Battlemind to Home VI Symposium concluded another successful event, with participants leaving inspired to create stronger, more supportive communities for service members, veterans and their families.
Sponsored and organized by the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI), the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, the Indiana National Guard and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Aug. 19-20 event featured keynote speaker retired Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, director of the Killology Research Group. In addition, a number of other veterans and military members helped to boost audience knowledge and understanding about military and veteran families.
Resources and presentation from the symposium have now been posted online.
Experts from the Veterans Health Administration's Post-Deployment Health Group, Veterans Benefits Administration, MFRI, Indiana National Guard and the VA, discussed veteran and military-specific issues. In addition, Maria Granger, presiding judge for Floyd County Superior Court, and Thomas L. Clem, judge for Madison County Circuit Court, presented a session on Indiana's veteran treatment courts. The event closed with inspirational presentations from Dorothy Simpson-Taylor and Faith Killiam.
“Battlemind continues to serve as an opportunity for community leaders, behavioral health providers and others to learn about how they can better share resources and gather information to serve our military and veteran families,” said Martina Sternberg, Ph.D., assistant director of MFRI. “With support from our partners, we have been able to host another thought-provoking event and engage in dialogue with those making change in their own backyards.”
Past Battlemind symposia attendees explained how the two-day conference continues to affect their work with veterans and members of the military.
“My work in rehab has been positively influenced by my knowledge gained here in building rapport and accomplishing goals with clients and their families,” said one behavioral health provider who works with military and veteran families.
“This is my fourth year, and I’m already looking forward to future conferences,” another participant said. “The speakers are amazing, especially those with high credentials in civilian society. They have a great ‘big picture’ and help us sort out the issues and resources more clearly.”