Students Visit Veterans Affairs Medical Center

As part of the May session course, Military Families: Issues and Services, social work students toured the intensive 6-week residential  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder unit at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, VA.

It is one of only 39 such programs in the United States and serves veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation New Dawn (Iraq), and Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya). The case management program focuses on physical and mental health screenings and coordinating care.

The Community Living Center provides rehab services, palliative care, and hospice. At each unit students met with a social worker who explained programs and services, describing some of the challenges and rewards of military social work.

Left to right in photo: John "Tim" Woodrum, LCSW, Director of Social Services, VAMC.Terrice Travers Gabriel Jones Lindsey Shifflett Dr. Nancy Poe (back) Felicia Gonzales (front) Hilde Knupp Kristen Priest