Developing Veteran-Centered Support Services
Dr. Katherine Selber, Professor, School of Social Work &
Texas State Veterans Advisory Council
Contact info: ks15@txstate.edu
University of Louisville
February 2011
Presentation Overview
•
•
•
•
•
Background on Texas State’s Veterans Initiative.
Needs assessment study.
Veterans support services @ Texas State University.
Emphasize Health & Behavioral Health Support Services
Lessons Learned on program development.
Texas: Home to Many Veterans
& Dependents
• Texas has over 1.7 million Veterans
• Ranks 3rd in number of veterans
• Ranks 2nd in female veterans 2009
(160,000)
• Has 16 military installations
• Ft. Hood has deployed more troops
than any other installation in the U.S.
some have deployed 6 and 7 times
• Has been home to more Military
Widows that any other city in the
country
• Large concentrations of Guard &
Reserve
Map of Military Bases in Texas
Sources: http://www.texvet.com/facts.asp &
http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/
& Grace After Fire
www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/tmpc
Texas State University- San Marcos
• Located in San Marcos- central Texas between
Ft. Hood & Ft. Sam Houston/ Lackland AFB
• 32,000 students
• 35% are ethnic minorities
• Is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) (25%)
• Has tradition of two ROTC
units
• Our most famous alumPresident Lyndon Baines
Johnson
This Generation of Student Veterans@ Texas State
• 1745 veterans & dependents
•90% vets/ 10%Guard/Res
• 10% Graduate/ 90% Undergraduate •70% male/ 30% female
• Most are full time students •65%Anglo /35% ethnic minority
• 2nd largest vet enrollment of 4 year colleges in Texas
Texas State’s Philosophy & Key Steps in Developing
a Model Since 2008
Develop
Internal
Team
• Key Departments
• Right People
• Commit to Veterans
• Share Credit
• Keep Vets at Center
• Strengths Based
Approach
Develop
Student
Veteran
Organization
Develop
External
Partners
• Seek Input Student
Veterans
• As Team members
• Grow Student Veteran
Organization
• Unleash Leaders
• Reach Out to
Community Partners
• Bring Services to
Campus
• Seek Grants & Outside
Resources
Keeping Us Veteran-Centered
Focus Groups- yearly
Individual Interviews with VetsEach semester 30 interviews
Needs Assessment on-line
Dominque LaVista ©
Veteran participation & input
in all events & activities
Needs Assessment March 2010
On-line needs assessment March 2010
N=338 (26.7% response rate) (1252 total distribution)
Process for Developing instrument
Topics: adjustment, health, educational, financial, and
career issues, military background, demographics
Time: 20-30 minutes to complete
Student Veterans Reported Unmet Health Needs
• Overall medical needs (32%)
• Psychological needs (23%)
Sleep needs (40%)
Needs concussive event (6%)
Job& Career Concerns of Student Veterans
• Major or Moderate Concerns about all aspects of their futures:
–
–
–
–
Finding a job (64%)
Being happy with a job (61%)
Sustaining certainty in career plans (55%)
Maintaining confidence about job search (49%)
• About 1/3 needed part-time work
• Student Veterans see a university degree differently than
traditional students
Texas State Student Veterans are At-Risk
•
•
•
•
•
Multiple deployments (71%)
To combat zones (94% Iraq) (17% Afghanistan)
Wounded, injured or physically hurt during military service (41%)
Still having trouble with injuries (44%)
Having health problem related to deployment other than wound or
physical injury (38%)
Dominque LaVista ©
Risks of Dropping Out
• 21% stated they were experiencing difficulties that may make
them drop out;
–
–
–
–
69% of those said it was due to financial difficulties
39% said due to educational challenges
33% due to health issues
38% due to personal issues
Overview of Support Services
@ Texas State
• Orientation &Academic Support
• Health & Behavioral Health Support
• Career & Employment Services
• Campus Training & Awareness
Orientation & Academic Support
• Veteran only orientation services semester
prior to enrollment & first week by vets
• Occupational
Education major with
high flexibility uses
portfolio approach for
granting credit
Orientation & Academic Support Services
One-Hour Required Freshman Seminar, Peer Speakers
• Vets Only Sections
• Topics: Campus & Community Services; Financial Aid;
Employment; Career Advising; Self Care; Stress Management;
Relaxation & Sleep Needs; Relationships
• Assignments- vet resource fair, journals, transition paper
Dominque LaVista ©
Dominque LaVista ©
Dominque LaVista ©
Health & Behavioral Health Support
• Individual & Group Counseling Services by Vets- our
staff & Vet Center staff
• Initial agreements to have VA sign up vets for health
care
Health & Behavioral Health Support
Veterans Alliance @ TxState
Over 400 members
Monthly luncheons, brief speakers100 + attend
Events- 5k race, Veterans Day, Intramural Sports
Monthly socials
Student Veterans of America chapt.
Training in State Peer-to Peer Model
Dominque LaVista ©
Health & Behavioral Health Support
Family & Friends of the
Military @ TxState
For spouses, significant others,
siblings, parents, friends
Help Support Veteran events
Monthly socials
Training in Family Resiliency
Models
Dominque LaVista ©
Health & Behavioral Health Support
Dominque LaVista ©
Sleep Study with Respiratory
Care Department
*Outreach for Pilot Sample
*Actigraph Watches
*Preliminary Results
*Refer to Sleep Clinic
*Refer to VA or Private Practice
*Meditation Group StartingMindfulness Meditation
Health & Behavioral Health
Case Management: Assessment, Referral,
Linkage, Follow-up
– Social Work Masters Interns Assigned to Veterans
Initiative
– Faculty Supervised
– Called Veterans Interns
– Outreach to vets
•
•
•
•
•
From Veterans Affairs Office
Calls for those on Alert List due to low GPA
Self referrals
Referrals from faculty, staff- disability services
Voluntary
– Focus on first year vets
Health & Behavioral Health Support
Dominque LaVista ©
Wounded Warrior
Alternative Scuba Diving
*Partnership with Center for
the Intrepid Ft. Sam
Houston
*Texas State Aquarena
*Outreach to recruit to
campus as students
*Veterans Alliance gives back
Career & Employment
*Partner with Texas Workforce Commission
Veterans Leadership Project
*Partner with Goodwill Industries to bring their
employment team to campus via Texas Veterans
Commission Texas Lottery funding
*PACE center opens 2012- electronic portfolios
*Use of Social Work Interns
for job assists
Campus Training & Awareness
Campus-Wide Training for Faculty & Staff : Helping
Veterans Succeed: who are vets, where have they been,
challenges, tips for working with, campus resources
Workshop format 1 ½ to 3 hours
Twice a semester & by special request
Tied into Veteran Friendly Office Program Award Plaque
Started with Academic advisors
Campus Training
• Social Work Elective Course/Next Step Certificate
– Train social work and others to work with troops/vets
– Student Vet Interviews & Team Projects
Dominque LaVista ©
Lessons Learned
1. Vet-Centered/ Peer-to-Peer Models
2. Ask Veterans What They Want/Need
3. Develop Partnerships: Inside & Outside
Best Practices & Lessons Learned
4. Start Small: Pilot & Test
5. Must Get Faculty Involved
6. Active Outreach is Essential
Credits
•
•
•
Thanks to Dominque LaVista for communication design work on photos
Thanks to my son for his photos from his combat deployments and for his service
and sacrifice.
Thanks to all the troops and student veterans for what they teach me every day.
It is an honor to serve them.