—by Paul M. Kubek
Editor's note: This story first appeared on February 5, 2013. It has been revised to include post-event information. Download free PDFs for each event. Look for "PowerPoint Presentation" below.
Cleveland, OH—Mental-health and addictions professionals in community agencies, hospitals, and Health Homes play an important role in helping veterans of the U.S. armed forces and their family members access help to manage symptoms of mental illness, substance use disorders, brain injury, and other traumas. That's why the Center for Evidence-Based Practices at Case Western Reserve University teamed up with The Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and other VA centers to provide several important video-conference training events.
Each event was designed to help mental-health and addictions professionals understand the unique experiences and needs of veterans and their family members and, thus, improve engagement, screening, and assessment of mental-health conditions, traumatic brain injuries, and substance use and abuse. Each event helped service providers understand what services are available to veterans and their families through VA medical centers.
"Our goal is to help improve access to the best mental-health care and addictions treatment available for veterans here in Ohio," says Patrick E. Boyle, MSSA, LISW-S, LICDC, director of implementation services at the Center for Evidence-Based Practices. "Another goal is to provide the best, most enduring clinical relationships possible. It is important that veterans and their family members experience the best quality of life as quickly as possible, as long as possible, and with effective recovery if relapse occurs."
Training Topics
- Veteran experiences & needs
- Mental illness
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use/abuse
- Co-occurring disorders
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Polytrauma
- Screening, assessment & referral
- Military culture
- VA benefits eligibility
- VA system of care
- Family members/caregivers
THE TRAINING EVENTS
Veterans Administration: Overview of Issues & Services
- February 27, 2013
- Time: 10 am to 12 pm
- Location: Video Conference that broadcasted from Case Western Reserve University to multiple sites in Ohio.
- Cost: $0, Free. This event was for providers in Ohio only.
- CEUs: Yes
- Presenters, Cleveland VA Medical Center staff members: Michael J. Biscaro, PsyD, ABBP; Rachel Slepecky, PhD; Lauren Kaplafka, LISW-S.
- Presenter, Center for Evidence-Based Practices: Patrick E. Boyle, MSSA, LISW-S, LICDC (get bio) ((RETIRED))
- PowerPoint Presentation: (get slides) ((DEAD LINK))
- Event Details & Agenda (click here) ((DEAD LINK))
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Identification, Assessment & Services
March 27, 2013
Time: 10 am to 12 pm
Location: Video Conference that broadcasted from Case Western Reserve University to multiple sites in Ohio.
Cost: $0, Free. This event was for providers in Ohio only.
CEUs: Yes
Presenter, Cleveland VA Medical Center staff member: Michael J. Biscaro, PsyD, ABBP; Cynthia A. Yamokoski, PhD
Presenter, Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center (Columbus, Ohio): Jason DiGiannantoni, LISW-S
Presenter, Center for Evidence-Based Practices: Patrick E. Boyle, MSSA, LISW-S, LICDC (get bio) ((RETIRED))
PowerPoint Presentation: (get slides) ((DEAD LINK))
Event Details & Agenda: (click here) ((DEAD LINK))
Traumatic Brain Injury & Polytrauma: Identification, Assessment & Services
April 24, 2013
Time: 10 am to 12 pm
Location: Video Conference that broadcasts to multiple sites in Ohio.
Cost: $0, Free. This event was for providers in Ohio only.
CEUs: Yes
Presenters, Cleveland VA Medical Center staff members: Ronald G. Riechers, II, MD, & George S. Serna, PhD.
Presenter, Center for Evidence-Based Practices: Patrick E. Boyle, MSSA, LISW-S, LICDC (get bio) ((RETIRED))
PowerPoint Presentation 1, Riechers: (get slides) ((DEAD LINK))
PowerPoint Presentation 2, Serna: (get slides) ((DEAD LINK))
Event Details & Agenda: (click here) ((DEAD LINK))