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Greetings!
This July I am reminded of a conversation I had last summer with a young woman I know--a combat veteran of the Afghanistan War. I have had the pleasure of knowing this veteran for a few years and watching her heal and grow through the trauma and challenges she faced when she came home into a gainfully employed and happily married mother. When I asked her about her Fourth of July holiday, she wrote to share an important milestone. For the first time since she had been back from the war, she was able to tolerate the fireworks at the Fourth of July celebration in her community.
Most Americans would not--perhaps could not--grasp the importance of this simple accomplishment. Most Americans have never been asked to try. As we move forward with our efforts to wrap community resources around these deserving men, women, and families, it is time to ask all Americans to open their minds and their hearts, to take the time to listen and to learn. And it is time to ask employers and educators to do their part, by training their staff and developing programs to assist those who have given so much and have so much yet to give.
I am proud to share this month's newsletter, which highlights many of the efforts we are undertaking to ensure that our military men, women, and families have all of the resources they need.
I thank all of you who have already found a way to participate in these efforts, and I encourage those of you who haven't to explore our initiatives and contact us for more information on how you can lend your time and talent.
Take care,
Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D.
Founder and President
Give an Hour
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Give an Hour Hosts A Celebration of
 | | Presenting of the Colors by the Joint Forces Color Guard |
Service
On May 23, 2012, Give an Hour hosted its inaugural gala at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. We are grateful to all who worked tirelessly to ensure its success, including our honorees, our honorary gala committee, our sponsors, our donors, our gala committee--especially our co-chairs Jim Byrne and Sue Shimkaveg-- and the guests who came to celebrate with us. A Celebration of Service raised $100,000.
It was a spectacular evening, which brought together our friends in the military, government, corporate, and nonprofit worlds who have helped create the organization we are today. We were able to honor the men and women who have served, and who continue to serve, our country in uniform and out, including the work of our generous providers. And this event offered an opportunity to showcase Give an Hour and engage and inspire our audience with the work we do and the lives we touch. We have received dozens of notes from those who attended, praising our efforts and sharing reflections and reactions. Below are excerpts from one such note: "The night was truly about the transformative power of love and support . . . The sacrifices that the military men and women have made and continue to make so that we can sleep soundly at night is staggering . . . I must tell you, I encountered one of the military personnel on my way out. She was standing alone by the door waiting for transportation as I approached the door. It didn't seem right that she should be alone. I was conflicted and didn't want to invade her privacy, but I just felt compelled to reach out. I overcame my own shyness to speak and approached her. She engaged me in conversation, telling me about her three tours in six years and the critical injury she suffered in Afghanistan. She talked freely and said that they are encouraged to share their stories. What an honor to be on the receiving end of that conversation." This guest goes on to share her desire to do more, to find a way to support those who serve in her community. This is why the evening was so very powerful and successful.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Gala Committee for next year's event, please contact Lisa Calixto at lcalixto@giveanhour.org.
 | Masters of Ceremony: Steve and Cokie Roberts
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(L-R) Norman Anderson, Ph.D., CEO, American Psychological Association; Senator Richard Burr, R-North Carolina; Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., founder and president, Give an Hour; James H. Scully, Jr., M.D., CEO, American Psychiatric Association
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Commitment to Service Award Recipients: Justin Constantine, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Jennifer Crane, U.S. Army Veteran, Operation Enduring Freedom
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GAH's Barbara Van Dahlen (second from left) and Jean Case, Case Foundation CEO and recipient of the Commitment to Service Award (second from right) stand with Give an Hour mental health professionals being honored with Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. (L-R) Jeanine Aversa, LPC; Brenna Chirby, Ph.D.; and Rolando Diaz, Ph.D.
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 May Survey Finds Increase of Nearly 8,000 Hours Donated in Last Three Months Give an Hour Providers Have Given
Roughly 57,000 Hours in Free
Mental Health Services
We are excited to report an increase of nearly 8,000 hours donated, not including volunteer hours spent on operations, since our March 2012 survey. Over half of these hours were spent in direct counseling. Given response rates averaging 20 percent, this number is likely a huge underrepresentation. Even on the basis of the hours reported, however, using a nationwide average of $100 per hour for mental health services, Give an Hour providers have given almost $6 million since Give an Hour began providing these critical services in July 2007. We periodically survey our volunteer providers to assess our impact and effectiveness and to determine how programs and services can be adapted to best meet the needs of the military population. We thank our providers for taking the time to help us measure the important work we and they are doing. This jump is our biggest yet and no doubt reflects our efforts to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and recruit and engage providers.
Give an Hour now has over 6,300 licensed mental health professionals on its network, in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico. We thank each and every one for helping us serve those who serve. |
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Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen of Give an Hour Announces a New CGI America Commitment to Action, in Partnership with ServiceNation, at 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting
Clinton Global Initiative
Chicago, June 7, 2012
Click Here to See Conference Video
This past spring, Give an Hour was selected as an activation partner for the health pillar of the entertainment industry's Got Your 6 Campaign. In this role, Give an Hour and its partners will lead a program to educate 100,000 graduate students in mental health disciplines on the unique issues of veterans and military families by June 2014. Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen announced this campaign at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in Chicago in June.
The Got Your 6 Team is pictured above with President Clinton.
L-R: Wendi Copeland, VP Mission Advancement Goodwill Industries International; Jacob Wood, Co-founder, Team Rubicon;
Barbara Van Dahlen, founder & president, Give an Hour;
Chris Marvin, director of civilian-military partnerships, ServiceNation;
President Bill Clinton;
Kathy Roth-Douqet, CEO, Blue Star Families;
Kevin Schmiegel, VP of veterans' employment programs, Chamber of Commerce; Becky Kanis, Director, 100,000 Homes Campaign
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Join Team Give an Hour for Marine Corps 10K
If you aren't quite ready for the Marine Corps Marathon, you may want to sign up for the Marine Corp 10K run, which is held the same day, October 28, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Participants in the MCM10K (6.2 miles) will run the streets of the nation's capital and finish at the iconic Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn, Va.
Give an Hour is excited to announce that registered participants can join the GAH team, running as a group to bring awareness and support of our mission.
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Get Connected with Give an Hour
 Give an Hour Connected offers a platform for our partners and supporters to share their news, photos, videos, and upcoming events. We invite you to visit the site and join this online community at connected.giveanhour.org. Click here to join the discussion. Give an Hour now also has a mobile app available for free on iTunes. |
 What's Your Story?
Do you have a story about your experience with Give an Hour you'd like to share? Or do you know someone else who does? We often receive requests from reporters who would like to talk to people who give or receive services through Give an Hour. In fact, we've featured some of these folks in marketing videos and public service announcements. Some veterans who have received services have gone on to share their stories through national media outlets and through public speaking engagements. Personal stories underscore the value of the services we provide and go a long way in reducing the stigma so often associated with mental health care.
If you are a you are a veteran, service member, family member, or provider and would like to share your story, please contact Lauren Itzkowitz at litzkowitz@giveanhour.org. |
| Give an Hour Announces Hiring of AnnaBelle Bryan
as Program Administrator
 Give an Hour proudly announces the hiring of AnnaBelle Bryan as Program Administrator working directly for the Clinical Director of GAH. AnnaBelle served her country in the U.S. Air Force from January 1992 to January 2012. After spending 4 years as an executive administrative assistant, she worked for 16 years in Air Force public health. She has trained thousands of military members on public health and prevention at home and while deployed. In 2003 AnnaBelle completed a humanitarian mission in the former republic of Georgia and in 2009 deployed to Iraq. With the support of her husband, Craig, and daughter, Kirsi, AnnaBelle was able to complete her Bachelor of Science Degree in public health at American Military University, West Virginia, and is currently enrolled at the University of Utah. To learn more about other staff members, click here.
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Partnerships & Special Projects
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Give an Hour "Flies" Helicopter Over Times Square
 Give an Hour is thrilled to announce the launch of our new ad campaign in Times Square this summer on the CBS "Super Screen." From now until September 30, our spot will air 18 times a day. We would like to recognize Capital One Bank for their generous $20,000 sponsorship of the Times Square showing and are happy to share this message that accompanied our contribution notification: "At Capital One, we believe strongly in building the communities where we live and work. We know that you share our passion and we are honored to present this contribution to your organization." Give an Hour is also grateful to the creative team of Mackie Blaylock and Chris Nott, who have dedicated their time, talent, and passion to this campaign for more than a year, and David Austin, who animated the helicopter to fly on the Super Screen. If you, your family, or your friends get to New York this summer, please take a photo and post it on our Facebook page. You can also use the GAH mobile app to post it directly on our Connected site. We can't wait for you to send us your photos. But just in case you can't get to Times Square . . . click here for a Preview! |
Wounded Warrior Project and Give an Hour Partner to Enhance the Continuity and Quality of Care Provided to Military, Veterans, and Family Members Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) serves service members who have incurred a service-connected wound, injury, or illness of the mind, body, or spirit on or after September 11, 2001. WWP provides 18 programs including Project Odyssey™ and Family Support Retreats. Both of these programs can last between one and five days. Using an adventure learning program method, these retreats help Wounded Warriors and family members reach the following goals: - Recognize combat and operational stress and PTSD as invisible wounds of war
- Find ways to connect with their peers and community
- Learn about mental health resources in their area and how to get access to a therapist
- Start behavioral health treatment
- Start their journey to recovery
Give an Hour providers can participate in this exciting collaborative venture in two ways: - Volunteer to attend a Project Odyssey or Family Support Retreat to provide psycho-education in individual and/or group formats, facilitate group discussions, conduct one-on-one consultations as needed with retreat attendees, and support warriors by participating in adventure activities. WWP will cover your travel expenses. In addition, Give an Hour will thank providers with an honorarium.
- Volunteer to accept clients directly from the WWP retreats to enhance the continuity of care and maintain the warriors' momentum as they journey beyond combat stress.
For more information on Project Odyssey and how to apply, please contact projectodyssey@woundedwarriorproject.org.
Providers interested in supporting veterans and/or their family members in these unique ways are encouraged to contact Give an Hour, particularly if you are fluent in military culture, trauma treatments, and the impact of combat on warriors and/or families. Below you will find a list of upcoming retreats that may be in your region. If you are interested in receiving clients within your region following these retreats or if you would like to inquire about other opportunities to get involved, please e-mail Wes Colbert, GAH Clinical Coordinator, at wcolbert@giveanhour.org.
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July 9-13, 2012
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PO Charleston, SC
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July 23-26, 2012
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PO Alabama
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July 23-27, 2012
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PO Telluride, CO
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August 7-10, 2012
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PO Odysea Surf, Carolina Beach
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August 13-17, 2012
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PO Alaska
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August 13-17, 2012
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PO New Jersey
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August 13-17, 2012
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Terrapin Adventure, MD
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August 20-24, 2012
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PO Steelville, MO
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September 3 -7, 2012
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PO Wildcatter, TX
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September 17-21, 2012
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PO Windham
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September 17-21, 2012
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PO Hawaii
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C.Fox Communications
Selects Give an Hour for
it Award C.Fox Communications is pleased to announce that Give an Hour is the recipient of the third annual inspired thought (it) award. Give an Hour was chosen over 47 other local and national nonprofits in the course of a month-long selection process. "We are honored to be selected by C.Fox Communications for the 2012 it Award. As an organization founded on the principle of giving back to the community, we are especially grateful to C.Fox Communications for their willingness to give their time and expertise to support our efforts to provide free mental health care to our returning troops, our veterans, and their families at this critical point in history," saysBarbara Van Dahlen, founder and president of Give an Hour.
Adds Carrie Fox, President of C.Fox Communications, "As an organization committed to the mental well-being of veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Give an Hour embodies C.Fox's most important criterion for the it Award winner: what they do, they do for the good of others. Through this year's application process, it became quickly apparent that Give an Hour is at an exceptional stage in its growth, and that they are now ready to communicate their story in a much more public way. It is truly our honor to provide Give an Hour with the resources necessary to further their impact in the coming year." C.Fox Communications launched the Inspired Thought Award in 2010 after years of providing pro bono services to worthy nonprofits on a national and local stage. The it Award offers $30,000 in pro bono public relations and marketing support, with services that include strategy, writing/messaging, media relations, branding, and social media. Applications open in January, and a winner is announced in April. Past recipients of the it Award include the National Center for Victims of Crime (2011), an organization providing resources and advocacy for victims of crime in the United States; and N Street Village (2010), a mission-based organization empowering women facing homelessness in D.C. Read more about C.Fox's work with N Street Village and the National Center for Victims of Crime.
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Give an Hour Announces Partnership with Bands of Brothers
Give an Hour is excited to announce our partnership with Bands of Brothers (BoB), a brand new nonprofit based in Philadelphia, Penn. Bands of Brothers's slogan "We Rock for Those Who Serve" is more than just a tagline. This unique organization will drive awareness about PTSD in veterans through an exciting online reality TV show and benefit concert this fall. Over the coming months, BoB will work to cast 12 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in 3 bands to practice and perform together at a major live concert featuring celebrity musicians and judges on Veterans Day. Along the way these band members will educate others about the reality of PTSD and raise money to fund the treatment of vets suffering from the disorder. Give An Hour has been selected as one of BoB's Care in Harmony partners to receive support as a result of the organization's fundraising efforts. Learn more about Bands of Brothers or follow them @Bands_Brothers and on Facebook. Bands of Brothers also needs YOUR help! Please spread the word about the BoB casting call to friends, colleagues, and vets you know who might be interested in participating. Check out the Casting Call Here! |
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Give an Hour and Vets Prevail:
Providing Mental Health Services in New York City
Give an Hour is proud to partner with Vets Prevail in New York City. Supported by a generous grant from the Robin Hood Foundation, this unique program combines a self-directed online mental health tool developed by Vets Prevail with free face-to-face counseling from the Give an Hour network of more than 6,300 mental health professionals.
The innovative online education and assessment tool incorporates aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy and Instant Message peer-to-peer support to help veterans understand and cope with the challenges of reintegrating back into society. Participants in the program identified as being at high risk of clinical disorders on the basis of online self-assessments or comments during peer support chats will be actively encouraged to connect with a provider from Give an Hour.
Because it gives reluctant care seekers an anonymous first step they can take anywhere with an Internet connection any time of day, the Vets Prevail program provides a new opportunity for veterans and service members to get help on their terms, in a place and at a time that are convenient for them. The program can help prevent those who are experiencing the normal reactions to the stresses of deployment and combat from developing a disorder. For those with a more advanced condition, it can help reduce the severity of symptoms and serve as a conduit to formal treatment.
This resource will also reduce the stigma often associated with formal mental health treatment and introduce more veterans who might benefit from treatment to providers in our network.
If you are a veteran or service member in New York City, please enroll at www.vetsprevail.org.
If you are a licensed mental health provider or know someone in New York City who is, please visit www.giveanhour.org to join.
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Enclarity Subsidizes Mission of Give an Hour by Connecting Military Personnel with Mental Health Professionals
Enclarity, Inc., a leading healthcare information solutions company, is helping Give an Hourfulfill its mission of meeting the mental health needs of military personnel, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, their loved ones, and their communities by donating a subscription to Enclarity ProviderLookup. This Web-based, real-time provider information search service allows Give an Hour to query Enclarity's Master Provider Referential Database to view the most correct, current, and comprehensive profile available for mental health providers who can treat returning veterans, their families, and the communities affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Enclarity shares Give an Hour's sense of indebtedness to America's military personnel, and we recognize that individuals who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan--and their families--may need help dealing with the effects of wartime service," said Sean Downs, chief executive officer of Enclarity. "We are proud to help Give an Hour and its members by granting access to detailed, accurate, and timely information on local mental healthcare providers. By donating Enclarity ProviderLookup, we can help our wartime heroes heal by connecting them with a variety of mental health services to address their needs."
Give an Hour relies upon the Enclarity ProviderLookup solution to fulfill its work. "The volunteer mental health professionals in our network are all licensed within their particular practice area," said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, founder and president, Give an Hour. "Our providers include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, professional counselors and pastoral counselors. We are thankful to Enclarity for their partnership in finding appropriate mental health professionals for recruitment and rely upon their technology to ensure our members have immediate access to the most up-to-date information on providers within their areas."
Enclarity solves healthcare's provider information problem by compiling the largest, most accurate and current medical provider database. Five of the top 15 pharmaceutical
companies, seven of the 10 largest health insurance plans, four of the 10 largest
preferred provider organizations and the two largest medical device manufacturers
count on Enclarity. Its solutions improve claims processing, provider directories,
regulatory compliance and marketing optimization.
For more information, visit www.enclarity.com.
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What Is a Service Dog and Can One Help Me?
by Canines for Service
 Service dogs are trained to assist an individual who is visually or hearing impaired, experiencing mobility limitations, or dealing with psychological disorders. There are distinctions between service or guide dogs, sometimes known as assistance dogs, and therapy, emotional support, or companion dogs. A service dog has legal access to accompany the person wherever he or she goes; a therapy, emotional, or companion dog does not.
What regulations govern service dogs? Fully trained service dogs are governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which defines a service animal as "any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability."
Service dogs in training are governed under state statutes, not under the ADA; each state statute has different points and should be researched and understood by the service dog trainer. In North Carolina, for example, where Canines for Service operates, the service dog in training must be identified, must be under control of the trainer by leash or harness, and must be the only service dog in training being handled. Falsely representing an animal as a service dog is a misdemeanor.
How do I find a service dog provider? There are numerous service dog providers that use many training methods, set their own selection criteria for the dog (age, temperament, size, health screening), and decide how much training a dog receives before providing it to a person. Most organizations have an application process and often there is a waitlist of two or more years to receive a service dog. Some providers charge a fee for a service dog or require the person receiving the dog to fundraise to help offset the costs of the training. One resource of service dog providers is Assistance Dogs International (ADI). While ADI does not train and place service dogs, they are a coalition of service dog providers that have agreed to define standards of training and have had a review of their practices by peers in the industry.
Canines for Service trains service dogs to assist people with mobility limitations, traumatic brain injury and, for veterans, post-traumatic stress disorder. After an average of 2,500 hours, the dogs know 90 commands and can pick up dropped items, open doors, be harnessed to assist someone walking, or help to pull a manual wheelchair. The service dog can load a washer and unload a dryer, turn on/off lights, pick up coins and give them to their person and lay quietly for hours if their person is in a meeting or just relaxing at home. The service dogs are constant assistants and can help someone with PTSD by creating space between the person and someone near them, assist them in exiting a room or provide tactile (touch) stimulation to help relieve their anxiety. Each service dog is carefully matched to a person considering many factors including the person's needs, height, and lifestyle as well as the skills the dog is best at. When a match is made and the person receives a service dog, the training is done one-on-one with the person and the dog, rather than in a group of others receiving service dogs. Because Canines for Service owns the dog after placing it with a person for five years, liability insurance coverage is provided by Canines for Service.
So, what should you look for in a service dog provider? Here are just a few points to consider:
- How old are the dogs when provided to a client?
- How have the dogs been evaluated for temperament and health?
- Are the dogs hips assessed by x-ray?
- Can the dog handle the public settings or is it timid or fearful?
- When training is done with a client is it provided in a group or individually?
- Is follow-up training provided?
- Who owns the dog after it is placed with a client?
- Is liability insurance coverage provided by the organization providing the service dog?
- Is the organization a legal organization in compliance with state and federal laws?
If you are looking for a service dog or for more information about service dogs for veterans, visit www.caninesforservice.org or call 866-910-3647 for more information.
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 You may also make an online donation here: Donate to Give an Hour. |
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 Underwrite the Cost of an Hour of
Free Mental Health Service
Thanks to generous supporters and donors, Give an Hour is able to provide free mental health services to members of the military and veteran communities, their loved ones, and their communities at a cost to us of only $17 per hour.
Click here to underwrite an hour (or more!) of services
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If you are a provider and considering
Unsubscribing,
please know that you will no longer be able to receive important communications from GAH to all providers. Please also know that we try very hard to keep our group e-mails to a minimum.
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