Returning Veterans Resource Network receives “Everyday Hero” award from the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska on March 9.
Lincoln, NE—The Returning Veterans Resource Network receives the “Everyday Hero” award from the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska at their Annual Awareness Day on March 9 at the state Capitol.
“The RVRN has done a tremendous job advocating on behalf of returning veterans from OIF/OEF in every aspect including issues surrounding traumatic brain injury,” according to Kate Kulesher Jarecke, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska.
Over 4,000 Nebraska service members returning from OIF/OEF have been screened for brain injury, and so far nearly 800 have screened positive for brain injury. Brain injury is the signature wound of these conflicts. As technology has grown, more members are returning home instead of being lost on the battlefield. “However, we must ensure that these heroes who have sustained brain injuries have the support mechanisms in place to allow an effective transition to the home-front. The RVTN has helped so many make that transition,” Jarecke said.
The different health care systems veterans can access can be confusing, and when they have a brain injury, navigating these systems can be frustrating at best. The long-term challenges faced by those with a brain injury include impairments of attention, learning, memory, and executive functions, as well as reduced awareness and self-monitoring- factors all capable of compromising home, community and work re-entry, all of which impact functional independence, and family /social long-term stability. The Veterans’ Administration reports only 47% of veterans return to the VA health care system once they are in their community. Because of this low return rate, it is important for to provide a systematic way to facilitate the connections between VA services and the civilian sector.
Without assistance, there is risk of losing these veterans to homelessness, joblessness, prison and, in some cases, even suicide. The rates of unemployment following brain injury without specialized rehabilitation or interventions are disturbing, ranging from 60% to 90%.
The RTVN and the BIA-NE have partnered to help bring Resource Facilitation (RF) to Nebraska. RF is a vehicle used to break down barriers, increase access and facilitate timely, coordinated management of resources all designed to improve outcomes for those veterans with brain injury. Results have shown significantly better social integration, emotional well-being, and vocational function. Programs that have implemented these models have demonstrated employment rates as high as 50% to 85%. A recent study suggests that RF may have significant impact, not only on return to work, but also on participation in the community and at home.
LB 312, sponsored by Sen. Colby Coash, of Lincoln, was introduced this session to address this concern. Other states have made this a priority for those impacted by brain injury; in fact 40 states now have a resource facilitator, and Iowa has five employees dedicated to Resource Facilitation.
