reported binge drinking in the past

month 21% age 20 and under reported heavy alcohol

use in the past 30 days 20% of junior enlisted personnel reported

serious alcohol-related consequences 27% reported

lost productivity 22.6% reported

symptoms of dependence

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES

1 in 4 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan reported symptoms of mental or cognitive disorder

These disorders are strongly associated with substance abuse and dependence

The number of soldiers that died from suicide doubled between 2009-2010.

More soldiers have died from suicide this year than in battle.

IMPACT ON MILITARY FAMILIES Research suggest that deployment of a

parent puts a child at increased risk University of Iowa, based on data from

the 2010 IYS, found children with deployed or recently returned military parents: Increase in 30 day alcohol use, binge

drinking, marijuana and other illegal drug use, and misuse of prescription drugs

Increase was even higher among children whose living arrangements were disrupted due to deployment.

Iowa has representation from all branches of the military.

The largest portion of military personnel in Iowa serve with the Reserve or National Guard.Air National Guard <3000Army National Guard >7000

ARMY VALUES“Many people know what the words Loyalty,

Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage mean. But how often do you see someone actually live up to them? Soldiers learn these values in detail during Basic Combat Training (BCT), from then on they live them every day in everything they do — whether they’re on the job or off. In short, the Seven Core Army Values listed below are what being a Soldier is all about.”

http://www.army.mil/values

I am an American Soldier.I am a warrior and a member of a team.I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army

Values.I will always place the mission first.I will never accept defeat.I will never quit.I will never leave a fallen comrade.I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and

proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.I am an expert and I am a professional.I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of

the United States of America in close combat.I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.I am an American Soldier.

SNAPSHOT

Nationally:Average age is 2885% male,

15% femaleMore than 50%

are marriedAlmost 50% have

children

18

A FEW ACRONYMS/TERMS OIF/OEF MFO AT MUTA/IDT MOS VA Yellow Ribbon

ARNG POV ETS HOR FOB PTSD Others?

BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD:It is important to assess your own feelings

about military culture. Here are some questions you can ask yourself, as suggested by the Veterans and Family Initiative:What are my feelings about the military?What are my feelings about ongoing

military or war efforts?Will my feelings effect how I deal with

military members or families?Do I use language or make references to

the military in any way that is negative?

CHECK IN Questions, thoughts and Aha! Moments

so far

FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON

Looking in your own circle of influence Community activities for military

families Call your local armory American Legion or VFW County Veterans Coordinator Local community center VA events or activities Iowa Vet Centers Other suggestions?

MAKING THE ASKWhy do you want them to be engaged

with your project? What’s in it for them?Come from a place of shared concerns and

desire for input, don’t put on defensiveThey are an important stakeholder in our

communitiesOpportunity to make an impact on an issue

that is having a devastating impact on soldiers and their families

?? ? ??

MAKING THE ASK: WHAT WILL THEIR ROLE BE?

Can offer unique input through all steps of the SPF Assessment Planning Capacity Implementation Evaluation Sustainability Cultural Competence

Clarify that you would like their input, you are not asking them to represent the military

GETTING AND KEEPING THEM ENGAGED

Making them feel welcome, understanding military culture. Recognize traits that may be common with this population such as:

“If you’re on time, you’re late” Being “squared away” Desire to be mission focused, task

oriented, to the point Maintaining your military

bearing Military identity

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS Before the Meeting Availability impacted by:

Special schools and annual trainingDeploymentChange of duty station

SHARED CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES What has worked well in your

community? How have you overcome barriers in your

community? What are you taking away from today’s

conversation? What do you see as next steps?

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND IDEAS? Any more questions? Final thoughts? Aha moments to share?

“We can do this. In every community, every day, we can find concrete ways to show our military families the respect and gratitude that each of us holds for them in our hearts. They deserve our support long after the welcome home ceremonies are over. You don’t have to come from a military family, have a base in your community, or be in military issues to make a difference. Every American can do something.”

—Michelle Obama and Jill Biden USA Today, September 3, 2010

REFERENCES• Strengthening our Military Families

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2011/0111_initiative/strengthening_our_military_january_2011.pdf

• Parental Deployment Ups Risk of Substance Abuse http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/29/parent-deployment-ups-risk-of-child-substance-abuse/53163.html

• Suicide toll for Army higher than combat losses http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20131002/NEWS/310020036/

• Military Service Branches http://www.todaysmilitary.com/service-branches

• Topics in Brief: Substance Abuse among the Military, Veterans, and their Families http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/substance-abuse-among-military-veterans-their-families

• Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs https://va.iowa.gov/

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Data Spotlight, Half of Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions among Veterans Aged 21 to 39 Involve Alcohol as the Primary Substance of Abuse http://www.samhsa.gov/data/spotlight/Spot106VeteransAlcoholAbuse2012.pdf

NCTSN. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network http://www.nctsn.org/ An Overview of the Military Family Experience and

Culture DoD, VA, State and Community Partnerships to

Assist Returning Service Members/Veterans and their Families: A Public Health Response as a Nation at War

REFERENCES

ADDITIONAL SITES AND RESOURCES Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration www.samhsa.gov

Department of Defense www.defense.gov

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism www.niaaa.nih.gov

Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center www.drugfreeinfo.org

US Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov/

RESOURCES FOR SOLDIERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255

option 1

Chat Service http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Military One Source www.militaryonesource.mil 1-800-342-9647

THANK YOU!!