#VeteranResearch Housekeeping Bathrooms Wi-fi Food #VeteranResearch Feedback Questions

#VeteranResearch Just No

#VeteranResearch I apologize

#VeteranResearch Quickly

#VeteranResearch The 1% fighting for the 100%

#VeteranResearch Demographics Texas is tops in OIF / OEF Veterans and Woman Veterans Not as many as people think

#VeteranResearch ACS accessed 24 MAR 2015

#VeteranResearch ACS accessed 24 MAR 2015

#VeteranResearch Marriage Rates (2010)

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Demographics EraUSTexasTexas' Percent Total:19,588,5861,583, Gulf War (9/2001 or later), no Gulf War (8/1990 to 8/2001), no Vietnam Era1,679,433146, Gulf War (9/2001 or later) and Gulf War (8/1990 to 8/2001), no Vietnam Era1,006,50185, Gulf War (8/1990 to 8/2001), no Vietnam Era2,196,161218, ,882,095450,7939 Active Duty Members (2013)1,370, ,796 Total Sponsors1,192, , Total Family Members (2013)1,644, ,

#VeteranResearch Demographics Bottom Line: More than 100,000 military spouses in Texas, more than 175,000 kids About 10% of all military family members are in Texas / 5% of DoD Family at Ft Hood

#VeteranResearch Issues ACES Scores Military does own assessments Military families higher score than general population Higher scoring people join military at higher rate Brats vs. C.H.A.M.P.S.

#VeteranResearch Demographics Since 2001, more than 2 million American children have had a parent deployed at least once. More than 900,000 children have experienced the deployment of one or both parents multiple times. Children in military families experience high rates of mental health, trauma, and related problems. About 30% reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks during the past 12 months. Nearly 1 in 4 reported having considered suicide. 37% of children with a deployed parent reported that they seriously worry about what could happen to their deployed caretaker. Multiple and prolonged deployment also has an effect on spouses, with 36.6% of women having at least one mental health diagnosis compared to 30% of women whose husbands were not deployed. Bereavement experts report that for each active duty military loss, an average of 10 people are significantly impacted. In the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, an estimated 68,360 family members have been significantly impacted.

#VeteranResearch 2014 Partner Abuse Study Journal of Family Social Work, PA State College Paucity of studies, but reports of PA in homes up to 60% 56% of OIF / OEF Veterans perpetrating abuse, compared to 32% for Vietnam Veterans Recommended further study, intervention, enhancing quality of PA research

#VeteranResearch Coping Children cope in different ways Young children externalize Most impacted by deployment & absence Recent studies show girls more troubled School age children internalize (fear, sensitivity to media coverage, school performance) Adolescents increase responsibility & independence while dropping grades, increasing behavior problems

#VeteranResearch MilWives & Suicide (military.com) And mental health professionals are also coming around to recognizing the existence of “Secondary PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)” that family members can experience in dealing with a troubled service member. “I was stunned when I was told there are too many to track,” Mrs. Mullen said in calling on the services to confront the problem and implement prevention measures with spouses in mind. “There’s another side to this and that’s family members who commit suicide,” Mrs. Mullen said. “It’s our responsibility. These are our family members.” She also noted the stigma problem in getting treatment: “Spouses tell me all the time that they want to get mental health assistance. As incorrect as this is, they really do believe if they seek help it will have a negative impact on their spouse’s military career.”

#VeteranResearch Issues identified by Family Council Selected military family issues raised by University of Maryland Summit attendees Length of deployments/multiple deployments Need to improve access to medical care, psychological health and other support services Need for standard, consistent, predictable programs regardless of component/location Addressing stigma of seeking and obtaining mental health and family support services Challenge of providing support & information to geographically dispersed families Need to communicate the resources/information about family and community support to families Effects of deployments on children and youth Financial issues faced by military families (particularly for Guard and Reserve ) TRICARE issues, such as a lack of providers and challenges making appointments Childcare, including the need for flexibility, equitability, accessibility (particularly for Reserve component families)

#VeteranResearch Homeless Woman Veterans Although women represent only 8 percent of the sheltered veteran population, they are twice as likely to be homeless compared to female nonveterans in the United States. Estimated 1,400 homeless female vets in 2006 and 3,300 in Woman veterans at risk for homelessness are generally younger and more likely to have resided in prior housing than their male counterparts. Because women are serving in the military in increasing numbers, experts estimate that by 2018, 10 percent of the veteran population will be female. According to a VA study of nearly 200 women in Los Angeles, unemployment, disability, and unmarried status were among the strongest predictors of homelessness for female veterans. Female veterans are at a greater risk of entering the shelter system Twenty-eight percent of women in the HUD-VASH program have a child living with them, Dougherty noted. A recent report by the VA's Inspector General revealed that some homeless women were concerned for their safety at shelters—preferring even to remain on the streets rather than risk sleeping in a bedroom without locks or having to share a common bathroom with male residents. Transitional housing for women with children is scarce, a significant barrier to female veterans who are single mothers. Limited housing for these women and their children puts them at continued risk for homelessness.

#VeteranResearch Alternative treatments Results: Approximately 45% of respondents reported using at least one type of CAM therapy. Most commonly used therapies were as follows: prayer for one’s own health (24.4%), massage therapy (14.1%), and relaxation techniques (10.8%). After exclusion of prayer for one’s own health, adjusting to the 2000 U.S. census, overall CAM use in the military (44.5%) was higher than that in comparable civilian surveys (36.0% and 38.3%). Conclusions: Military personnel reported using three CAM stress- reduction therapies at 2.5–7 times the rate of civilians. Among the military, high utilization of CAM practices that reduce stress may serve as markers for Practitioners assessing an individual’s health and well- being.

#VeteranResearch Mental Health Wait Times * Hobbs NM clinic serves counties in Panhandle

#VeteranResearch Solutions State programs TVC Woman Veteran Initiative Hazlewood Legacy Act Ad valorem tax exemptions for survivors of 100% disabled Veterans TCCVS suggestions Texas Veterans App (free at Play & App store)

#VeteranResearch Peer Network: 2015 DSHS State Coordinator Volunteer Coordinators (34+) Peer Volunteers (800+) Field Clinicians (TBD – 1+ of 5)

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View the latest at

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The Future

#VeteranResearch References National Alliance to End Homelessness, The State of Homelessness in America 2012 (Washington, DC: National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2012). United States Department of Veteran Affairs, "Homeless Veterans: About the Initiative," accessed on April 17, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (Washington, DC: HUD and VA, 2011). National Alliance to End Homelessness, The State of Homelessness in America HUD and VA, Veteran Homelessness. Daniel Bertoni, Homeless Women Veterans: Actions Needed to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Housing (Washington, DC: Government Accountability Office, 2011), accessed on April 6, VA, Women's Health Research at VA Fact Sheet (March 2012). VA Office of Inspector General, Veterans Health Administration: Audit of the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, March 12, United States Department of Veteran Affairs, "Health Benefits," accessed on May 15, VA, VA Programs for Homeless Veterans Fact Sheet (September 2011).

Where Research meets the Road

#VeteranResearch 1,564,501 (U.S. Census, American Community Survey)

#VeteranResearch Texas Veteran growth Texas California & Florida

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Where Research meets the Road

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SmallVictoriesFoundation.org

Where Research meets the Road