Behavioral Health Webinar Series. Making HBCU Campuses More Military Friendly for Student Veterans

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1 Morehouse School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences HBCU - Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health Behavioral Health Webinar Series Making HBCU Campuses More Military Friendly for Student Veterans Presenter Mark Eister Director of Military Outreach Georgia Perimeter College July 29 th, 2014

2 HBCU - Center for Excellence Overview Through a Cooperative Agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, (CSAT) and Center for Mental Health Services, (CMHS) Morehouse School of Medicine established the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health (HBCU-CFE), funded as Grant No. TI

3 Goals of the HBCU Promote student behavioral health to positively impact student retention Expand campus service capacity, including the provision of culturally appropriate behavioral health resources Facilitate best practices dissemination and behavioral health workforce development

4 Mr. Mark Eister Director of Military Outreach, Georgia Perimeter College Mark Eister is a US Army Veteran with over 21 years of honorable service, with a combat tour in Afghanistan. He is currently the Director of Military Outreach at Georgia Perimeter College, serving and assisting over 1,100 student veterans each semester. Mark earned his BS in Theology from Liberty University and his MBA from TUI University. He has developed a number of internal programs at GPC designed to serve student veterans and to educate and inform staff and faculty on veterans challenges and issues. His efforts have been recognized both regionally and nationally as best practices and he is routinely consulted to assist and guide other colleges and universities in creating or developing their own veteran outreach programs. Mark routinely participates in veteran-related panels and presents at conferences and seminars across the State and the Nation aimed at improving the college experience and success of student veterans.

5 Making HBCU Campuses More Military Friendly for Student Veterans Mark Eister Director of Military Outreach Georgia Perimeter College July 29, 2014

6 Agenda Military/Veteran Profile Transition Challenges VA Benefits Trends Veteran Statistics Best Practices/Services Offered Q & A

7 Who is a Student Veteran? Student Veterans are a diverse group: From all branches of the military Range in age, race/ethnicity, and gender Have served during times of war and peace Have different educational goals More likely to have families

8 Who is a Student Veteran? Student Veterans have unique challenges: Many transitioning from combat to classroom Moving into a less structured environment Some, but not all, have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), etc. Challenges navigating VA benefits process Have never attended college or have been out of school for a long time

9 Military Experience Separation from family or loved ones Most are leaving home for the first time Separation from extended family and close friends Separation from boyfriends and girlfriends May be assigned to a base in a different part of the country or world Adjustments to new climates and culture Upon exiting service, lose their military family

10 Military Experience: Deployments Military personnel currently deployed to nearly 150 countries around the world Combat deployments last from 6-18 months 2.5 million have served in Iraq and Afghanistan; 1.6 million of those are now veteran status Multiple deployments Over 400,000 have deployed three or more times

11 Transition Strengths Veterans transitioning out of the military onto college campuses bring a unique perspective Military training Life experience Expansive world view Skills taught in the military help students to be successful Leadership Discipline/Motivation Time Management Work Ethic Stress Management

12 Transition Challenges Issues that may arise during the transition process can become barriers to success Difficulty translating military skills into a new profession Difficulty changing focus from military to civilian Translating military skills and training into college credits Schools deciphering transfer credits from multiple institutions Difficulty navigating the application, enrollment and registration process Difficulty using GI Bill and other VA benefits

13 Transition Challenges Being an older student Freshman 24+ years old with 18 year old classmates Alienation Veterans may find it difficult to integrate on campus due to their different life experiences Insensitivity of some classmates, faculty, and others on campus when discussing military and war Veterans may not agree with discussions or may feel attacked when asked about their experiences

14 Student Veterans with Disabilities 23% to 31% of Veterans of OIF/OEF have PTSD symptoms and 20% have mild TBIs. Some of these veterans are on our campuses. Adjusting to and accepting their new disability Unaware of available services on campus May not want to identify as having a disability due to stigma, pride, etc.

15 Transition Difficulties Things to understand about student veterans in the classroom: Some may... Have difficulty relating to classmates Find loud noises to be disturbing Become anxious with changes in the classroom Have excessive absences Have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)

16 Transition Concerns with Combat Stress Depression and suicide thoughts Anger issues Alienation and isolation Transition/adjustment issues Grief/loss Flashbacks Self esteem/negative self-image Sleep disturbances or concentration problems

17 Transition Concerns with Combat Stress Communication and family/interpersonal conflicts Loss of interest in things once loved Memory impairment Problems with relationships Alcohol and drug problems Survivor s guilt Trust issues Stress and anxiety

18 Veteran Benefits Student Veterans are using a variety of VA educational benefits Post 9/11 GI Bill Selected Reserve GI Bill Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill National Call to Service Program Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP) Survivors & Dependents Assistance (DEA) Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

19 Veteran Stats Georgia has over 800,000 Veterans US forces have returned from Iraq US forces will soon be coming home from Afghanistan, greatly increasing student veteran populations Planned military drawdown will bring even more veterans to our campuses

20 Strategies for Being More Military Friendly Senior Leadership Involvement and Support MOC (Military Outreach Center) Military Scholarships SVA (Student Veterans Association) Green Zone MVP (Mentoring Veterans Program) CAV (Calling All Veterans) Campaign Free Tutoring Inter-departmental Collaboration/Cooperation Local Organizational Support

21 Georgia Perimeter College Military Outreach Center Veterans Lounge, Computer Lab, Library, Study Area, Kitchenette, Conference/Training Room, Advisement Offices, SVA (Student Veterans Association) Staffed full-time by military veterans Provides services to active military, veterans and their families in the following areas: Financial Aid Academic Advising VA Benefits Information Disability Accommodations Personal Counseling Services Peer-to-Peer Support and Mentoring Referral to State and Federal Resources

22 Georgia Perimeter College Military Outreach Center Computers Free Printing Free Snacks and Drinks Kitchenette Lounge Area TV/DVD Study Area Advisement Offices Conference and Meeting Space Mark Eister and Chris Noerjadi with MOC Donations

23 MOC Resource Booths Located on all five GPC Campuses Staffed by VA Work-Study students

24 GPC Military Scholarships Military Outreach Scholarship VFW Post Scholarship Remington Youngblood/Change4Georgia Scholarship AVVBA (Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association) Scholarship American Legion Post 66 Scholarship COL Robert E. Rogan Scholarship

25 SVA (Student Veterans Association) An approved chapter of the national organization Student Veterans of America. Student-led, college-wide organization providing veterans the opportunity to meet together to study, relax, plan events and perform community service.

26 Green Zone Supporting Student Veterans MVP Mentoring Veterans Program CAV Calling All Veterans

27 Military Outreach Center Mark Eister, MOC Director John Douglas, MOC Coordinator Chris Noerjadi, Military Student Advocate Hours: Monday Friday, 8am-5pm Phone:

28 Things to Remember College/university senior leadership support is essential to becoming a Military Friendly School. Student veterans are a unique population with very different experiences than other students. There are numerous methods and strategies for supporting and assisting student veterans.

29 QUESTIONS?

30 Our Speaker Mr. Mark T. Eister Director of Military Outreach Georgia Perimeter College

31 Contact Us! HBUC-Center for Excellence at Morehouse School of Medicine 720 Westview Dr. SW - Atlanta, GA Office: HBCU (4228) Dr. Eugene Herrington Co-Project Director HBCU - Center for Excellence [email protected] Mrs. Joan Trent Program Coordinator HBCU- Center for Excellence [email protected] Visit