VETERANS PROGRAMS
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ColumbiaCare recognizes the unique challenges faced by Veterans and their loved ones. In addition to behavioral health issues, many returning Veterans experience homelessness, unemployment, chronic health conditions, social isolation, trauma, and relationship and family problems. ColumbiaCare is seeking to ease the strain of reintegration and make coming home a positive and therapeutic time for the entire family.
We are proud to announce that we have expanded our residential and affiliated behavioral health services programs to meet the specific needs of Veterans. ColumbiaCare is working in coordination with the Veterans Health Administration, other non-profits, local government agencies, and private therapists to provide: |
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VETERANS CASE MANAGEMENT & SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
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CASE MANAGEMENT. We are a contracted provider with the Veterans Administration to provide Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Case Management Services in the American Lakes and the metro areas of Seattle, Washington. These services are provided by a dedicated team of mental health and housing professionals who work in partnership with the VA and other community agencies to help connect Veterans with qualified housing, as well as Case Management Services to assist them in maintaining that housing as they stabilize in other areas of their lives. ColumbiaCare's role in helping the Veteran during their reintegration and recovery process may include assisting with obtaining benefits, financial management, independent living skills, interfacing with landlords, accessing public transit and services, maintaining sobriety and improving mental health.
SUPPORTIVE & TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. ColumbiaCare is also a provider of Supportive and Transitional Housing in Jackson County. Eligible persons are Veterans from all eras and branches of service, including National Guard & Reserve, and their family members, who are experiencing behavioral health or readjustment needs or who are in need of low income housing with some supports. We act as a Veteran friendly landlord, which means we carry out our property management duties with the understanding that a Veteran’s outlook, needs and behavior may have been affected by their military service—and are supportive during their rehabilitation process. Our Supported Housing programs provide safe, affordable, and stable homes for local Veterans and their families. |
VETERANS CRISIS INTERVENTION & STABILIZATION
CRISIS AVERTED. LIVES SAVED. HEALING BEGUN. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Crisis Resolution Centers (CRCs) are a treatment modality to address acute psychiatric need, suicidal ideation and substance abuse that would otherwise only be able to be served in a hospital emergency room or inpatient stay. CRCs are established to bridge the gap between outpatient and inpatient services as an “in- between step” for those individuals who need more intensive, short-term intervention in order to handle a crisis.
ColumbiaCare is interested in partnering with the Veterans Administration to develop programs at various locations that will provide these services specifically to Veterans. Given the mountains of data regarding the number of completed and attempted suicides and the increase in need for mental health services that current and returning Veterans are showing, the timing is perfect.
PROPOSED VA SERVICE MODEL. As the numbers of service men and women returning from the conflict overseas increase, so too will the need for specialized services. The services provided could include milieu therapy, skills training, medication management, case management, and consultation with the family and VA treatment team. This linkage would be essential to assuring a smooth transition back into the community as well as making sure the individual served will continue to thrive once the crisis is addressed and a return to baseline is achieved. CRC services would be readily available and could take the place of emergency room visit/ intervention and provide more intensive service than an outpatient service. As CRC services are quite flexible, they can and frequently do serve as an early intervention for people beginning to show signs of decompensation or increased symptomology.
In the proposed VA model, withdrawal management services would be folded in. This would provide a true single site full service facility capable of managing all types of intense behavioral health problems. Being located on the VA grounds through the Extended Use Lease process would enable the VA staff to access the service with an unprecedented ease and ensures a true continuity of care from outpatient providers to the CRC and back.
The services within a CRC are provided in a more focused, timely, intense, and less stigmatizing manner than a hospital stay or emergency room visit. Whereas hospitals use a Medical Model to stabilize patients; a Crisis Resolution Center utilizes a Recovery Model. Paramount to this model of treatment is the focus on creating a safe, low-stimulation environment to promote relaxation, a feeling of safety, and a focus on recovering from mental health crisis. Strong emphasis would be placed on linking the Veteran with familiar community supports, which include the family, home, mental health caregivers, and work. This model goes beyond simply a respite center and provides true intervention and resolution to a variety of crisis states.
The majority of individuals served by our already existing CRCs are successfully living in the community at the time of the onset of the problem behavior, but due to this event of psychiatric instability or potential for self- harm, they need more intensive monitoring and a more comprehensive intervention. In a CRC, the staff is specifically trained to manage psychiatric symptoms, withdrawal from substances and suicidal ideation, and can provide direct, intense service throughout the individual's stay. These services are on-site and available, making it possible to intervene and address suicidal ideation within 15 minutes--a true crisis intervention model. Having virtually immediate access to services reduces or eliminates waiting periods for appointments, as well as the stigma of hospitalization.
OUTCOMES. Our experience has demonstrated that roughly 85% of psychiatric hospitalizations and/or emergency room visits could be addressed as effectively, if not more so, by a Crisis Resolution Center. When you couple that with on site staff that are trained in the ASIST model of suicide prevention, a CRC is truly the most effective, appropriate intervention for some of our most vulnerable citizens at times of their greatest need.
“Having several veterans on our board and being an organization that has the resources and professional expertise to intervene has made this an obvious role for us to play. Offering crisis services, training and other resources to save the lives of our soldiers is our way of expressing our gratitude and showing concern." - Bruce Bartow, Former ColumbiaCare Board Treasurer
Crisis Resolution Centers (CRCs) are a treatment modality to address acute psychiatric need, suicidal ideation and substance abuse that would otherwise only be able to be served in a hospital emergency room or inpatient stay. CRCs are established to bridge the gap between outpatient and inpatient services as an “in- between step” for those individuals who need more intensive, short-term intervention in order to handle a crisis.
ColumbiaCare is interested in partnering with the Veterans Administration to develop programs at various locations that will provide these services specifically to Veterans. Given the mountains of data regarding the number of completed and attempted suicides and the increase in need for mental health services that current and returning Veterans are showing, the timing is perfect.
PROPOSED VA SERVICE MODEL. As the numbers of service men and women returning from the conflict overseas increase, so too will the need for specialized services. The services provided could include milieu therapy, skills training, medication management, case management, and consultation with the family and VA treatment team. This linkage would be essential to assuring a smooth transition back into the community as well as making sure the individual served will continue to thrive once the crisis is addressed and a return to baseline is achieved. CRC services would be readily available and could take the place of emergency room visit/ intervention and provide more intensive service than an outpatient service. As CRC services are quite flexible, they can and frequently do serve as an early intervention for people beginning to show signs of decompensation or increased symptomology.
In the proposed VA model, withdrawal management services would be folded in. This would provide a true single site full service facility capable of managing all types of intense behavioral health problems. Being located on the VA grounds through the Extended Use Lease process would enable the VA staff to access the service with an unprecedented ease and ensures a true continuity of care from outpatient providers to the CRC and back.
The services within a CRC are provided in a more focused, timely, intense, and less stigmatizing manner than a hospital stay or emergency room visit. Whereas hospitals use a Medical Model to stabilize patients; a Crisis Resolution Center utilizes a Recovery Model. Paramount to this model of treatment is the focus on creating a safe, low-stimulation environment to promote relaxation, a feeling of safety, and a focus on recovering from mental health crisis. Strong emphasis would be placed on linking the Veteran with familiar community supports, which include the family, home, mental health caregivers, and work. This model goes beyond simply a respite center and provides true intervention and resolution to a variety of crisis states.
The majority of individuals served by our already existing CRCs are successfully living in the community at the time of the onset of the problem behavior, but due to this event of psychiatric instability or potential for self- harm, they need more intensive monitoring and a more comprehensive intervention. In a CRC, the staff is specifically trained to manage psychiatric symptoms, withdrawal from substances and suicidal ideation, and can provide direct, intense service throughout the individual's stay. These services are on-site and available, making it possible to intervene and address suicidal ideation within 15 minutes--a true crisis intervention model. Having virtually immediate access to services reduces or eliminates waiting periods for appointments, as well as the stigma of hospitalization.
OUTCOMES. Our experience has demonstrated that roughly 85% of psychiatric hospitalizations and/or emergency room visits could be addressed as effectively, if not more so, by a Crisis Resolution Center. When you couple that with on site staff that are trained in the ASIST model of suicide prevention, a CRC is truly the most effective, appropriate intervention for some of our most vulnerable citizens at times of their greatest need.
“Having several veterans on our board and being an organization that has the resources and professional expertise to intervene has made this an obvious role for us to play. Offering crisis services, training and other resources to save the lives of our soldiers is our way of expressing our gratitude and showing concern." - Bruce Bartow, Former ColumbiaCare Board Treasurer
VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION
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Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize suicide risk and learn what to say and do to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. The workshop, designed by Living Works Education, Inc. is for all gatekeepers (any person in a position to help others at risk of suicide). This includes professionals, paraprofessionals and laypeople.
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VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER
The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) in Medford, Oregon connects local Veterans and their families with the services they need – starting with securing a roof over their heads. Our various programs can also assist enrolled Veterans in seeking employment, accessing or increasing their benefits, facilitating referrals to medical, psychiatric and dental providers, and coordinating care with various community partners providing other services to our Veterans. The VRC is focused on the overall wellness and reintegration of Military Veterans of all eras. With a primary focus on housing assistance, access to treatment, case management, and outreach, we take a holistic approach to addressing the individual needs of each Veteran. We invite all community partners to utilize the VRC as we combine efforts and collaborate to help those we serve. The VRC will serve as a single-entry point to provide the help Veterans need by forming a coordinated network of community partners.
Phone: 541.779.8564 Mail: 601 N. Grape Street Medford, OR 97501
Phone: 541.779.8564 Mail: 601 N. Grape Street Medford, OR 97501
It is our belief that by treating the family, we help heal the Veteran -- and by treating the Veteran, we help heal the family.
For more information about Veterans Services, please contact Kim Ridpath, Veterans Services Program Director at 541.779.8564 or kridpath@columbiacare.org.