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Milwaukee County
War Memorial
November 3-4, 2016
8am - 5pm
Wisconsin Warrior Summit
“Helping Veterans and their families
who survived the war;
thrive in the peace.”
Wisconsin Warrior Summit Participants,
Thank you for registering for the 2016 Wisconsin Warrior
Summit. The summit will allow you to see the military
members and the community engaging in conversations to
better educate themselves in their struggles to return home.
This transition back into civilian life is part of why we
started Dryhootch in the first place. I strongly encourage
you to soak up as much knowledge as you can throughout
the next 48 hours to take back to your own communities.
When we opened the first Dryhootch coffee shop on Brady
Street in 2010, we could not have imagined hosting a
conference of such great caliber. I would like to personally
thank our partners at the Medical College of Wisconsin,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Veterans Health
Coalition, and the Dryhootch team for spending countless
hours developing, debating, and diligently working to put
this conference together. To our sponsors, community
partners, and participants at this conference, thank you
from the bottom of my heart for making the conscientious
decision to support the Dryhootch mission.
Please, return to your community as a wealth of information
with the ideas, resources, and knowledge that you will
acquire from this two day conference. Thank you again for
joining us for the 2016 Wisconsin Warrior Summit.
Sincerely, Robert Curry
President & Founder Dryhootch of America, Inc
Supporters
Dr. Marijo Rommelfaenger
Dr. Ginny Stoffel
8am
9am
10am
11am
12pm
1pm
Registration
8 - 8:30
Welcome Ceremony & Keynote Speakers:
Robert Curry, Daniel Zomchek, Zeno Franco, and Paul Alt
8:30 - 9:45
Break 9:45 - 10
Veteran/Family Member Panel
Moderated by Robert Curry
10 - 11:30
Vendors and Resource Tables
11:30 - 12
Lunch
12 - 1
Plan Your Day
8am
9am
10am
11am
12pm
1pm
Registration
8 - 8:30
Welcome Ceremony & Keynote Speakers:
Robert Curry, Daniel Zomchek, Zeno Franco, and Paul Alt
8:30 - 9:45
Break 9:45 - 10
Veteran/Family Member Panel
Moderated by Robert Curry
10 - 11:30
Resource Tables
11:30 - 12
Lunch
12 - 1
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
Break Out Session 1
Break to View Vendors and Resource Tables 1:45-2
Veterans Health Coalition
4:10 - 4:40
Comraderie, Service and
Peer Support
3:15 - 4
UWM Initiatives
1 - 1:45
Military Sexual Trauma
3:15 - 4
Veteran Employment and
Retention
3:15 - 4
PTSD/TBI
1 - 1:45
Art/Theatre
2 - 2:45
Military Culture
1 - 1:45
Veteran Treatment
Court
1 - 1:45
Warrior Stories
2 - 2:45
Military Veterans
Educational Bene-
fits
2 - 2:45
Suicide
Prevention
2 - 2:45
Break Out Session 2
Break to View Vendors, Resource Tables, and Research Presentations 2:45-3:15
Break Out Session 3
Day One Wrap Up 4:40-4:50
Research Posters
2 - 2:45
Crisis Prevention/
iPeer
1 - 1:45
Translating MH Research
3:15 - 4
November 3 (Day 1)
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
Break Out Session 1
Break to View Resource Tables 1:45-2
Veterans Health Coalition
4:10 - 4:40
Comraderie, Service and
Peer Support
3:15 - 4
UWM Initiatives
1 - 1:45
Military Sexual Trauma
3:15 - 4
Veteran Employment and
Retention
3:15 - 4
PTSD/TBI
1 - 1:45
Art/Theatre
2 - 2:45
Military Culture
1 - 1:45
Veteran Treatment
Court
1 - 1:45
Warrior Stories
2 - 2:45
Military Veterans
Educational
Benefits
2 - 2:45
Suicide
Prevention
2 - 2:45
Break Out Session 2
Break to View Resource Tables 2:45-3:15
Break Out Session 3
Day One Wrap Up 4:40-4:50
Research Posters
2 - 2:45
Crisis Prevention/
iPeer
1 - 1:45
Translating MH Research
3:15 - 4
Plan Your Day
8am
9am
10am
11am
12pm
1pm
Registration
8-8:30
Welcome and Keynote Speaker: Jason Moon
(Musician, Storyteller, Veteran)
“7 Things not to Say to a Veteran”
8:30-10
Moral Injury Lived Experience Panel
10:15 - 11:45
Vendors and Resource Tables
11:45 - 1
Lunch
12 - 1
(please visit the vendor resource tables during lunch)
Break 10-10:15
November 4 (Day 2)
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
Complimentary and Alternative Therapies in Mental Health
Colleen Heinkel, PhD.
1-2
Reintegration/ Vulnerable Transitions– Lifespan
Jon Christensen, MSed, MS, LPC, CSAC
2:15 - 3:15
War and the Human Spirit
Mike Orban
3:30 - 4:30
Break 2-2:15
Break 3:15-3:30
Session Descriptions Day 1
Community Organization
Engagement and Initiatives
“The world is being re-shaped by the
convergence of social, mobile, cloud, big da-
ta, community and other powerful
forces. The combination of these
technologies unlocks an incredible
opportunity to connect everything
together in a new way and is dramatically
transforming the way we live and work.”
~Marc Benioff
American Entrepreneur
Chairman and CEO of Salesforce
Keynote Speaker 8:30-9:45
Robert Curry is president and founder of Dryhootch of America. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972 co-piloting over 250 combat missions in
Vietnam and Laos. In 2005, Robert was diagnosed as 100% permanently
disabled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of these
experiences. He founded Dryhootch in 2008 as a means to help the younger
generation of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans combat PTSD and drug/alcohol
addiction.
Dr. Daniel S. Zomchek, PhD is Director of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center,
previously serving as Associate Director of the Edward Hines Jr. VA in IL and
the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA. His
additional VA experiences includes work as a clinical provider and clinical
manager; Healthcare System Specialist for the VA healthcare system of Ohio
(VISN 10): Acting Hospital Director at Hines VA Hospital and Acting
Sub-Initiative Lead for one of the VA Secretary’s Major Transformation
Initiatives. Dr. Zomchek is a Certified Mentor and is board certified in
Healthcare Management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare
Executives.
Zeno Franco, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family &
Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Franco’s
research focuses primarily on improving strategies for community-based
participatory research (CBPR) with US military Veterans. Dr. Franco has
developed a research partnership with Dryhootch over the last 7 years, serving
as the PI for a large Healthier Wisconsin Partnership grant collaboratively
developed with Dryhootch to better serve younger Veterans returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan. He has authored multiple journal articles and book chapters
on CBPR approaches designed to better integrate Veteran serving non-profits
and healthcare systems.
Paul Alt is an architect whose team collaborates with Veterans, artists,
academics, neuro psychologists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, medicine men,
writers, musicians, families, social psychologists, research psychologists and
other architects who are proposing architecture as a tool for healing within
Veteran, wounded warriors, urban communities, and hospitals. The work
focuses on evidence based design principles applied to communal, sacred,
contemplative and community spaces for behavioral health, education and
community resilience.
Veteran/Family Member Panel 10-11:30
TITLE: Veteran and Family Member Panel
Moderated by Robert Curry, Dryhootch of America, Inc
SESSION DESCRIPTION
This session will focus on the things Veterans are often unable to say/express
upon returning to civilian life. There will be a mix of Veterans and family
members discussing their war experience and the journey to reintegration to
civilian life.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify challenges Veterans and family members face post deployment
Understand ways that family and friends can support the Veteran and their
family
Veteran Treatment Court 1-1:45
TITLE: Veteran Treatment Court
Paul Brodwin, PhD., UWM Professor of Anthropology
Hon. Carl Ashley, Milwaukee Count VTI Judge
Abby Ziebell, LCSW, SAC, Veteran Justice Outreach Coordination
Michelle Watts, LCSW, SAC, Veteran Justice Outreach Coordination
Deputy Jeff Altenburg, Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office
JC Moore, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Milwaukee County Veteran Treatment Initiative (VTI) is a specialty court within
the criminal justice system that assists Veterans who accept responsibility for
qualifying felony or misdemeanor offenses committed and who want assistance
from fellow Veterans, the U.S. and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs,
and veteran’s service organizations to address treatment, rehabilitation,
employment and housing needs. The goal of the VTI is to promote public safety
while helping those who served in our nation’s military, honoring their sacrifice
and service. The targeted outcomes of the VTI are to reduce criminal recidi-
vism, decrease homelessness, increase connections to eligible VA services,
increase financial stability, decrease substance and alcohol abuse, improve
family relations and social support connections, and to increase connections to
appropriate mental health services.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe the purpose of specialty treatment courts
State the components of the Milwaukee VTI
Discuss VTI results
Military Culture 1-1:45
TITILE: Military Culture from a Veterans’ Perspective
Mike Crawford is a US Army Veteran (1984-1988) and Wisconsin Certified
Peer Support Specialist who has worked with Dryhootch of America since
2012. Crawford is a proud Veteran in long term recovery.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
This session will provide a general overview of Veteran culture. It will highlight
common integration challenges faced by veterans and their social support
networks. The presentation will include: dynamics of combat experience
versus civilian experience, explanation of issues stemming from transition
challenges, mental health issues (increasing suicide concerns, traumatic brain
injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.), alcohol/drug abuse and domestic
violence. Attendees will develop a basic understanding of military culture, be
aware that combat Veterans are increasingly encountering law enforcement/
court systems because of difficulties transitioning after deployments and know
where to refer them for services/support.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
List three contrasts between military and civilian culture
Describe examples of how cultural values in the military can create reinte-
gration issues for Veterans
Discuss ways that civilians can learn more about military culture
UWM Initiatives 1-1:45
Title: Building Veteran-Friendly Communities in Higher Education:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a Case Study
Presenters are all employees of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and are
members of the UWM Veterans Advisory Council to the Chancellor (VACC):
Heidi Plach, Clinical Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Science &
Technology and co-chair VACC
Ginny Stoffel, Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Science &
Technology
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Since 2008, grass roots leaders from faculty, staff and student ranks have
worked together to support the success of military and Veteran students at
UWM. The Veterans Advisory Council to the Chancellor (VACC) became fully
recognized by Chancellor Mark Mone in the Fall of 2015. This session will
include the perspectives of faculty, staff, students and alumni who are shaping
programs, services and policies in order to meet their Mission. The VACC’s
mission is to: Foster a Veteran friendly and inclusive campus to promote the
academic, personal, and professional goals of military and Veteran students
and those who support them through advocacy, academic resources,
development of policies and practices, and educational research. As a campus
resource, we will build alliances on campus and within the community to
provide excellent services, ensuring student Veterans take full advantage of
their educational experience.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify how grass roots efforts transform over time towards building
Veteran-friendly programs and resources
Learn from the VACC leadership team’s experiences crossing faculty, staff
and student roles across academic and student life to coalesce and
influence change
Share strategies for supporting the success of military and Veteran
students as they pursue their academic goals
PTSD/ TBI 1-1:45
TITLE: PTSD/TBI
Peter Graskamp, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at the Veterans Affairs
Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received his doctorate degree
from Marquette University. He works with the Polytrauma team at the VA
hospital serving Veterans who are undergoing rehabilitation for multiple brain,
musculoskeletal, and psychological injuries.
Michael McBride, MS, MD is a local Recovery Coordinator and Staff
Psychologist, Clement Zablocki VA Medial Center; Commander US Navy
Reserves.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
More than two million Americans have now returned from military service
overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Participants will learn about the experience
of these new Veterans, with a primary goal to provide them with understanding
and perspective necessary to support an optimal outcome to this major life
transition.
Given the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other
problems in Veterans, emphasis will be on the typical deployment experiences
of troops, including linking specific warzone experiences with the psychological
symptoms and behavior that they may produce. Substantial focus on the
psychological experience of "homecoming” which impacts not only the returning
serviceman or woman but also resonates throughout the extended family
system.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Review the current pathophysiology and natural history of PTSD and TBI
Describe evolutionary models of PTSD and the difference between Type 1
and Type 2 PTSD
Practice effective techniques for shifting from a sympathetic to
parasympathetic states
Identify how TBI is diagnosed and how severity is determined.
Identify treatments for common symptoms after TBI
Crisis Prevention / iPeer 1-1:45
TITLE: Social Context Angry Outburst Detection System for At-Risk
Veterans.
Nadiyah Johnson is a research assistant for the Ubicomp Laboratory at
Marquette University. She currently works on mobile health (mHealth)
research. Nadia intends on completing the computational science program in
May of 2016. She currently is working on developing a social context
middleware for at-risk veterans.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE S
Text analysis for detecting the crisis event (angry outburst)
GPS analysis for detecting the crisis event (angry outburst)
Physiological analysis for detecting the crisis event (angry outburst)
Zeno Franco, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family &
Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Franco’s
research focuses primarily on improving strategies for community-based
participatory research (CBPR) with US military Veterans. Dr. Franco has
developed a research partnership with Dryhootch over the last 7 years, serving
as the PI for a large Healthier Wisconsin Partnership grant collaboratively
developed with Dryhootch to better serve younger Veterans returning from Iraq
and Afghanistan. He has authored multiple journal articles and book chapters
on CBPR approaches designed to better integrate Veteran serving non-profits
and healthcare systems.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe how peer mentorship affects student reintegration
List three findings the iPeer soci-otechno intervention
Military Veterans Educational Benefits 2-2:45
TITLE: Milwaukee County Veteran Services
James Schmidt, UWM, Veterans Benefits Coordinator
SESSION DESCRIPTION
UWM’s Military Education Benefits Office (MEBO) is dedicated to providing
current and past members of the military as well as their qualifying depend-
ents with accurate information and timely processing of their state and feder-
al military educational benefits. MEBO works with Veterans to answer any
specific questions they may have regarding the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Federal
Montgomery GI Bill, the Wisconsin GI Bill, the National Guard Tuition Grant,
VetEd Tuition Reimbursement, Students called to Active Duty, and With-
drawal policies. The office is open year-round to assist the Veteran with cer-
tification of their military education benefits. This session will orient partici-
pants to benefits and services the Veterans are eligible for regarding finan-
cial aid, student employment, & military education benefits
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
List the features of UWM’s Military Education Benefits Office
Describe the benefits and services that student Veterans are eligible to
obtain
Art / Theater 2-2:45
TITLE: The Memory of Trauma: reclaiming experience and re-integrating the
Wounded Warrior through the embodied performance of Shakespeare.
Feast of Crispian, a Milwaukee based non-profit that uses Theatre, Acting processes and Shakespeare text and performance to support somatic and
emotional re-integration for post-deployment combat Veterans.
Nancy Smith-Watson is a trauma informed Somatic Body worker, professional actress and Founder and Director of Feast of Crispian. She has trained at Circle-In-The-Square’s professional acting training program in NYC and as a somatic therapist in integrative somatics in Boulder, CO and Austin,
TX.
Jim Tasse is an actor, director, Senior Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, Co-Founder of Feast of Crispian and a Vietnam Era Veteran. He trained with UW-M’s Professional Theatre Training Program and has performed with many Milwaukee theatre companies. He also served as Associate Artistic
Director for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.
Bill Watson is an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, professional actor, director and Co-Founder of Feast of Crispian. Trained at the University of Washington he has acted in such theatres as the Colorado Shakespeare Company, The Seattle Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre among many others.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Participants will be lead through theatre acting processes and Shakespeare text and performance to experience techniques used to support somatic and
emotional re-integration for post-deployment combat veterans.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Understand how speaking dramatic verse works to stimulate and release
emotional responses
To use the safe container of the “mask of character” as a tool in the treatment of trauma to begin building a new relationship with emotional
expression
Experience and learn techniques that allow the participants to observe or participate in an immediate, unprepared performance of a Shakespeare scene, fully supported by workshop facilitators in a way that requires no preparation or prior experience with Shakespeare or performance and
creates safe, potentially therapeutic emotional experiences
Warrior Stories 2-2:45
TITLE: The Warrior Stories Platform: A New App for PTSD, Reintegration,
and Resilience
Jenny Korotko comes from a large military family and maintains a private
practice specializing in trauma. Prior to joining Warrior Stories Platform, she
volunteered providing clinical services to a number of Veteran-serving
agencies. Jenny received her BFA from SAIC and her Masters in Counseling
and Art Therapy from Adler University.
SESSION DESCRIPTON
Warrior Stories is a web-based visual storytelling tool developed to help
Veterans communicate their experiences to therapists, peers, and family
through “graphic novel” style images. Therapists and veteran service
organizations can use the app for PTSD therapy, to provide a positive way to
document and share experiences, and to establish and monitor progress
against life goals. The presentation will:
Introduce the Warrior Stories app
Share panels and stories created by Veterans using the app
Discuss how the app can be used with individuals and groups
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe how visual storytelling can be used to reframe trauma, assist in
reintegration, and build resilience
Describe how the Warrior Stories Platform provides Veterans a visual way
to tell their stories
Evaluate the opportunity to pilot the Warrior Stories Platform with their
organizations
Suicide Prevention 2-2:45
TITLE: Suicide Prevention Program at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center
Karen Gage-Worgull, LCSW, has dedicated a 25 year career with the
Department of Veterans Affairs and 40 years practicing as a social worker. She
graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a BA in Social Work
in 1975 and her Master from Arizona State University in 1991. Karen has
practiced social work in a variety of fields from nursing home social work to
child protective services and finally with Veterans. Karen ‘s career at the
Department of Veterans Affairs includes 20 years providing PTSD therapy for
combat Veterans and 5 years with the Suicide Prevention Team.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
This session will review the most recent national statistics on suicide among
Veterans, the myths and realities of suicide, a review of the VA’s training
program for all staff on suicide (which is also available to the community
through the Suicide Prevention Program at the Zablocki VAMC), the role of the
Suicide Prevention Team and other programs at the Milwaukee VA that are
targeted at treatment for suicidal intentions and behaviors.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will become knowledgeable of the most recent statistics
regarding suicide among the general population as well as the Veteran
population
Participants will be able to identify the role of the Suicide Prevention
Program at the VAMC and the Veterans Crisis Line
Participants will be able to identify some of the unique concerns that may
trigger suicidal ideation/behaviors among the Veteran population
Participants will learn of the various programs within the Zablocki VAMC to
help Veterans cope with suicidal ideation/behaviors
Research Presentations 2-2:45
TITLE: An Art Therapist’s Understanding of Culture in Relation to the
Military
Janna Sellers, Mount Mary University
Janna Sellers recently received a Master of Science in Art Therapy with a
concentration in Counseling from Mount Mary University. Her presentation fo-
cuses on an understanding of the military culture in a VA setting in relation to
her culture as a developing professional art therapist.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Describe the Veteran / Civilian barrier
Communicate both negative and positive biases and how they may affect
treatment with Veterans (i.e. motivations for working with the population)
Identify recurring themes associated with the military culture of Veterans in
a VA treatment setting
TITLE: OEF/OIF Veterans Perceived Barriers to Accessing VA Healthcare
Gareth Hattersley and Zeno Franco, Medical College of Wisconsin, Mark
Flower, Robert Curry, Jeff Whittle VA, Medical College of Wisconsin
Gareth Hattersley is focusing on the perceived barriers that OEF/OIF veterans
face when accessing healthcare through the VA. He attended Emory University
and received a degree in Biology. Hattersley is a third year medical student at
MCW and anticipate pursuing internal medicine for a career.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify the similarities/differences between VA use between OEF/OIF and
other service eras of Veterans
Explain the perceived barriers of VA use that are unique to OEF/OIF vs.
shared with other service eras of Veterans
Communicate the barriers of accessing healthcare for OEF/OIF Veterans
and why further studies are important
Research Presentations 2-2:45
TITLE: Challenges of Reintegration from the U.S. Veteran Perspective
Meagan Schneiderman and Leslie Ruffalo, Medical College of Wisconsin
Meagan Schneiderman is a second year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Before coming to Milwaukee, she studied Sociology and Spanish at Juniata College. This poster displays the results of two Veteran fo-cus groups that unveiled themes revolving around the challenges of reintegra-tion into civilian life.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
List the differences between military culture and civilian culture
Describe the qualitative methodologies used to examine Veterans’
perceptions or reintegration challenges
Discuss the reintegration challenges highlighted by Veterans
Comraderie, Service, and Peer Support 3:15-4
TITLE: Team Red White and Blue and Dryhootch
Grace Christian is the Captain of the Milwaukee chapter for Team Red White
and Blue. She joined Team RWB in early 2015 as a member of the Chicago
chapter. In July of 2015, Grace along with 4 others got together to start the
Milwaukee chapter. Grace began her journey as the Social Director for the
Team RWB Milwaukee leadership and shortly thereafter, decided to take on
the lead as the Chapter Captain.
Robert Lyons served in the Army from 2008-2013, Army Infantry and did a
13-month tour in Afghanistan where he was awarded the Purple Heart for being
wounded in combat. He now works with Dryhootch as a peer support mentor
in hopes he can help Veterans with a smoother transition back to society than
he experienced.
Jesse Frewerd served three years in the US Army from 2002-2005 as a
cavalry scout. Deployed to Iraq, received two ARcom's (army commendation
medal) for his service. He is a peer support specialist and site manager at
Dryhootch. Graduated from Northwestern State University in 2009 with a
degree in business, currently considering Grad school for Nonprofit leadership
and management.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
During this session attendees will be shown firsthand the powerful, life
changing impact that Team RWB and Dryhootch has on Veterans, family
members and communities across the country. Attendees will learn about how
the organizations began, and what is being done to carry out their missions.
Attendees will also learn how they can become a part of Team RWB and
Dryhootch, contribute to the ongoing goal of enriching the lives of America’s
veterans, and empower them .
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe Team RWB and Dryhootch background
Describe the importance of service as a core cultural value in the military
Veteran Employment and Retention 3:15-4
TITLE: Hiring and Retaining Veteran Employees
Saul Newton is a native of Waukesha, WI. Saul served in the US Army
from 2009-2012. In 2015, Saul founded the Wisconsin Veterans
Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin's first business organization
dedicated to serving Veteran owned and Veteran friendly business.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Employers recognize military Veterans are an investment in their
workforce because they possess practical experience and skills
developed through their military service. Recruiting and retaining Veteran
talent also provides a range of benefits to employers beyond the assets
Veteran candidates bring to their organization. While a wide array of
resources are available to assist employers in leveraging this talent
source, many employers face challenges in hiring and retaining Veteran
employees.
This session will highlight best practices of Veteran friendly employers
across Wisconsin, and provide guidance on challenges related to hiring
and retaining Veteran employees, as well as offer information about
resources available to employers to assist in hiring veteran talent
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Learn techniques and resources to recruit military Veterans as
employees
Translate military skills and training to the civilian equivalent
Develop an efficient and effective Veteran hiring process
Onboard and provide ongoing support to Veteran to retain them as
employees
Military Sexual Trauma 3:15-4
TITLE: Background and Toxicity of Military Sexual Trauma
Zach Hunsinger LSW, Esq., Assistant Director of Veterans programs, joined
Health & Disability Advocates (HAD) in 2010. He received his Juris Doctor and
Master of Social Work degrees from Loyola University Chicago with a
certificate in child law and a specialty in program management and
development. His studies included domestic violence law, clinic courses about
working with survivors of violence, and seminars about human trafficking. In
addition, he participated in ICASA’s Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Course.
At HDA, Zach helped write the training curriculum for Warrior to Warrior, a
peer-to-peer support program that links 30 volunteer Veterans to 1200 active
drilling guardsmen in Illinois.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The presentation begins by defining military sexual trauma, that it is an
overarching term created by the VA; followed by reviewing Department of
Defenses’ most recent report to Congress about military sexual assault. The
review includes a breakdown of the sexual assault allegations in the military.
Next, the presentation discusses how frequently sexual assaults occur in the
military based on several different studies, and compares those rates to civilian
institutions like colleges. This introductory section concludes by comparing the
conviction rates of military reports to civilian rates. The net section discusses
commonly believed myths of a rape culture and then provides the fact. In
addition, the presentation discusses the role of language in reinforcing gender
stereotypes that allows a rape culture to survive. With a fundamental
understanding of our society’s rape culture in general, the presentation then
discusses the role of military culture and how that affects a survivor.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe Military Sexual Trauma
Differentiate obstacles faced by survivors of MST and civilian sexual
trauma
Translating MH Research 3:15-4
Title: The Relevance of Recent Research Findings to Mental Health
Professionals and Consumers
Shawn P. Cahill, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of
Psychology at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM). Prior to joining
UWM, Dr. Cahill was Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the
University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety
where he was involved in the conduct of research into the efficacy of various
methods of treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was also a
member of a team of clinicians and researchers who conducted workshops
nationwide to train mental health professionals in effective psychotherapy for
PTSD.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Research on the mental health consequences of exposure to trauma is seldom
effectively communicated beyond those researchers who produce it. This
talk -- intended for people who provide or receive mental health services and
the general public -- presents research about the nature of military-related
PTSD and other mental health challenges, effectiveness of treatment for PTSD,
and the nature and prevalence of suicide among veterans.
Veterans Health Coalition 4:10–4:40
TITLE: Veterans Health Coalition – Opportunity for Action
Karen Berte, PhD, a graduate of DePaul University, served Veterans at
Milwaukee VA Medical Center as a clinical psychologist and manager. A
faculty member at the Medical College of WI, her focus is promoting awareness
of the needs of Veterans in community health care settings. She is a member of
the Veterans Health Coalition (VHC) executive committee and continues in
community private practice.
Brian Michel, JD. Brian attended Notre Dame Law School, gaining experience
with the Public Defender and United States Attorney’s Office. He began his
career with the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office prior to joining Legal Aid
Society of Milwaukee, where he represents low-income clients in civil litigation,
focusing on Veterans and mental health issues.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The Wisconsin Veterans Health Coalition is a network of agencies, institutions
and practitioners throughout the state of Wisconsin focused on improving
Veterans health and ensuring better transitions in care and service for veterans.
We will discuss our mission of the network, background regarding current
Veteran mental health needs and wellness, barriers to wellness (including
benefit access, housing issues, treatment needs and access), and how the
integration of various providers and services is needed to ensure we are doing
what is possible to improve Veteran health. Information on membership and
training opportunities will be included.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe the mission of the VHC and importance of an integrated network
of providers for meeting Veteran needs
Communicate the three priority mental health needs within the Veteran
population and how various factors may interact to increase severity of
certain needs
Identify two opportunities to become involved in the Action to improve
services to Veterans
Sessions Descriptions Day 2
Moral Injury Day
“A moral injury is when someone takes part
in or witnesses an action that is in complete
conflict with their core values.”
~Katinka Hooyer, PhD
Primary Care Fellow
Medical College of Wisconsin
Keynote Speaker 8:30-10
TITLE: Seven Things Not to Say to a Veteran
Jason Moon’s 10 years in the military culminated in a 1 year tour in Iraq from
2003 to 2004 with the 724th Combat Engineers. Jason struggle to reintegrate
after returning home for 4 years before almost losing his life to PTSD. He now
travels the country using music and story to educate and inspire through the
nonprofit he founded Warrior Songs. Jason has a MA in Religious Studies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify the 3 clusters of symptoms of PTSD
Understand how triggers effect the brain of a PTSD suffer
Distinguish between executive and “lizard brain” function
Understands the 7 most common aggravated Veterans aggravate PTSD
and further isolation
Be equipped with a dialogue which will foster healing
Moral Injury Lived Experience Panel 10:15-11:45
TITLE: Moral Injury and Lived Experience Panel
PANNEL MEMBERS:
Moderator: Katinka Hooyer, PhD is a medical anthropologist and postdoctoral
research fellow in Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of
Wisconsin. She works with Veterans, studying their experiences of service, war
work and post-traumatic stress in order to identify possible paths for easing
personal and social suffering. Her research focuses on alternative and
integrative healing, including public art, nature-based and animal-assisted
therapy to heal the moral wounds of war.
Mark Foreman, is a Vietnam Veteran and retired art teacher. He served as a
Navy Corpsman with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He became severely
wounded and spent five days on a mountain top waiting to be med-evac’d to a
field hospital. For 10 years after his return home, he sculpted mythological
creatures out of stone.
Carissa DiPietro, active duty Army as a 71L stationed at Fort Bragg, NC from
99- 2003. She enjoys being a wife, mother of 5, scrapbooking, sewing, arts and
crafts and everything Disney.
Jim Hackbarth is a Vietnam Veteran, 1968-69, and served as a helicopter door
gunner in the 1 st Cavalry Division, Army. He is a poet and public speaker and
mentors students at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Warrior Project on
how to talk to Veterans about their service experiences.
Robert Lyons served in the Army from 2008-2013, Army Infantry and did a
13-month tour in Afghanistan where he was awarded the Purple Heart for being
wounded in combat. He now works with Dryhootch as a peer support mentor in
hopes he can help Veterans with a smoother transition back to society than he
experienced.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explore how moral wounds of war impact the lives of Veterans
Learn therapeutic practices Veteran presenters have developed to provide
opportunities for powerful personal transformations that also impact the
communities in which they live
Complimentary and Alternative Therapies in Mental
Health 1:00-2:00
TITLE: Finding Our Way Back to Our Self: Healing Invisible Wounds through
Complementary Medicine
Dr. Colleen Heinkel is a trauma psychologist at the Zablocki VA Medical
Center, assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Medicine (MCW) and Co-Director of the VA/MCW Advanced Fellowship for
Women’s Health. She served also as a scientist at the UW-Madison Center for
Health Enhancement System Studies.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Moral injury exists beyond our five senses and often beyond our words: those
who experience it know it by its deep soul pain, a sense of disconnect from who
they are. This session will review therapies that may work in this realm to
complement traditional medicine and heal invisible wounds.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Define Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Identify the variety of CAM approaches and the research evidence
supporting them
Ability to communicate the effectiveness of CAM in healing moral injury
and its use at the VA
Reintegration / Vulnerable Transitions- Lifespan
2:15-3:15
TITLE: Reintegration and Vulnerable Transitions Across the Lifespan
Jon Christensen holds two masters degrees, in Social & Philosophical
Foundations of Education and in Educational Psychology. He is a licensed
Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Mental Health Counselor and a
Nationally Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. He has studied and been
endorsed in Reiki, Healing Touch, Quantum Touch, and other energy healing
approaches. He began his journey helping himself and combat/combat theatre
Veterans “come home” in 1970. He has practiced his craft in hospital,
outpatient clinics and currently with the Milwaukee Vet Center. Jon began to
add energy and vibrational medicine to his cognitive approaches to counseling
in an effort to connect mind, body and soul (Life Force) to help Combat
Veterans heal.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
This session will identify energy and vibration based universal tools that may
be used to help mental health practitioners (healing assistants) practice their
craft utilizing the logic and rational thinking of left hemisphere along with the
creative timelessness of right hemisphere in new ways that are quite ancient.
Often presented in religious practice and philosophical discourse, this “spiritual”
learning goes to the core of universal learning.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
identify components of energy healing
identify tools that may be used in their individual counseling practice to
assess presenting problems and suggest the direction of possible solutions
have a model in which current therapeutic practice and energy practice
may be combined
War and the Human Spirit 3:30-4:30
TITLE: War and the Human Spirit
Michael S. Orban (www.mikeorbanptsd.com) Vietnam Infantry Veteran, 1 St
Air Cavalry Division, U.S. Peace Corps, School Construction Project Gabon,
Africa, United States Agency for International Development, North Cameroon
Agriculture and Livestock Project, Cameroon, Africa, L.B. Engineering,
Bujumbura, Burundi Africa, Author: “Souled Out, Conquering Combat PTSD,”
Speaker, Keynote Speaker and Project Developer on Combat PTSD,
Incarcerated Veterans Project
SESSION DESCRIPTION
-The primary development of the individual ‘Spirit and Self’. Origination of
individual values and forming a world view.
- War and the Spirit in chaos
- The heroic work of working through the chaos, taking control and transform-
ing the Spirit. Understanding, Acceptance, Resolution, Forgiveness, Love ,
Indomitable Spirit and useful healing strategies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The external influences that develop and control the form of our Spirit and
its view of the world and life
The importance of taking control, listening to and transforming our Spirit
‘Form into Spirit’ vs ‘Spirit into Form’
Thank you to our presenters and behind the
scenes organizations that made this possible.
Host Planning Committee:
Leslie Ruffalo, PhD MS, Medical College of Wisconsin
Katinka Hooyer, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin
Carletta Rhodes, BS, Medical College of Wisconsin
Zeno Franco, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin
Karen Berte, PhD, Retired VA Psychologist
Virginia Stoffel, PhD, UW-Milwaukee
Cara Hansen, Mental Health of America
Leah Lockett, Dryootch of America, Inc.
McKenzie Pickett, Dryootch of America, Inc.
Elizabeth Seer, Dryootch of America, Inc.
Robert Lyons, Dryootch of America, Inc.
Jesse Frewerd, Dryootch of America, Inc.
Bob Curry, Dryootch of America, Inc.
Community Planning Committee:
Elizabeth please insert the names and organization of the members from our broader
planning committee; exclude people included in the list above.
Patricia Clason, Healing Warrior Hearts
Saul Newton, Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Accreditation Statement:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of The Medical College of Wisconsin and DryHootch of America. The Medical College of Wisconsin is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement: The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Hours of Participation for Allied Health Care Professionals: The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this activity for up to 12.0 hours of participation for continuing education for allied health professionals.
