Veterans+2011-10-20


 * Veterans Fieldwork Day 2011-10-20**

Though one of our key contacts no-showed, and I still haven't heard from him (Eugene Herskovic, Veterans Integration Services Network, specialty in homeless veterans), the day was otherwise superb. Trent Ward was our guide through the Jesse Brown VA Hospital, and he was clearly experienced and smart in doing so. We started with a general intro by him and social worker Valerie Kretin (I hope not "Cretin") about the services the hospital offers. Interesting facts: the current wars are 47% fought by reservists and national guard (!), vets are seriously at risk when they return with regard to traffic injury/ deaths (seeking adrenaline and speeding, swerving and speeding when see garbage and think IEDs, pulling back on steering wheel as if it were a plane's steering mechanism to avoid a low-hanging wire, weather comes in and think sandstorm and look in the car for gunner for his view...)

Highlights: 1)students going in groups into veterans' hospital rooms and thanking them for service and getting them talking.

2) the round-table meeting with the Director of the Substance Abuse Unit and 5-6 patients. They were so honest and interesting, the FWP students asked great questions, and the program seemed honest and still positive in what it can accomplish.

-Patient: "know that we're not all crazies, drugged up 'zombos'" Director: "we're ALL crazy" Patient2: "know that we're just like you." Director (Dr. Goldman): "that's better." Patient2: "If you ever get depressed, SEE a therapist. We all get down, and yet people think it's weak or bad to seek help. Don't. Go!"