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NNOVATIVE TOOLS AND PROGRAMS MEAN GREATER SUCCESS FORARMY SOCIAL WORKERSrom programs that help children come to terms with family illnesses and injury, to computer technologies designed toelp Soldiers and their families face the challenge of deployment, rmy social workers have a growing number of tools andrograms that help improve their success rate.

Certainly in the private sector, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) address the needs of people with serious issuesanging from family and personal problems to substance abuse and disabili ty. However, when individuals face issues that arexacerbated by additional challenges, such as active duty, separation, readjustment and PTSD, the need for assistance isven greater.

The rmy has made behavioral health care a priority, a commitment made evident in the development of new programs andools that are helping Soldiers and their families cope with a broad spectrum of challenges and behaviors.

LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS

TOOLS FOR BUILDING RESILIENCYONLIN COMPUT R SS SSM NT ND TR ININH LPIN MILIT RY F MILI S OV RCOM D ILYCH LL N S.

The innovative Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF)rogram makes use of computer technology to helpoldiers and their families cope with military life andveryday issues. Initiated in 2008 under the leadershipf Brig. en. Rhonda L. Cornum, CSF is a holistic programesigned to give all members of the rmy community thenowledge, thinking skills and behaviors that will optimizehe ability and likelihood to thrive in their lives, as wells their ability to successfully cope with l ifes challengesnd adversity.

Originally offered only to Soldiers and staff to strengthenheir resiliency and ensure maximum readiness, over the

past few years, a version of the program has been offeredto military families, as well.

The CSF program will strengthen our families, saysDana Whitis, family programs specialist for CSF. Thistraining will empower them to face life challenges withtheir Soldieras a team.

To begin the process, family members need to completethe lobal ssessment Tool ( T)a private, onlineassessment that measures strength in four dimensionsof tness. Then, based on the assessment, participantsimmediately begin online training to enhance theirstrength in the following areas: social, emotional,spiritual, family and physical.

Training comes in the form of Comprehensive ResilienceModels that provide people with the tools needed to

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mprove their coping, communication and other skil ls tomore effectively communicate with their spouses or deal

with adversity.

PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE DIALOGUEH LPIN WOUND D W RRIORS, ND TH IR FMILI S,OP N UP BOUT TR UM TIC V NTS.

Courage to Care, Courage to Talk , a program partneredwith the Defense Centers of xcellence for PsychologicalHealth and Center for the Study of Traumatic StressCSTS), was designed to alleviate the impact of traumaticnjuries on military families and their children.

n the process of communicating with families aboutnjuries resulting from active duty, there are multiplepportunities to educate and help families understand themportance of connectedness and availabilityboth withinhe family and within ones community.

The program has modules designed for family members,s well as for health care providers. Courage to Care,

Courage to Talk helps the injured warrior, and his or heramily, communicate about the trauma that has affected

heir lives.

Understanding the impact of injury on children, especiallyrom a developmental perspective, enables providers touide families on how best to communicate with childreno sustain hope, connection to both parents and continuity

with family and community routines.

ince its establishment in 2006, the CSTS, through itsChild and Family Program (CFP), has been conductingesearch to advance scienti c knowledge and clinicalnterventions that address the needs of children and

amilies affected by traumaespecially military childrennd families. The focus of CFP research is on the impactf war, including stress due to taking leave, parenting andamily function, as well as the impact of war injuries on

military children and families. In addition to research, CFProvides education and consultation to the military healthare system and its leadership, national media outlets,rofessional organizations and projects dedicated toelping families affected by traumatic events, focusing onhe military child.

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECTRMY SOCI L WORK RS H V MOR OPPORTUNITI STO PUT TH IR T L NTS WH R TH YRN D D MOST.

The rmy is breaking new ground to provide the bestpossible care for our Soldiers and their families; but moreimportantly, we put professionals in areas where theycan make meaningful connections with Soldiers and theirfamilies.

rmy social workers provide services in military hospitalswhere they can address adjustment to illness issues andcoordinate discharge planning, as well as inpatient andoutpatient behavioral health treatment for Soldiers andtheir families. They also provide services in a number ofareas where their skills and talents can do themost good:

Combat Operational Stress ControlDetachments and Brigade CombatTeams work on the battle eld and oninstallations to address stress-relatedissues and counseling needs.

Warrior Transition Units work with injuredSoldiers and their families to assess levels ofrisk, behavioral health needs, adjustment toillness and reintegration to rmy or private-sector life.

The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) providesdomestic abuse assessments and treatmentfor Soldiers and their families, while the ArmySubstance Abuse Program (ASAP) assessesand treats Soldiers dealing with

substance abuse.

In addition, the rmy has Exceptional FamilyMember Clinics (EFMP) , where social workershelp special needs children and their families.nother practice option is clinical training ofrmy staff with behavioral health-relatededucational programs through the U.S. rmyMedical Department Center and School.

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ocial workers take part in the research at the U.S. rmy Public Health CommandProvisional) and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, as well

s at Walter Reed rmy Institute of Research. They also work to establish behavioralealth policies at facilities such as the U.S. rmy Medical Command and Installation

Management Command.

s a social worker on the U.S. rmy Health Care Team, your skills and talents cane utilized in a truly meaningful way, no matter your area of interest. Imagine howewarding it could be to make such a profound difference in the lives of those whoive so much.

ADDITIONAL REWARDSRVIN S N RMY SOCI L WORK R IS R TIFYIN ON M NY L V LS.

The U.S. rmy Health Care Team offers many tangible and intangible rewards. First,heres the pride in serving your country by caring for men and women who haveisked the ultimate sacri ce to protect and defend our nation. Theres also thepportunity to concentrate on what you were trained to do: LCSWs with the U.S.my Health Care Team can spend time focusing on their cases, rather than on

managing the types of overwhelming caseloads they often must deal with in the private sector.

The lifestyle bene ts offered by the U.S. rmy Medical Department are quite impressive as well, including:

Competitive salary Paid continuing education Non-contributory retirement benefts with 20 years of qualifying service for active rmy social workers Flexible, portable retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k) Privileges that come with being an of cer in the U.S. rmy Training to become a leader in your eld

Click here to receive an information packet about advancing your career with the U.S. rmy Health Care Team.

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