Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) nationally are gearing up to improve mental and behavioral health services for returning veterans and their families. In a broad effort to offer additional help to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, AHEC staff members will provide continuing education opportunities to civilian health care providers to increase their knowledge and skills regarding special needs of veterans and their families.
The first phase of the project equips AHEC staff across the United States with resources and models to produce continuing education resources in their own service area. Upstate AHEC’s Continuing Education Consultant Bennie Pettit was one of two South Carolina AHEC staffers to recently attend a Train-The-Trainer Workshop presented by the AHEC Training and Consultation Center in Tampa, Fl. Workshops are being offered in 10 regions nationally.
AHEC participants learned how to use multiple resources to develop continuing education offerings for healthcare professionals who treat service members and their families in an environment that is safe and culturally sensitive. The focus for the national project is to increase knowledge of civilian health professionals regarding mental and behavioral health issues within the military culture of veterans and service members and their families. Additionally, it is hoped that better access to culturally competent care will be provided for returning veterans and their families.
The veterans’ project is supported by federal funds through the Health Resources and Services Association (HRSA) of the National AHEC Organization. Upstate AHEC serves 11 counties in northwestern South Carolina. For more information on the training and other Upstate AHEC services, call Bennie Pettit at 864-349-1160.
