Military Sexual Trauma - Services Across Systems & Sectors

Dr. Audrey Sessions-Spezzacatena, Psy.D, Phoenix VA Health Care System
Julie Borovik, LMFT, Northern AZ VA Health Care System
Kimberly Kordik, MACCJ, Veteran Benefits Administration

This session will focus on Military Sexual Trauma, including the services, support and benefits available through the VA. Topics will include the definition of MST, diagnoses and reactions, treatment and resources as well as eligibility and benefits.

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Opioid Drug Trends in a COVID World

Stephanie Siete, Community Bridges, Inc.

Attendees will learn about the latest opioid drug trends including Rx painkillers, heroin and fentanyl. Drug use and overdose deaths are on the rise and opioids are responsible for taking the most lives as they cause respiratory arrest. COVID-19 attacks unhealthy lungs and impacts our ability to breathe as well. We will discuss the connection.

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VA Caregiver Support Program Overview and Updates

Carol Combs, LCSW, VA Medical Center
Amanda Mason, LCSW, Phoenix VA Health Care System

This session will provide an overview of the VA Caregiver Support Program to include the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS). Session will include criteria and enrollment process for both programs and will highlight benefits available to all caregivers enrolled in the PGCSS and PCAFC.

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Employer Engagement to Support Veteran Success

Randy Salazar, Arizona Coalition for Military Families
Felicia Morales, Arizona Coalition for Military Families

Service members, veterans, spouses and their family members are a valuable part of Arizona’s workforce. More than 200 public and private sector employers have earned the voluntary Arizona Veteran Supportive Employer designation. Learn how the Be Connected team engages, equips and supports employers so they too can support veteran success in the civilian workplace.

From Responsive to Proactive: Arizona's CDC High Risk Project

Nicola Winkel, MPA, Arizona Coalition for Military Families
Rachel Larson, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F, Arizona State University
Mary Saxon, MS, Arizona State University

Over the past decade, the risk of suicide among Arizona veterans has been over 2x the rate of civilians. This disparity led to the creation of the Be Connected program in 2017, with a goal of upstream prevention for all Arizona service members, veterans & their families. As part of the evolution of Be Connected, in 2020 the team embarked on a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to use existing data sources to better understand who in our community is at greatest risk. Using this data will allow for becoming more proactive in engaging and connecting those who need it most. This session will explore this new data tool and how Be Connected will continue to respond and reach out to prevent deaths by suicide.

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COVID-19 and the Nervous System

Dr. Patricio Reyes, Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center

Acute and chronic neurologic symptoms such as headaches, confusion, loss of smell and taste, weakness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and "brain fog" are known complications of COVID-19. These manifestations indicate significant nervous system involvement and require early and long-term neurologic assessment in order to provide comprehensive treatment of COVID-19 patients.

VA Home Loans (Changes & Program Updates)

Jayson Bernal, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mary Ann Mills, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VA helps service members, Veterans, and eligible surviving spouses to become homeowners by providing a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs and assisting them to buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for their own personal occupancy. This session will provide information about program updates and changes.

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Career Navigation

Randy Salazar, Arizona Coalition for Military Families
Felicia Morales, Arizona Coalition for Military Families

The Be Connected: Career Navigation program provides a comprehensive support system to all service members, veterans, spouses and family members who are seeking to advance, launch, redirect or restart their careers. The Career Navigation team provides end-to-end customized support to help each person reach their career goals. Join this session to learn more about how the team assists career seekers and connects them to Arizona Veteran Supportive Employers and opportunities.

Warning Signs of Suicide & Steps to Take

Nicki Bartram, MBA, MC, LPC, Arizona Coalition for Military Families

There is a stigma attached to suicide, therefore many people unnecessarily suffer alone and silently. The majority of those who have died by suicide have had a treatable mental health condition. The more we can talk about this “taboo” subject and learn to recognize the warning signs, the more we can be aware when someone is struggling and reach out to help. Join this session for a look at this sensitive but important topic.

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Pathway to Be Connected Partnership

Dee Person, Arizona Coalition for Military Families
Aimee Backus, Arizona Coalition for Military Families

The Be Connected Ecosystem includes hundreds of partner organizations statewide. What do they all have in common? They’ve made service and support of our military, veteran and family population a priority and partnered with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families. Learn more about Be Connected and the benefits and process of becoming a partner organization.

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Bridging the Digital Divide with the Use of VA Video Connect and Peripherals

Valentin Rivish, VA Office of Connected Care
Leslyann Roose, Department of Veterans Affairs
Jeremy Chapman, Ironbow Technologies

ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations) will be discussed - showcasing how VA has team up with Veteran Service Organizations, Philips North America and Walmart, to establish comfortable, private locations for Veterans to connect with their VA care team using video telehealth, particularly in communities where Veterans live far from a VA facility or have poor connectivity at home.

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Vaccine Delivery to Veterans, Caregivers & Family Members

Kristin Musch, RN-BC, CCM, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Jim Johnson, MD, MSEd, Northern Arizona VA Health Care System
Kristina De Los Santos, PharmD, BCPS, Southern AZ VA Health Care System
Leslie Lockridge, Phoenix VA Health Care System
Paul Shannon, Arizona Department of Administration

The COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed to communities statewide. This session will include representatives of all three VA Health Care Systems and the state of Arizona. The panel will provide updates on how the vaccine roll out is going around the state and a dialogue about success and challenges.