Tag Archives: Vets

Red Cross needs professionals to aid service members, veterans and their families

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By Eilene E. Guy, American Red Cross volunteer

Everyone knows (or should know!) that the American Red Cross excels at recruiting volunteers for a variety of important activities: giving blood; offering shelter, food and support for disaster victims; teaching swimming and lifesaving; responding with first aid and CPR/AED.

May 2, 2024. Lawton, Oklahoma. The American Red Cross provides comfort kits to all new recruits soon after their arrival at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Often, Red Cross volunteers are the first faces new service members see after they take their Oath of Enlistment and the last before they say goodbye to their families prior to deployment. A Red Crosser will be there to share how the Red Cross can support military members and their families through the Hero Care Network and other programs. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

Did you know we also recruit licensed behavioral health professionals to help members of our armed forces and their families deal with the challenges of deployment and life on the home front?

The Red Cross Resiliency Program is a suite of free activities, virtual workshops and small-group discussions that focus on skill-building and stress-management techniques. Facilitators get special training from the Red Cross on military life and culture.

Dr. Alaina Foster, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, manages Service to the Armed Forces and International Services for the Northern Ohio Region. She’s impressed with programs that build on the resiliency veterans already have.

“I recently attended a Mind/Body workshop that taught me helpful breathing techniques I can use without anyone noticing. I’m glad I was able to participate!”

The Resiliency Program focuses on three areas:

  • Coping with Deployments: A Psychological First Aid Course – Facilitator-led instruction, role play and group discussion for adult family members of service members facing upcoming deployment, current deployment and/or recent deployment.
  • Adult Reconnection Workshops – Support for service members, veterans and their families to effectively cope with the challenges related to the transitions within military life through hands- on interactive activities. Topics include stress solutions, trauma talk, emotional grit, and tools for the caregivers of wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans.
  • Child Reconnection Workshops – Providing developmentally appropriate evidenced based strategies to help military children navigate the challenges of transitions within military life.

Obviously, the quality of these programs depends on skilled facilitators. Our military members, veterans and their families deserve trained professionals.

Debra Kellar, who specializes in volunteer engagement for the Red Cross in northern Ohio, is eager to recruit more facilitators.

“Volunteers who have careers as licensed behavioral health professionals are an asset to the Red Cross workforce. Their specialized training allows us to connect with active military members and their families through workshops that are tailored to the unique experiences/culture of this audience.”

If you’re a licensed behavioral health professional who feels called to help our men and women in uniform, and their families, build reconnection and resiliency skills, please email NEOvolunteer@redcross.org or call 216-431-3328.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Committed to helping those who serve

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May is Military Appreciation Month

By Tim Poe, American Red Cross volunteer

As American Red Cross volunteers and staff members, we have been honored to work alongside several veterans, some of whom we have had the honor of featuring on this blog. In addition to the values of service, commitment, and being part of an effective team, they speak of the importance of Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF). SAF has been vital during their military careers and as veterans, often leading them to join the Red Cross themselves.

Contributing authors and those profiled include Cynthia Skidmore, Brinton Lincoln, Chiane Martin, Dave Riegler, Brook Harless, Sally Falasca, Paul Svasta and of course the CEO of the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region and Rear Admiral, US Coast Guard (Retired), Mike Parks.

May is Military Appreciation Month and May 20th is Armed Forces Day. The Red Cross has been committed to assisting military members, veterans, and their families since its inception in 1881. Services include emergency financial assistance, counseling, and support for veterans.

One of the most important roles is providing emergency communication services. Whether a natural disaster, family illness, or other crises, members of the Red Cross help connect military families. Speaking personally as a member of an extended military family, I have often seen the effectiveness of these services in bringing relatives home when needed.

Pre-deployment event at Youngstown Air Reserve Station

Military families receive support to help cope with the challenges of military life, such as frequent moves, deployments, and separations. One very popular program is animal visitation.

Additional Red Cross services help improve the well-being of service members, veterans, and military families. These include reconnection workshops to help adjust to post-deployment life, and military hospital programs to provide comfort and support to wounded service members and their families.

For Military Appreciation Month, please join us in thanking military members, veterans, and military families for their service. Please also consider helping support them through volunteering with the Red Cross or providing a donation.

SAF volunteer roles include:

  • Delivering critical emergency messages through the Red Cross Hero Care Network.
  • For both medical and non-medical volunteers, providing patient comfort and care for injured service members and their families.
  • For mental health professionals, leading free resiliency workshops for military families in need.

You can get more information about how you can volunteer to help members of the military, veterans and their families here.

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer