Starting a Military Veteran Counseling Program at a Technical College Rachel Mims Texas State Technical College
Outline • U.S. Student Veterans • Issues that Student Veterans are Facing – Military Culture – Needs Assessment – What Services are Utilized?
• Services Offered/Lacking • Best Practices – Cultural Competency – Other Recommended Practices
• Creative Arts Therapy / Alternative Therapies w/ Student Vets – Mindfulness Skills Group – FSU Creative Arts Therapy Workshops
• Texas State Technical College (TSTC) – – – – –
TSTC & the Waco Campus TSTC Student Veterans TSTC Veteran’s Services Timeline Lessons Learned Future of the Project
U.S. Student Veteran Stats • > 1 Million veterans received education benefits in 2013
• Expected to be > 5 Million by 2020 • 88% are undergraduates; student vets comprise 4% of all undergrads; 73% of student vets are men • 65% first generation students • 62% have a spouse, child, or both
U.S. Student Veteran Stats
• 43% of student vets attended public 2 year institutions during the 2007-2008 school year • OIF/OEF Veterans use education benefits more than other veterans. More women OIF/OEF vets (50.6%) used education benefits than men (37.2%) OIF/OEF vets • Most veterans (68%) use the Post 9-11 GI Bill
• Post 9-11 Vets at public 2 year institutions: – Average 38.8 years of age – 4.2% Women (quite different from traditional college students!) – 45.8% Enrolled Part Time
U.S. Student Veteran Mental Health • Rudd, Goulding & Bryan (2011) found: – – – –
35% Experienced severe anxiety 46% Had significant PTSD symptoms 24% Experienced depression 46% Had thought about suicide
• Students veterans are less likely than traditional students to seek counseling services (Center for the Study of Mental Health, 2009)
Issues Facing Student Veterans Military Culture & Barriers to Care • Transition issues: – – – – –
Lifestyle Change Relating to other students Relating to Faculty / Staff Difficulties obtaining education benefits Trouble transferring credits; obtaining credit for military experience
• Strength based culture; being seen as week/needing help is bad – veterans do not seek mental health care – May not identify as “disabled;” may not feel qualified to receive disability accommodations
• Language – Use of acronyms • Collectivist Identity • Rank Structure – Therapists as Officers
Needs Assessment Kaplan (2008) • Up 70% of Iraq & Afghanistan vets will not seek treatment from the DOD or VA; they are more likely to use on campus services! U.S. Department of Education (2014) • During FY 2012-2013 – only 11% of postsecondary institutions offered group counseling for veterans – 12% offered veteran to veteran peer mentoring – 14% offered formal mentoring w/ staff an faculty that were veterans
Needs Assessment Ellison et al. (2009) • Need social service support (financial) • Need accommodation services for PTSD • Veterans desire peer support, counseling from a veteran, & a treatment team that addresses both education benefits and counseling needs!
• Younger Vets – More education planning needs – Experience more adjustment issues – Difficulty relating to older veterans in mixed clinical groups
Needs Assessment Vance & Miller (2009) • Student Veteran Disabilities – Psychological and emotional disabilities – Health-medical Issues – Learning disabilities
Needs Assessment Smee, Brunorost, Garrick, Sreenivasan, & Weinberger (2013):
• Educational needs of students with TBI (31% had dual PTSD & TBI diagnosis) – Math most difficult college subject – High intensity academic tasks caused • • • • •
Light sensitivity Irritability / short temper Being mentally drained Feeling physically drained Severe headache
– Student reluctant to ask for accommodations due to invisible injury & fear of repercussions
Services Offered / Lacking 55% Had Staff Trained in Veteran Mental Health 63% Had Staff Trained to Assist Student Vets with Disabilities; however, only 33% of Disability Service Officers felt knowledgeable about campus efforts to support wounded student veterans 71% Had Dedicated Office for Veterans Assistance
47% Had Faculty/Staff Training Opportunities to facilitate assistance with student veterans 12% -47% Had Dedicated Social Space for Veterans
36% - 67.8% Had Student Veteran Organization; In 2015 Only 17% of title IV institutions have a student veteran organization that is registered with Student Veterans of America 8% Offered Classes / Course Sections Specifically for Veterans
36.7% Offered Student Veteran Orientations
Best Practices Cultural Competency • Counselors should be familiar with military terms and military culture
• Traditional mental health practices clash with military culture – Reframe treatment and clinical techniques – Reframe treatment seeking – Focus on reducing avoidant coping – Utilize alternative treatments to reduce stigma
Best Practices • Facilitate an increase in family social support
• Educate faculty/staff about military culture and about the academic needs of those with diagnoses prevalent at your institution • Provide psychoeducation for students • Encourage communication between students and faculty/staff • Research the student veterans at your institution and find out what they want and need
Creative / Alternative Therapies Mindfulness Skills Group (Wisner et al., 2015) • Benefits: relaxation, improved overall wellbeing, increased application of mindfulness techniques outside of the group setting, empowerment, improved academic performance and improved personal relationships. • Participants stressed preference for veteran only, or veteran & family only groups
Creative / Alternative Therapies FSU Creative Arts Therapy Workshops (Canto, McMackin, Hayden, Jeffrey, & Osborn, 2015): • Goals 1. 2. 3. 4.
Help student vets feel welcomed and appreciated Help with group bonding Provide opportunity for creative expression Allow for sharing of military experiences with each other and community
• Papermaking workshop & Glass Pouring Workshop 1. Holding workshops in fall helped new students feel welcomed 2. Workshops introduced students to departments, programs, & Staff they would otherwise not have encountered 3. Focus was on process and transformation; offered tangible experience of transforming something old into something new
Texas State Technical College • Texas State Technical College – 11 campuses – 11,595 Students (Fall 2015) – 1,020 Student Veterans (8.7%)
• Offers a wide variety of associates degrees and certificates in various technologies
TSTC - Waco Student Veteran Stats • Waco: 3,721 Students Enrolled Fall 2015
• 435 Student Veterans Enrolled Fall 2015 (11.6%) • Student Veterans & Dependents Receiving Education Benefits are included • Ages 18-68; Average age 29.5 years • 9.88% women; 90.11% men
TSTC Student Veteran Education Benefits Fall 2015 Student Veteran Benefit Usage • Hazelwood 41.36% • Ch. 33 Post 9/11 39.5% • Ch. 30 MGIB 9.2% • Ch. 31 Voc. Rehab 8.96% • Ch. 35 Dependents (like MGIB) 8.96% • Ch. 33T Post 9/11 Dependents 2.75% • 1606 & 1607 Guard & Reserves 2.52% • Not Using Benefits .68%
TSTC Student Veteran Degree Programs Fall 2015 Student Veteran Degree Programs Instrumentation 10.57% Computer Netowrking 10.35%
11% 31%
Welding 8.73%
11% 9%
Building Construction Technology 8.27% Biomed 8.27% Automotive 8.04%
7%
8%
7%
8%
8%
Air Pilot Training 6.89% Environmental Health & Safety 6.89% Other 31% - 26 Different Programs
TSTC Veteran’s Services Office Timeline • October 2014 – Received Grant to Fund Student Veterans Center – Hired Director, Counselor, Recruiter, School Certifying Official and Staff Assistant – All staff on board and working by JAN 2015; not all located in same office due to space constraints
• April 2015 – Moved to new Location • Established computer lab (4 computers, printer) • Established lounge area • New offices: all staff located together
TSTC Veteran’s Services Office Timeline May 2015 – Director Leaves – Veteran’s Services in Limbo about what will happen – Student Veterans Organization Leadership Change
July 2015 – Grand Opening Event w/ local organizations that work with veterans – Sponsored by several organizations – Approximately 200 attendees – First creative arts project!
TSTC Veteran’s Services Office Timeline August – Printmaking Workshop
September: Event Canceled October – – – –
Mask Making Workshop High Performance Brain Training Paint a Pumpkin at Trunk-or-Treat Costume Contest
TSTC Veteran’s Services Office Timeline November – Veterans Day: Memorial Wall & Free Hot Dog Lunch – Linoleum Cut Printmaking Workshop
December – Ugly Sweater Contest – Office Decorated; Ornaments for Student Veterans – Santa & Elves visit campus – Pictures with Santa
Lessons Learned What Has Not Worked? – Psychoeducation classes after business hours
What Still Needs More Time? – Facebook – Email Communications – Student Veterans Organization
Lessons Learned What Has Been Successful? – Speaking to TECH1100 Classes – Non-therapy oriented events and creative arts workshops open to everyone
Ideas for the Future? – Veterans Only TECH1100 Class – Veterans Orientation / Benefits Fair – Transition creative arts events into veteran and dependents only – Large Scale Collaborative Creative Arts Workshops with Baylor University and McLennan Community College – Collaborative Social Events
Lessons Learned Suggestions for Starting a Program – Have a knowledgeable and available individual or team for veterans to go see if they have questions – Centrally locating services within the same office helps students utilize more benefits – Staff need to be aware of social services available within the community, specifically financial services
Future of This Project What Will be Investigated: – Student veteran statistics – Changes in how counseling service utilization changes over time – Does participating in creative arts workshops facilitate utilization of counseling services?
Questions
Rachel Mims
[email protected] 254-867-3651
References Alfred, G. C., Hammer, J. H., & Good, G. E. (2012). Male student veterans: Hardiness, psychological well-being, and masculine norms. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 15(1), 95-99, doi:10.1037/a0031450 American Council on Education (ACE). (2009). Military service members and veterans in higher education: What the new GI bill may mean for postsecondary institutions. Retrieved from http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Service-Membersand-Veterans-in-Higher-Education-What-the-New-GI-Bill-May-Mean-forPostsecondary-Institutions-.aspx American Council on Education (ACE). (2012). From soldier to student II: Assessing campus programs for veterans and service members. Retrieved from http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/From-Soldier-to-Student-II.aspx American Council on Education (ACE). (2015). Veteran success jam. Retrieved from http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Veterans-Jam-2010.aspx Bryan, C. J., & Morrow, C. E. (2011). Circumventing metal health stigma by embracing the warrior culture: Lessons learned from the defender’s edge program. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 42(1), 16-23, doi:10.1037/a0022290
References Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health. (2009). 2009 pilot study: Executive summary (Publication No. STA 09-160 MPC105808). Retrieved from http://ccmh.psu.edu/wpcontent/uploads/sites/3058/2014/07/2009_CCMH_Report.pdf Church, T. E. (2009). Returning veterans on campus with war related injuries and the long road back home. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 43-52.
Ellison, M. L., Muller, L., Smelson, D., Corrigan, P. W., Torres Stone, R. A., Bokhour, B. G., Najavits, L. M., Vessella, J. M., & Drebing, C. (2012). Supporting the education goals of post-9/11 veterans with self-reported PTSD symptoms: A needs assessment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 35(3), 209-217. Foi:10.2975/35.3.2012.209.217 Griffin, K. A., Gilbert, C. K., (2015). Better transitions for troops: An application of Schlossberg’s transition framework to analyses of barriers and institutional support structures for student veterans. The Journal of Higher Education, 86(1), 71-97. Hoge, C. W., Castro, C. A., Messer, S. C., McGurk, D., Cotting, D. I., & Koffman, R. L. (2004). Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 351(1), 13-22.
References Kaplan, A. (2008). Untreated vets: A “gathering storm” of PTSD/Depression. Retrieved from http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/untreated-vets%E2%80%9Cgathering-storm%E2%80%9D-ptsddepression RAND Corporation. (2010). Service members in school: Military veterans’ experience using the post-9/11 GI bill and pursing postsecondary education. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1083.html Romero, D. H., Rigges, S. A., & Ruggero, C. (2015). Coping, family social support, and psychological symptoms among student veterans. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(2), 242-252. Doi:10.1037/cou0000061 Rudd, M. D., Goulding, J., & Bryan, C. J. (2011). Student veterans: A national survey exploring psychological symptoms and suicide risk. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(5), 354-360. doi://10.1037/a0025164
Smee, D., Buenrosto, S., Garrick, T., Sreenivasan, S., & Weinberger, L. E. (2013). Combat to college: Cognitive fatigue as a challenge in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with traumatic brain injury: Pilot study survey. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 44(4), 25-33.
References Strom T. Q., Gavian, M. E., Possis, E., Loughlin, J., Thao, B., Lindardatos, E., Leskela, J., Siegel, W. (2012). Cultural and ethical considerations when working with military personnel and veterans: A primer for VA training programs. Training and Education in Profession Psychology, 6(2), 67-75. doi:10.1037/a0028275 Student Veterans of America. (2015). Chapter directory. Retrieved from http://studentveterans.org/index.php/chapter/directory U.S. Department of Education. (2014). Services and support programs for military service member and veterans at postsecondary institutions, 2012-2014. https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2014017 U.S. Department of Education. (2015). Table 105.50 number of educational institutions, by level and control of institutions: Selected years, 1980-81 through 2011-12. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_105.50.asp U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (2010). National survey of veterans, active duty service members, demobilized national guard and reserve members, family members, and surviving spouses. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/SURVIVORS/docs/NVSSurveyFinalWeightedReport.pdf
References U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (2014). Characteristics of student veterans. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/studentveteran/docs/ed_todaysStudent Vets.html U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2013). VA education benefits: Student characteristics and outcomes vary across schools (GAO-13-567). Retrieved from http://gao.gov/assets/660/656204.pdf Vance, M.L., & Miller II, W. K. (2009). Serving wounded warrior: Current practices in postsecondary education. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disabilities, 22(1). Wisner, B. L., Krugh, M. E., Ausbrooks. A., Russell, A., Chavkin, N. F., & Selber, L. (2015). An exploratory study of the benefits of a mindful skills group for student veterans. Social Work in Mental Health, 13, 128-144. doi:10.1080/15332985.2014.972009
