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USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families (CIR) administers the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative, a group of more than 200 stakeholders and community organizations working together to meet the varied needs of Los Angeles’ military community.
by Claudia Bustamante
When veterans come home, they may face multiple health challenges—physical, mental and psychological.
To be better prepared to serve them, about 40 students from the University of Southern California and Mount St. Mary’s College participated in an interprofessional workshop aimed at creating collaborative care strategies for veterans and military families.
Held at Mount St. Mary’s College Doheny Campus, the workshop targeted students of health care professions that could serve as first points of contact for veterans entering the health care system, representing Mount St. Mary’s College nursing program, USC School of Social Work Military Social Work and Veteran Services sub-concentration, […]
by Claudia Bustamante
Most national militaries have challenging basic training programs to ensure new members’ physical fitness. Few, however, devote as much time to mental health.
And that may come as a detriment. A growing body of research suggests that targeted mental health training lessens the likelihood of later showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression, or of sleep and substance problems for active duty service members and veterans.
Since 2011, a NATO research task group comprising social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and military trainers from 10 countries has been probing this area.
“If you’re going to teach basic resilience training skills, what would those […]
Capt. Matt Jackson, with the California National Guard, talks about his transition home after a one-year deployment to Iraq. Jackson participated in a CIR program that provided Reintegration Skills Training (RST) to National Guardsmen and their families readjusting to civilian life.
by Claudia Bustamante
The USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families (CIR) was one of seven organizations to be awarded the inaugural Seal of Distinction by the Call of Duty Endowment Thursday for its efforts at helping transitioning veterans gain meaningful employment.
The Seal of Distinction comes with a $30,000 unrestricted grant and potential for larger grants by the endowment.
“It is an honor to receive the Activision Call of Duty Endowment Seal of Distinction because it recognizes our commitment to helping veterans develop the skills that will enable them to succeed in the workplace and connecting them with […]
by Eric Lindberg
As the newest member of the USC School of Social Work faculty, retired colonel Carl Castro is looking forward to tackling the toughest problems confronting military service members and veterans.
“The most pressing challenges the military has right now from an active-duty perspective is this high suicide rate in the Army, sexual assault issues facing all the services, and facilitating the transition from a wartime military to a peacetime military,” he said. “That dovetails into issues facing veterans and service members entering civilian life.”
In his new role as assistant professor and director of research at the school’s Center for […]
Featured News
Why so many more homeless vets in LA? — KPCC, June 9, 2017
Gen. David Petraeus urges local military community to help shape veteran policy
The University of Southern California School of Social Work has launched the most comprehensive survey to date to gauge the diverse needs of Los Angeles County’s military community, including families and service providers.
The Los Angeles Veterans Survey (www.lavetsurvey.org), developed by the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families at the USC School of Social Work, will poll 3,000 active service members and veterans; 1,000 spouses and partners; and 500 service providers to help identify the opportunities for program development, public policy and community collaboration.
“People would always […]
USC Social Work graduate student Adam Renteria talks about his personal transition out of the military, and why he chose to pursue a degree in social work.
