LVMAC Tidbits — Veterans Sanctuary: Closed Up for Good?

Treatment Trends Announces Suspension of Operations

It is with profound dismay that the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council informs you of Veterans Sanctuary’s suspension of operations. It was our only local, long-term residential addiction and PTSD services treatment facility exclusively dedicated to military veterans. This important asset to our veterans statewide is no longer accepting clients.

LVMAC Tidibits — Fly Fishing Event

Register for the Latest Lehigh Valley PHWFFI Event

Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua and its partner, LVMAC, are again sponsoring a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Outing.  It is scheduled for May 5th 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bob Saks’ Pond (a private pond).  Donuts and coffee, full picnic lunch and all fishing  materials and equipment will be provided. . Instruction will be provided on fly casting, fly tying and fishing.  For additional details: click here. Previous participants have caught an average of between 5 and 10 trout each. It is limited to the first twenty veterans who preregister.  Alternatively, call 610-924-5481 to preregister.  Final registration and waivers will be required to be signed on site.

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As of 27 March 2012

LVMAC Tidbits — PTSD Help for Families

Veterans and Families’ Guide to Recovering from PTSD is Now Available

We thank the author, Stephanie Laite Lanham, PMH-NP, for granting us permission to publish the 6th edition of this booklet. “The Guide”, as it has come to be called by many, was very well received when nationally distributed for several years by the Military Order of Purple Heart (MOPH) to the Vet Centers in all 50 states. The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) believes it has found a new life for the Veterans and Families’ Guide for Recovering from PTSD.  It has been in the process of distributing it over the last two months.

LVMAC News

CLYDE HOCH SPEAKS TO THE COUNCIL

Clyde Hoch, author of Tracks – Memoirs of a Vietnam Veteran, spoke to the Council on his service in the Marine Corps, his remembrances of war and his return home.

First off, he expressed his appreciation to the Council for their concern for veterans as he thinks too often veterans “are tossed aside” once they have played their role in the defense of the nation.

Now in his sixties, he believes he has a story to tell – as many other veterans do also – which can help the young understand that sometimes great sacrifices are made on their behalf, that millions of men and women before them have left their loving families to do whatever is necessary to protect our way of life. Nor does it matter they ultimately served as cooks or infantry, for the deed was in the willingness to sacrifice for others even when those “others” often little understood or cared for the service members during the Vietnam era.

LVMAC Tidbits

Our VA Network is About to Conduct a Special Veterans’ Family and War Study

VISN-4′s  (the next higher organization to our Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center) Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)  in Philadelphia is conducting a funded study to understand how war-related psychiatric symptoms may interfere with family reintegration and functioning.   The obvious is not apparent to them.  Nevertheless, there are benefits to such a study.  The means to improving care in the VA is most often  lead through documented study.  The VA has been known to be  loath to move without one.   The benefit we see?  … another step towards a more family-oriented VA.   Therefore, you can help by participating.

LVMAC News

SWINFARD ADDRESSES COUNCIL

Dr. Ronald W. Swinfard, M.D., President and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LHVN) spoke to the Council at its business meeting on 19 October.  During the Vietnam War, he served in the Medical Service Corps as a Battalion Surgeon (a lieutenant position)  of an Aid Station (a platoon equivalent organization) in 195^th  Brigade of the Americal Division (23^rd Infantry Division), circa 1970.  After a short stint as a high school teacher, upon return from service and decommissioning, he embarked on a career as a doctor, first training in internal medicine and later dermatology as a specialty.  In 2003, Swinfard was hired by the Lehigh Valley Health Network as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) after serving at fifteen years at the Harry S. Truman VA Medical Center in Columbia, Missouri, eventually rising to the position of Section Chief for Dermatology.  He was also a key figure in the University of Missouri Hospital – Columbia.  In November of 2010, he was selected for his current position.  He stated that he is ever mindful of the sacrifice of others who gave their lives and because of them, believes we should celebrate our lives and make them useful in the service of others.

In his talk, “The Downstream Health Effects of War,” he observed that few doctors are veterans and hence a learning curve is often required when it comes to their care.  He noted that that LHVN sees a lot of veterans in their Emergency Rooms; and that while the organization has done some work with the local VA Clinic, it intends to do more on the behalf of our local veterans.

LVMAC Tidbits

Judith’s Reading Room Helps Veterans Sanctuary

As an extension of one of its ongoing efforts, which is support our troops with books to read,  Judith’s Reading Room is donating to Veterans Sanctuary a custom designed mobile library stocked with books hand picked to help in the recovery of veterans suffering from a dual diagnosis such as PTSD and an addiction.  The Veterans Sanctuary, a division of Treatment Trends, Inc.,  is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.   The dedication ceremony will be held in the auditorium of Veterans Sanctuary at 24 South 5th St., Allentown, PA at 6 p.m.

For the press release, click here.

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As of 18 Ocotober 2011

LVMAC News

Council Speaker:  On 21 September 2011, Captain Samuel Johnson, USMC – who is assigned as an Instructor-Inspector to the newly relocated 150 personnel Battery I, 3-14 Regiment of Artillery (155 mm) which closed on the Lehigh Valley’s Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Center from Reading on 15 September – spoke to the Council on the origins and initiatives of the Keystone Wounded Warriors, a new nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization incorporated  in October of 2010 and just beginning to operate in the Lehigh Valley.

LVMAC Tidbits

Trout Unlimited – Hokendauqua Is Having Another Event for Injured Veterans

Trout Unlimited’s Hokendauqua has arranged for its third Project Healing Water Fly Fishing event of the season to occur on 8 October just upstream of the Robin Hood Dell bridge in Little Lehigh Park.  Rain date is 9 October.  This special program is for the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

The stream will be stocked for the event.  Fishing gear, beverages, food, and seating will be provided at no cost.  However, pre-registration is required and a signed waiver is also required before fishing.  For more details and to pre-register, click here.

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As of 10 September 2011

LVMAC Tidbits

TTI’s “Supporting the Homefront“  has Launched

A groundbreaking new program for the families of deploying and deployed military members and returned veterans has just become available in the Lehigh Valley beginning 27 September on Tuesday evenings.

“Supporting the Homefront” offers a place to gather, understand and address the difficulties inherent in being a military family. It uses age specific working groups in a novel approach to building family unit resiliency in trying times.  In addition to family education, the staff will assist families in accessing other needed, existing services in the community. This free service, operating under a grant from LVMAC, can help strengthen the family unit during all the phases of deployment and homecoming.

For a brochure with more information, including how to register for the program, click here.

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As of 9 September 2011