EMERGING TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND INNOVATIVE RESPONSES

The number of women veterans is expected to double in the near future, and while women have long been subjected to the same military service stressors as men, clinical research and treatment protocols have been developed almost entirely within the context of service member and veteran men. In the absence of data and programs, communities and policy makers alike are struggling to understand and respond meaningfully to the mental health needs of women.

Co-hosted by Swords to Plowshares and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), this training explores the landscape of care for women veterans, including service-connected injuries and life circumstances that may lead women veterans to crisis and risk for suicide; unique treatment considerations; policy implications; challenges in research and emerging trends; and innovative ideas for women veteran mental healthcare.

Join us for this online seminar on September 20, 2017 at 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM PDT.

Three (3) continuing education credits are available for LMFT, LPCC, LEP, LCSW, and CAADE professionals licensed in California.

Register for the Webinar

Learning Objectives

By participating in this seminar, participants will:

• Understand cultural factors, stressors, and trauma specific to women veterans that impact their care seeking behavior and treatment approach
• Identify increased risk and protective factors among women veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance abuse, depressive disorders, intimate partner violence (IPV), unemployment, and homelessness
• Understand the landscape of care for women veterans, including barriers to care, common program challenges, and policy implications
• Learn emerging research trends related to women veteran mental health and suicide prevention
• Identify unique treatment considerations and innovative approaches to serving women veterans

Presenters

Lindsey Sin: Deputy Secretary, Women Veterans Affairs, California Department of Veterans Affairs

Lindsey was appointed to the position by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. on November 22, 2011. Lindsey served in the U.S. Navy from 1997 until 2005 and worked in military intelligence. She completed two flight tours in Rota, Spain during which time she deployed in support of Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, and achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class. After separating from the Navy, Lindsey returned to Sacramento and worked with veterans at American River College and Sacramento State University.

Megan Zottarelli: Assistant Director, Institute for Veteran Policy at Swords to Plowshares

Megan manages research and data analysis of issues pertaining to veteran health care access and treatment quality. Megan leads public education efforts, including this online behavioral health training series for providers and advocates which explores the intersection of mental health and social justice issues among veterans, and writes curricula and publications for behavioral health providers. She has a long history working on mental health issues among underserved populations.

Gail Soffer: Founder and Executive Director, Mindful Warrior Project

Gail guides veterans, Active Duty, Guard, Reserve members and their families and caregivers with simple, secular practices of mindfulness, to cultivate their inner strengths, support their own wellbeing, and participate in their own healing process. The daughter of a veteran, Gail has trained numerous clinicians, case managers, victim advocates, doctors and social workers to bring customized mindfulness tools and support systems to military-connected individuals and those who care about them.

Additional presenters to be announced.

Continuing Education Information

Swords to Plowshares (License No. 129138) certifies that this course meets the qualifications for three (3) hours of continuing education credits for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Breaks are not included as part of the continuing education credits. A program will be distributed at the beginning of the training with a detailed agenda. Certificates will be distributed at the end of the webinar following a brief survey.

Swords to Plowshares is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for the Women Veteran Mental Health Online Seminar. Swords to Plowshares maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CAADE License no. CP10 728 C 0919

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