“A Model Approach for Serving Veterans
with Disabilities in Higher Education”
BECK
PRIDE CENTER
For America’s Wounded Veterans TM
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Nursing & Health Professions
Jonesboro, Arkansas
One veteran’s perspective:
“Wounded” vs. “Disabled”
Student-vets face:
• a new role
• environment
To succeed they must :
•Adapt
•Improvise
•overcome disabilities.
What the program does is in our name…
PERSONAL
REHABILITATION
INDIVIDUAL
DEVELOPMENT
“P.R.I.D.E.”
EDUCATION
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
“To provide combat wounded veterans with
resources for personal rehabilitation,
counseling, advocacy, financial assistance,
access to the higher education experience
and socialization.”
“To provide first class educational programs
and services at Arkansas State University;
supporting these individuals to achieve their
post military service goals.”
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
 Physical Wounds
 Emotional
 Mental Health Injuries
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
You may be permanently changed
by a traumatizing experience,
but you do not have to be
permanently “damaged”. Roger P. Buck,
Ph.D
 The PRIDE program is designed
for U.S. military personnel
(active duty or discharged)
serving during present day
conflicts.
 Veterans injured while in combat
service
 Those in need of rehabilitation,
career counseling and educational
attainment.
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans


Provide services to supplement
(not duplicate)
veterans’ eligible government benefits
Fill service gaps where they exist
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
BECK
PRIDE CENTER
For America’s Wounded Veterans TM
College of Nursing & Health
Professions
Donald W. Reynolds Center
For Health Sciences
PRIDE CENTER
“DAY ROOM”
EDUCATION
ASSISTANCE
PERSONAL
REHABILITATION
SERVICES
MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELING
CAREER &
BUSINESS
PLANNING
SOCIAL
SERVICES &
COMMUNITY
REFERRALS
MENTORING, SOCIALIZATION
& MORE…
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Mental
Health
Rehabilitative
Services
Medical
Education
Social Services
& Public
Assistance
Veterans
Benefits
Employment
Financial
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Legal
Veteran
Orgs
Mentoring
& Socialization
Education Assistance
• GI Bill Benefits, Scholarships, Grants,
•
•
•
•
•
Financial Aid Programs
Career Testing & other testing services
Military experience credit
Advising
Priority Registration
Disability Accommodations
• Center based- testing proctors, group
individualized tutoring
• math modification
• Night, online & distance-learning
•
•
•
•
•
&
VA & ASU Work Study
Advocacy & Mentoring
VA Vocational Rehabilitation
Campus Peer/Socialization Opportunities
On/Off Campus Disability Housing &
Transportation
• And more…
Mike Beebe, Governor of Arkansas
Arkansas State University Alumni
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Personal Rehabilitation
Services
 Physical Therapy
 Speech Language





Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Medications
Assistance
Program Referrals
Nutritional
Assessment
Rehabilitation
Counseling
And more…
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
The Beck PRIDE Center offers :
•Physical training & therapeutic services on campus
• Flexible scheduling- therapy sessions before,
between classes or after classes.
•Assistance to/from on campus facilities via golf cart
service.
•Gas cards for participants with VA hospital
appointments (=/>65 miles away)
•Connection to national vet rehabilitative resources:
therapy/service dogs, medical equipment, adaptive
housing and much more.
Mental Health Resources
• Vet Center Services on ASU Campus
(Partnership with the VA-Vet Center Memphis, TN)
Veteran’s Support Group
• “Family Deployment Forum” AR NG
•
Harvey Reed, LMSW
(VA Vet Center)
• PTSD, Anger Management, Marriage, Grief
•
•
•
•
•
Groups & more…
Psychoeducation groups
Resource center
State / National Mental Health resources
locator
“Give an Hour “ participating provider
Conduct civilian provider education programs
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Referrals & Services
Beck PRIDE Center pays for
outpatient counseling services to
support the veteran’s family
system:
• Service Member
•Spouse or S/O
•Parent(s)
•Children
•Caregivers
•Widow/Widowers
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Community Resources
Information/ Referrals
•Veteran’s Benefits &
Service Organizations
•Employment Services
•Financial Services
•Public Assistance
•Court Advocacy
•Dependent Care
•Opportunities for Socialization
•Peer Support
•Other Community Based Social
Services
Employment Services &
Small Business Administration Partnership
 Veteran-entrepreneur education & training








courses
Arkansas Veterans Resources & Small Business
Administration (SBA)
“Veteran’s Preference” resources
“Patriot Express” loan program assistance
Business development: case manager &
mentoring services
Marketing, financing, & operations guidance
“Go Green” & Environmentally Sustainable
business assistance
ESGR – USERRA referrals
Resume assistance & more…
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
Provides “One-Stop” services for injured
combat veteran and/or family member(s).
Assess veterans’ needs
Screen for gaps & voided needs/services
Research resources
Provide referrals
Coordinate referrals
Coordinate referrals to reduce
duplication, supplement existing benefits
& maximize efficiency.
 Advocate & Mentor
 Liaison between the veteran & university
& other organizations providing
assistance/or services
 Monitor participant progress & program
effectiveness
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Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
IV.
Completion
Graduation &
Transition
III.
Educational, Physical,
Emotional & Social
Development
II.
Enrollment, Admission,
Advocacy &
Accommodation
I.
Pre-enrollment
Assessment , Rehabilitation &
Reintegration
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
PRIDE Center Enrollment
•Verifications: DD214 (military combat service)
and injury/disability and program eligibility
Preparation for Higher Education Begins…
•Assessment of educational attainment &
education/career goals
•Physical Therapy
•Speech/Hearing Therapy
•Occupational Therapy
•Mental Health Counseling
•Rehabilitation Counseling
•Support Group
•Substance Abuse
Treatment referrals
•Medication Assistance
•Prosthetics/orthotics
•Medical referrals
•Other specialized
rehabilitation
Intake
Assessment
Personal
Rehabilitation
Services
Social
Services
I. Pre-enrollment Assessment
Rehabilitation and Reintegration
•Veterans’ Benefits
•Veteran Service Organizations
•Disability assistance
•Social Security
•Specialized Rehabilitation
Programs
•Public assistance programs
•Military assistance programs
•Employment assistance
programs
•Transitional Housing Assistance
•Legal/Court Advocacy
•Social & Leisure programs
•And more…
•Placement
(Evaluation for Remediation/accommodation)
•ACT & COMPASS Testing/Evaluation
•Un-decided Major(s): General Education schedule
(Helpful for combat veterans with no college- 1st semester)
•Military Training/Course credit
Advising
•ASU Veterans’ financial aid
officer
•VA Voc-Rehabilitation
•ASU Veterans Registrar
•GI Bill programs
•State Voc-Rehab Services
•National Guard/Reserve
Tuition Assistance Program
•Sigma Pi/Governor Mike
Beebe Wounded Veterans’
Scholarship
•Other Scholarships
•Career Testing
• Advising
•Work study & part time jobs
•Resume assistance
Financial
Education
Issues
Career
Services
Housing
Disability Housing
Accommodations
•On Campus
•Off campus
Phase II. Enrollment, Admission
Advocacy and Accommodation
Beck PRIDE Center
Services
BECK PRIDE CENTER STAFF CONNECTS
STUDENT-VETERANS WITH ON-CAMPUS
PROGRAMS / SUPPORT SERVICES
•Priority Registration
• Disability Services evaluation and plan
•1st Year Programs enrollment
•Student Support Services
•Non-traditional Student Services
•Arkansas Student Veteran Organization
•Other campus organizations & community groups
Integrating
with
Campus
Connections
Beck PRIDE
Center
Services
PHASE III.
Educational, Physical, Emotional
and Social Development
Assistance
•Course Substitution
(Math)
•Remediation
•Tutoring services
•“Boots to Books”
•Proctor/Exam Testing
•Liaison and Advocacy
services
•Peer Mentors
•Individual Employment
Planning
•Training/Classroom
adaptive equipment
•“Combat to College”
orientation
•“(R&R) Rest and
Relaxation” Mid-week
check-ins
• Vet Center Combat Vet
support group, weekly
•“Conquer College”
workshops
•Social Work services
•Business/career
development services
•Socials
•Cultural enrichment
•Family support services
• Family social events
•“Fitness Challenge”
wellness programs
•Community service
projects
•Awards Banquet
Beck PRIDE Center Services
are delivered throughout
the veteran’s higher
education experience…
PHASE IV.
Completion
Graduation &
Transition
Transition
Planning
Community
Integration
<Intensity
of Service
Utilization
Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded
Veterans
•Rehabilitation support
•Educational support
And… Additional Services and
Opportunities
•Socialization opportunities
• Career/Employment Planning
• Small Business Development &
Technical Center Veteran’s
liaison/mentor
•Liaison with military & civilian
employment organizations/services
•Vocational & career development
services
•And more…
FOR IMPROVING
“2013-2014 Top 10 Rated
Military Friendly College”
THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
AWARDS
“Above & Beyond Award”
Employer Support of the
Guard & Reserve
2014 Arkansas Community
Development Society
$5,000 award recipient
2014 DAV
$60,000 award recipient
American Council on
Education (ACE) &
Wal-Mart Foundation
2011
‘Minute Man Award”
AR National Guard
$100,000 award recipient
“2009-2015 Top 10 Rated
Military Friendly College”
•
Grants/Gifts
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Federal Funding
•
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Arkansas State University
Community Mental Health Center
Community & Faith Based Organizations
Veterans Services Organizations
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2010 Congressional Appropriation/Dept. of Defense
In-kind Services
•
•
The Buddy G. Beck Family Foundation
Wal-Mart Foundation
Disabled American Veterans Trust (DAV)
Fisher House Foundation/Newman’s Own, Inc.
Individual/Private donors
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Military Officers Association of America
Scholarship Program Fund
•
Sigma Pi Fraternity National Education Foundation
"... to bind up the nation's wounds;
to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow
and his orphan.
To do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace,
among ourselves and with all nations."
- Abraham Lincoln