The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance (SMVF TA) Center is dedicated to supporting military families and caregivers by bringing awareness to their unique circumstances and sharing information and resources about programs and policies that reinforce their health and well-being. This November, as we observe Military Family Appreciation Month, we would like to take this opportunity to offer a sample of the TA Center’s learning community series archives focused on military families, caregivers, youth, and their ever-changing behavioral health needs.
“Military and Veteran caregivers are on the front lines… [caregivers] know the Veteran sometimes better than the Veteran does… Supporting caregivers leads to better health outcomes for Veterans.” — From the Addressing the Caregiving Crisis learning community
Preventing Substance Use Disorders in Military Youth
The “Preventing Substance Use Disorders in Military Youth” series was offered between March and May 2024 and highlighted the unique risk and protective factors for military-connected children, emphasizing the importance of community support and tailored prevention resources for military families. These resources included SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” and the Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic (SAFE) Project. Dr. Greg Leskin provided an overview of military youth’s unique risk and drove home a key point: teens in military families are particularly at risk for substance use problems, and their increased vulnerability is evident as early as age 12. There is an urgent need for prevention efforts and resources for military families.
Session 1: Risk and Protective Factors Unique to Military Youth
Session 2: SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” Resources for Military Families
Session 3: SAFE Project | SAFE Veterans
Addressing the Caregiving Crisis: How States and Communities Can Better Support Military and Veteran Caregivers
In 2023, the SMVF TA Center hosted the learning community series, “Addressing the Caregiving Crisis: How States and Communities Can Better Support Military and Veteran Caregivers.” This series focused on identifying and supporting military and Veteran caregivers by highlighting strategies for support. In one session, Melissa Comeau, director of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network at the American Red Cross, emphasized the importance of self-identification for caregivers and the resources available, such as the Hero Care Resource Directory and peer support programs. She also highlighted the critical role caregivers play, noting, “Military and Veteran caregivers are on the front lines… [caregivers] know the Veteran sometimes better than the Veteran does… Supporting caregivers leads to better health outcomes for Veterans.”
Session 1: The Future of Caregiving—A Path for the Way Forward
Session 2: Identifying and Engaging Military and Veteran Caregivers
Session 3: Strengthening Community Supports & Promoting Financial Wellness
Families Serve, Too!
The SMVF TA Center’s 2021 series “Families Serve, Too!” explored the unique challenges faced by military and Veteran families, such as deployments, transitions, separations, relocations, and reintegration into civilian life. These stressors can significantly impact the psychological well-being of families. Jessica Strong from Blue Star Families noted, “Military families’ time away from their family… time that the service member is separated from their family…and [children] moving schools frequently… can lead to difficulty in a continuous and stable educational experience for military kids.” As of today, the 2023 Blue Star Families’ Military Family Lifestyle Survey revealed that 38 percent of active-duty respondents cited time away from family as a top issue.
Session 1: Understanding the Behavioral Health Needs of Military Families
Session 2: The Impact of Trauma on the Family
Session 3: Helping Families Navigate the Behavioral Health System
Upcoming Learning Community Series
The SMVF TA Center is offering three learning community series in Fiscal Year 2025:
- Invisible Wounds of Service: PTSD, TBI, and Moral Injury
- Economic Stability
- Digital Health Care Tools
Coming up next, the Invisible Wounds of Service series begins on November 19 and will be held each month for 3 months. Please be on the lookout for further information via our email announcements, “Topics in the News,” or from our Upcoming Events webpage.
SAMHSA’s SMVF TA Center is honored to provide TA to states, territories, and communities seeking to strengthen their behavioral health support for those who have served in the armed forces. For TA inquiries, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com. For more information about the SMVF TA Center and the resources offered, please visit SAMHSA’s SMVF TA Center’s web pages.
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