Working with Army Reserve Families

Working with Army Reserve Families
Christina C. Wildy, LBSW, CEAP, LPC, LPC/S
USAR Director of Psychological Health
www.usarphp.org
March 10, 2015
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Katherine Castelo USARPHP / 703-201-0108
“The Mission”
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“The Army Reserve provides trained, equipped and ready
Soldiers, Leaders and Units to meet America’s
requirements at home and abroad.”
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“The Army Reserve Component”
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 The Army Reserve is the only component of the Army that is also a
single command. The Army Reserve is integrated and in direct
support of every Army Service Component Command (ASCC) and
Combatant Command (CCMD).
 We have a footprint in all 54 states and territories and over 30
countries.
 Our business model “Plan, Prepare, Provide” allows us to stay an
operational force.
 Plan-refers to regional alignment of AR units to ASCC’s & CCMD’s.
Part of this alignment includes the forward positioning of full-time
staffing organized into AR engagement cell & teams.
 Prepare-is how we train our total force: Soldiers, Leaders, Units.
 Provide-is the actual deployment in support of requirements at
home and abroad.
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“Who we are”
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 The 81st Regional Support Command provides essential
customer care and services to Soldiers, Civilians, and
their Families in the Southeast Region (North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Puerto Rico,
and the US Virgin Islands), enabling supported
commanders and leaders to maximize resources and
meet global requirements.
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“Area of Responsibility (AOR) by the numbers”
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 The 81st Regional Support Command (RSC)
serves approximately 50,000 Soldiers and their
families.
 Currently there are 6,547 Army Reserve
Soldiers that fall within the ranks of Enlisted
and Officers living in the 100 counties of North
Carolina.
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“Mental Health Issues our Soldiers face” PHP
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Bipolar disorder
Depression
Suicidal ideations
Adjustment disorders
Lack of structure
Side effects of antidepressants and other medications
Addictive personalities
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Insomnia
Anxiety
Panic attacks
A major obstacle is that these issues are often not reported through the chain of command .
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“Relationship Issues”
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 Divorce
 Child Custody Battles
 Infidelity-Maladaptive sexual behaviors (i.e., infidelity, open marriages,
recreational sex) can have a significant impact on the individual and
contribute as a suicidal behavior risk factor, well prior to suicidal ideations in
the individual.
 Children’s behavioral problems
 Estranged parents
 Foster homes
 Separation
 Rejection
 Conflict with parents
 LGBTQ-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning: In one 2013
case, there was a supposition made that a Lesbian Soldier did not have an
approachable resource toward addressing her problems (i.e., double stigma:
Lesbian and depressed/suicidal).
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“Financial Issues”
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 Spousal support
 Child support
 Day-care providers [to attend battle assembly (BA) and annual
training (AT)]
 End of a military career
 Homelessness
 Difficulty concentrating on a job
 No transportation
 Hunger
 Eviction
 Unemployment
 Underemployed
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“Legal Issues”
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 Arrest
 Spousal abuse
 Failed drug tests
 Involuntary separation
 Battery
 Sexual assault investigations
 Fraternization investigations
 Domestic abuse
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“Command Challenges”
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 Geographical dispersion of a command.
 Lack of face to face with Soldiers.
 “Positive face” can be maintained for a weekend.
 Commander’s choice: Mission vs. treatment.
 Commanders given responsibility to safeguard with few
resources to execute an immediate response.
 Soldiers present few at-risk indicators.
 USAR inherits Active Component (AC) issues without
accompanying history.
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“Challenges across the Reserve”
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 Lack of financial counseling/resources
 Limitations to the accessibility of Army behavioral healthcare
outpatient resources
 Lack of accessible behavioral healthcare inpatient treatment
 Lack of healthcare insurance/coverage
 Lack of accessible legal assistance
 Delicate balance of civilian and military life
 Possible access to various civilian MD’s
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“Challenges for Reserve Families”
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Isolation.
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Lack of knowledge regarding availability and
steps to access programs and services.
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Command is not aware of presenting issues.
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Lack of employer / community / school / extended
family support.
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“Programs & Services”
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
Fort Family 24/7 (866) 345-8248
Vets 4 Warriors
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800/273-TALK)
211
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Survivor Outreach Services
Vet Center
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Yellow Ribbon / Strong Bond Programs
Local Colleges
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Wounded Warrior Programs
Comm. Grief Support Groups
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CYSS (Child & Youth School Services)
Women Veterans Call Center
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SHARP/SARC (Sexual Harassment/Assault
ESGR
Response and Prevention / Sexual Assault
Military One Source
Response Coordinator
Alcohol & Drug Coordinator
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Suicide Prevention Manager
Hero 2 Hire
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DCOE (Defense Centers of Excellence)
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MFLC / PFC (Military Family Life Consultants/
Personal Finance Consultants)
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
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Resources
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 Soldiers who do not have health insurance and/or are unemployed
or underemployed may apply for Medicaid or Family Health Plus for
health insurance.
 Soldiers who are eligible can also apply for coverage in the National
Insurance Marketplace by phone, online, in person, or by mail. The
number for call center is 1-800-318-2596.
 http://HealthCare.gov can help you identify options for health
insurance. The paper application is available for download and
printing.
 If you click on “Preview Plans and Prices” you can see what plans
are available in your area and their full cost. Visit
https://www.healthcare.gov/find-premium-estimates/ to view the
premium estimation tool.
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Resources (continued)
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 A Soldier who is in need of mental health care for an issue or
diagnosis that did not occur while on duty and/or the issue or
diagnosis is not related to the military or who is in need of any other
type of assistance (not necessarily mental health care related) may
contact:
 Army Reserve Family Programs at 866-345-8248
 Military One Source at 800-342-9647 or go to Army OneSource
at www.myarmyonesource.com for help
 Vets 4 Warriors, 1-855-838-8255 or www.vets4warriors.com
 Contact the Directors of Psychological Health (at each Regional
Support Command Surgeon’s office).
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Resources (Continued)
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 Soldiers may contact Give An Hour for free mental health counseling
at www.giveanhour.org. Give An Hour connects service members
or their families who have entered the military since 9/11 with free
mental health counseling.
 Soldiers who are eligible are encouraged to use the US Department
of Veterans Affairs for mental health care. Soldiers may also use
their local Vet Center to receive mental health counseling. The Vet
Centers are separate and apart from the VA Hospital. Eligibility
criteria exist for Vet Center support.
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“Want to be involved?”
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 Identify “who” the Reserve families are in your area.
 Simply ask “What” can you do for them. “What” are their
concerns/issues? “What” are their needs?
 “Where” did the issue occur? In theater, at home, in
school, etc.
 “When” does this issue need to be resolved? “When” did
the issue begin?
 “Why” did this issue occur? e.g.: financial, lack of
medical attention, etc.
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Questions/ Comments
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QUESTIONS?
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Contact information
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Christina C. Wildy, LBSW, CEAP, LPC, LPC/S
Director of Psychological Health
81st Regional Support Command
Ft. Jackson, SC 29207
(803) 751-9547 O / (571) 623-6470 BB
[email protected]
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