2018 Awareness Day Final Report AD2018_FinalReport_FINAL | Page 13

Creating Trauma-Informed Care for Military Families
Trauma-related experiences are particularly unique and important for the children and youth of
the men and women in our nation’s uniformed military services. Service members can experience
high-stress, life-or-death situations, and loss of friends on the battlefield, and they may also worry
about their family’s health and security from across the globe. That is why their experiences and
opportunities for help were featured as one of the discussion panels for Awareness Day 2018.
“When the family is being taken care of at home, it gives you that base to go do your mission,” says
Guy Kiyokawa, Deputy Director for the Defense Health Agency. “And I think that’s what it’s all about.”
At the same time, children and youth in military families may face their own experiences of
separation, fear, and loss. As Dr. Linda L. Curtis, Principal Deputy Director and Associate Director of
Academics for the Department of Defense Education Activity put it, “When someone serves in the
military, the family serves too.”
The Department of Defense has a provider readiness program where providers can learn the cultural
and relational skills they need to work with military families and understand their special stressors
and issues, such as deployments, frequent moves, life-changing injuries, etc. According to Stephanie
Barna, PTDO Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at DOD, “The Department’s
managed system of care will designate providers as such on their website so that military families
can engage with them specifically.”
“There have been so many military members and families who
have gotten help and had very successful careers. Get help in
any way that you feel comfortable. Don’t suffer in silence.”
RACHEL CONLEY, Ombudsman/Military Family Advocate
— RACHEL CONLEY, Ombudsman/Military Family Advocate
PARTNERING FOR HEALTH AND HOPE FOLLOWING TRAUMA
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