Connecting Within the Veteran Community, Part 1: Client Focus

Easter Seals Greater Houston has done a wide variety of things for me. I am grateful for everything you all have done.  Before meeting with ESGH, I had done very little to connect to the Veterans community and the Veterans services that I am able to access because of my time in the Army.

It has been a combination of effort from my mental health therapist, Amy Harkins, Jennifer Wright from the Service Dog Program and a few others who have helped me get tickets to concerts and other events.  I had an amazing time at the VetsAid concert.  I loved going to the Zoo for Walk With Me and I look forward to going again this year.  I even got connected to Give Vets a Smile at UT Dental and got some much-needed work done.  I plan to follow up with THRIVE (Easter Seals Financial Education Program) to keep working on my financial situation with Jenny Martinez.  I am thankful to be connected to the Veteran Food Pantry.  I tend to isolate so these activities mean the world to me.

I have the sense that there are puppet masters in the background at ESGH that are helping me out in ways that I don’t even really know about.  I have appreciated everything Jennifer Wright has done to keep the process going to get a service dog.  I do worry about some of the details of getting a service dog, but overall, I am very hopeful that having a service dog will help me explore and enjoy life to the fullest.  Having a dog will allow me to do things that I don’t do now.  A dog will open a door that I keep closed.  And a Service Dog will be a much-needed friend.  Jennifer has not given up on helping me get a service dog and I am so grateful that she has been persistent, on track, and motivated.  If she had given up, I would have given up a long time ago.

I know that talking (via Telehealth) to my therapist Amy has really helped me do things that I would not have done otherwise.  Talking has helped me to think about what I want to do.  I want to explore and see things in Houston.  Actually, one of the most helpful things we have done is meet in person.  It was a very big step for me to start using Metro Lift so that I can meet in person.  Getting familiar with Metro Lift has opened up many opportunities for me.  Still, it is helpful that I can meet with my therapist by video when something gets off track.  Having you all in my corner has been my saving grace. 

 

Sincerely,

James Kittrell

Army Veteran

 

Military Financial Wellness With Freddie Mac

Set any New Year’s Resolutions to help build and maintain better credit? We can help!  Take advantage of our webinar series with Easterseals and Freddie Mac – build and maintain better credit, and prepare for successful long-term home ownership!

Did you know that Veterans are more likely to have credit card challenges? We meet countless Veterans and military families facing difficult situations, which is why we’ve created more resources and options for military members looking to achieve financial wellness. Check out our video series below!

Financial Coaching for Military

Financial Technology & App Tips for Military

Easy To Use Mental Health Apps for Military

The Debt We Owe Our Heros

Veterans are not a monolith. They possess a variety of talents and skills and needs after the epic storm that crashed and stalled over Houston in Aug of 2017.  Hurricane Harvey was a call to action and many Veterans responded valiantly putting themselves in harm’s way once again to assist their own families, their neighbors, and the community-at-large. 

They borrowed John-boats and utilized high clearance vehicles, expertly jimmying equipment for high water rescue. They guided the confused and grief-stricken with clear and simple instructions to pack a survival bag and abandon things that could not be transported to higher ground. They stood up distribution warehouses and procured supplies from a generous nation and efficiency and effectively pushed water bottles, diapers, and sanitation supplies to where they were needed most in this flooded city.

 They rendered physical and psychological first aid with compassionate and comforting expertise. They applied training, insisted on teamwork, established chains of command and networked with over-saturated emergency response systems. They warned us of the various toxic exposures in water-born illnesses, insect carried diseases and predicted the rapid growth of mold between brick and sheetrock. When they faced obstacles, they engaged in creative problem solving to invent new ways to overcome.

Technology-assisted them including Easter Seals Greater Houston’s BridgingApps program. Facebook and Instagram, walked talkie apps, even Pinterest crowdsourced ideas and speed help around a city that knew we had to help ourselves, just as we knew we depended upon each other for our literal survival. Websites were born that matched people who needed help mucking and gutting with volunteers ready to get to work clearing a path to recovery. As mountains of debris piled on curbsides, rotting in the blazing sun, the next phase of the disaster began. Once the urgency subsided, and the adrenaline supply was exhausted, aspects of community-wide post-traumatic stress became evident. 

And our Veterans suffered from familiar foes of fatigue and survivor’s guilt, hypervigilance and insomnia, nightmares and relationship turmoil, numbness and self-neglect. They were triggered by the ever-present helicopter traffic that reminded them of the sounds of war. They were triggered by cramped sleeping quarters in large rooms filled with cots and chaos.  As the immediate aftermath of the disaster waxed, Veterans of the Storm named Harvey eventually went home to their own personal disasters, that were very real whether or not their own houses were damaged by the slowly receding muddy waters that had engulfed the city. 

We owe a debt of thanks to the heroes that walk among us in civilian dress. Veterans hide in plain sight but still carry the weight of duty and profound responsibility to serve and protect this nation.  We owe them more than simple gratitude.  

ESGH was and is proud to be at the forefront with them through Harvey and our Harvey Recovery work thanks to our community, Save The Children, The Mayor’s Fund, Americares, Freddie Mac, Simmons Foundation and so many more. (https://www.eastersealshouston.org/Programs/harvey-heroes.html) AND we are proud to be able to continue offering our veterans programs and services to our current and retired military – through our #TexasVeteransandFamilyAlliance, our #mentalhealth program and so much more as well as continuing in our efforts for Harvey Housing recovery.

Amy Harkins, Easter Seals Greater Houston, Veterans Program and Harvey Recovery, Psychologist

Making the Impossible Possible

Making the Impossible Possible Involves Math

Hugging your child             Going to school                             Flying

Camping with Family       Sleeping through the night       Going to an Astros game

What do these all have in common?

Veterans and their family members did these things when they were involved in therapy.

For us at Easter Seals, we want to help you create the life you want to live. This means what you think is impossible might be possible if you are willing to do the work, use your strengths, and team up with one of us to make it a reality. I can tell you that none of the people who accomplished those goals above thought they could do it. They were isolated at home. They had spent years wanting to do something different. One Veteran would say “I feel like life is passing me by”. They did it! Not overnight, but they worked at it and stayed connected. Doors opened. They were able to seize opportunities to do something new with people they care about and by themselves. How do I describe the surprise and relief these Veterans and family members experienced? Let’s try . . .

Imagine walking into a room and something you have wanted is right there. It’s yours. You might not trust it at first, but then you settle into believing you can have it. You realize you have it. That’s it. That is the feeling those Veterans and families had. Surprise then disbelief and finally Relief. You can have this.

Something Important to You    +       Team Work       +      Effort       =   Creating Your Life

Let’s see what we can make happen together.

You can reach us at 346-330-3859 or veterans@eastersealshouston.org

Veterans Program, Easter Seals Greater Houston 

Growth

As Spring comes to an end, I am struck by the growth happening all around us. Trees are full of leaves and flowers bloom bringing sparks of light to our landscape. This is the enticing side of growth. The other side of growth is stressful, stark, and frustrating. It is a landscape created by the traffic and construction you pass as numerous roadways are modified.

At Easter Seals, we have been going through on our own growing period. The Veterans Mental Health team has attended trainings on Acceptance and Commitment training (ACT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Sensation Awareness Focused Technique (SAF-T), Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), and Body Mind Skills. We are committed to continuing to learn to meet the needs of those who seek our services. We want people to have options.

ESGH is happy to announce that we are offering individual and couples counseling through a secure tele-mental health platform. You can be at home, in your car, or wherever is convenient and meet with your therapist. No travel required.

We have launched groups all around town to help individuals build resilience, relax, and build community with each other.

Growth, like life, involves both stress and beauty. We want to help you navigate your growth. Tell us how . . .

Call 346-330-3859 or email veterans@eastersealshouston.org to talk about your desire for growth.

Dr. Cristy Gamez-Galka, Easter Seals Greater Houston – Veterans Program