Developing a Statewide Assessment for Health Needs of Student Veterans

1. Developing a Statewide Assessment for Health Needs of Student Veterans ACHA ANNUAL MEETING  PHILADELPHIA, PA JUNE 1- 5, 2010

2. Presenters • Bill Smith, BSW, MS University of Missouri – Kansas City Chair, PIP Student Veterans Workgroup • Leah (Horn) Roman, MPH, CHES Suicide Prevention Resource Center Education Development Center, Inc.

3. Learning Objectives • Participants will be able to describe key characteristics regarding student veterans. • Participants will be able to identify at least three essential components of a needs assessment for student veterans. • Participants will be able to define at least three strategies for utilizing needs assessment data. Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 compete in a Krutke Olympics 5-Kilometer race through Camp Leatherneck.(US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan G Wilber Released)

4. Agenda • Focus on student Veterans • Partners in Prevention • Needs Assessment • Discussion U.S. Soldiers with Blackwatch Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry conduct assessments in the village of Pir Zadeh, Hutal province, Afghanistan, March 6, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell/Released)

5. Why Focus on the Health of Student Veterans? U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jose Sanchez, a crew chief assigned to the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals a B-1 Lancer bomber during Red Flag 10-3 March 3, 2010, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brett Clashman/Released)

6. VA Benefits & Health Care Utilization 1 Reported as of 30 SEP 2008 2 Reported by DoD as of 31 JUL 2009 3 VHA (10A5) FY09 4 DoD as of 02/01/10 1. Department of Veterans Affairs (2009)

7. What Veterans Are Saying About Education… • 92% of respondents rated education and the GI Bill as either “very important” or “the most important” issue for new veterans. • Transitional assistance for new veterans, especially help finding employment, continues to be a major concern. • Many of the troops and veterans surveyed had plans to go to college. 2. Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (2009)

8. The Formation of the PIP Workgroup http://pip.missouri.edu/ Housed at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Wellness Resource Center Funded by the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, DMH and the US Department of Education

9. Missouri Partners In Prevention • Statewide coalition • Members: 13 public institutions 6 private institutions • Relevant state agencies • Collaborate to develop strategies for promoting positive, healthy choices among Missouri’s college students.

10. Student Veteran Working Group • What was the call to action? • What was the leadership structure? • What was the workgroup timeline? • Who were the group members? • Challenges? AFGHANISTAN - MARCH 09: US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates (R) awards the Purple Heart to Lcpl Franklin Dickey (L) during an award ceremony with US Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at Combat Out Post (COP) Cafereta near the town of Now Zad on March 9, 2010 in Afghanistan.

11. Discussion • Does your institution currently have programs and services specifically for service members and Veterans? • Who are the key partners on your campus (and in your community) for working with this priority population?

12. Needs Assessment Strategic Action Planning 3. SPRC (2009)

13. Needs Assessment: Quantitative Data Collection • Multiple Levels • National • State • Community • Campus • Surveys/Databases • ACHA-NCHA • State System Health Surveys • YFCY • CIRP • Counseling Center • Residence Life • Judicial • Public Safety U.S. Soldiers with Blackwatch Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry conduct assessments in the village of Pir Zadeh, Hutal province, Afghanistan, March 6, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell/Released)

14. Partners In Prevention Data Impact

15. Partners In Prevention Data

16. Partners In Prevention Data

17. Partners In Prevention Data 51%

18. Partners In Prevention Data Veterans of a Foreign War & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

19. PIP Data Summary • Key findings • Limitations & Methodological Challenges • Lessons learned

20. Discussion • What existing data is available regarding your student Veteran population? • What additional data do you still need to collect in order to have a comprehensive assessment of Veteran needs?

21. Needs Assessment Qualitative Data Collection • Key informant interviews • Focus groups • Environmental scan

22. Qualitative Data Trends • Education is a priority • Barriers to education • Point of entry on campus • Barriers to accessing services 4. DiRamio, David, Ackerman, R, Mitchell, Regina L. (2008)

23. Needs Assessment Opportunities Challenges • Look at what is currently in place: • Programs, policies, activities, interventions • Assets and resources • Institutional climate • Partners or potential partners U.S. Army Sgt. Shaun Reightler, left, and Spc. Matthew Francis with Cloak Troop, 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment provide security during the commander of the International Security Assistance Force's visit to the Wesh border crossing in Afghanistan March 4, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II/Released) 5. Cook, Bryan J, Young Kim. (2009)

24. Discussion • What challenges can be identified within your existing programs? • What opportunities can be identified within your existing programs?

25. Needs Assessment Using the Data • Build partnerships • Obtain funding • Address infrastructure needs • Develop effective programs tailored to your priority population U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates makes brief remarks at the Combined Fielding Center at Camp Black Horse, Afghanistan, March 10, 2010. (DoD photo by Cherie Cullen/Released)

26. References • 1. Department of Veterans Affairs (2009) VA Benefits & Health Care Utilization. http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/4X6_winter10_sharepoint.pdf • 2. Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (2009). 2009 Legislative Agenda Survey Results. http://iava.org/files/2009_Legislative_Agenda_Survey_Results.pdf • 3. Suicide Prevention Resource Center (2009). Strategic Planning Model. http://www2.sprc.org/collegesanduniversities/strategic-planning • 4. DiRamio, David, Ackerman, R, Mitchell, Regina L. (2008). From Combat to Campus: Voices of Student Veterans. NASPA Journal, 45(1), 73-102. • 5. Cook, Bryan J, Young Kim. (2009). From Soldier to Student: Easing the Transition of Service Members on Campus. Washington DC, American Council on Education. http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=HENA&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=33233

27. Contact Information Bill Smith, BSW, MS Health Educator, Student Health & Wellness University of Missouri – Kansas City 4825 Troost, Rm 206, Kansas City, MO 64110 816.235.5350 smithwe@umkc.edu Leah (Horn) Roman, MPH, CHES Senior Campus Prevention Specialist Suicide Prevention Resource Center Education Development Center, Inc. 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458 617.618.2283 lroman@edc.org U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Damon Carter, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, waits to board combat a rubber raiding craft (CRRC) during a CRRC training mission aboard forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), under way in the South China Sea, March 3, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson/Released)