“This program gave our normal, healthy Army
family the assistance to handle the abnormal,
unhealthy losses that three prolonged family
separations brought to our children.”
— Tracy Kehrer
Those multiple deployments put
unprecedented amounts of stress on
families and relationships, Dr. Kotrla says.
“One of the major triggers for suicide after
deployment is the breakup of a relationship.
We offer treatments and interventions in
strained relationships to help families realize
that readjustment is normal, that everyone
is struggling with these issues, and there is
support available.” Soldiers may spend
three months preparing for deployments of
12 to 15 months, and three months
readjusting afterward. “So basically, you
have to catch up on child development,
spouse changes, everything, in six months,”
Ms. Trent says. “Families are telling us that
is just not enough time.” The program is
working on a model for best practices for
this situation, she says, including teaching
parents how to maintain their resiliency and
help their children.
Continued Support
Operation Home Front is now in the
second year of a two-year grant. To keep it
going, Scott & White will seek funds from
individuals, corporations and foundations,
Mr. Wright says. He is also hopeful that
additional TRIAD funds will become
available when the current grant ends.
“Our soldiers and their families need
support not just when they get home, but
for many years,” Dr. Kotrla says. Ms.
Kehrer hopes that the program will
continue as well. “This program gave our
normal, healthy Army family the
assistance to handle the abnormal,
unhealthy losses that three prolonged
family separations brought to our
children. Their dad missed Halloween,
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and
the girls’ birthdays two years in a row. We
hadn’t even brought closure to the
heartaches from the first time he left. We
can’t let this program end.” ■
Military Support Conference Held at Scott & White
In June 2008, Scott & White hosted a two-day meeting of representatives
from 24 government, educational, non-profit and healthcare organizations
across Texas that serve military personnel and families dealing with
issues related to deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq. Some of the
organizations are recipients of grants from TRIAD, and others were
interested in applying for a grant.
“The conference provided an opportunity to better understand what
services are available, how to better reach military families and how to
provide effective, efficient and sustainable programs,” says Matthew
Wright, director of foundation and corporate relations, Scott & White
Healthcare. “It also gave attendees the chance to hear, directly from
military families, what is important to them.”
At the luncheon sponsored by Scott & White, a panel of 10 representatives
from military families gave firsthand accounts of the stresses of deployment,
the barriers to securing mental health services, and the cost to military
families. General Raymond Odierno, currently commanding Multi-National
Force-Iraq, and Colonel Brett Wyrick of the National Guard also spoke to
the conference about the desperate need for support for these families.
“The message was clear,” Mr. Wright says. “The military does its best,
but the need is too great, and families need and deserve the help of
these organizations.”
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