It Takes Courage After Fire: Navigating the Role of Caregiver

It Takes Courage After Fire: Navigating the Role of Caregiver




Caregiving for men and women who served in our military is a critical and often neglected component of a Veteran’s healthcare plan. This presentation will outline a framework for understanding systems and the impact a Veteran’s illness or challenges can have on a family. We will discuss strategies for helping Veterans obtain the care they deserve as well as strategies for Caregiver self-care.

Alicia 

Speaker: Keith Armstrong, LCSW

Keith Armstrong, L.C.S.W. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He directs the San Francisco Veterans Administration's (SFVA) Student Veteran Health Program at San Francisco City College, the first ever VA funded mental health program on a college campus and the SFVA's Family Therapy Program where he provides supervision and training to psychiatry residents, psychology externs, interns, fellows and social work interns. He also directs the social workers in the mental health service, is a member of the SFVA's Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinical Team and he consults to the UCSF Intensive Family Therapy program. In 2013 the student Veteran Health Program (formerly known as the Veterans Outreach Program) won a silver medal given by the American Psychiatric Association.

Mr. Armstrong is the recipient of multiple teaching awards including the prestigious 2011 UCSF Department of Psychiatry George Sarlo Teaching Award and over his career has won 5 teaching awards from UCSF psychiatry residents. In 2013 he won VA national Social Worker of the year and is the co-author of the best-selling book, Courage After Fire, Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families. In 2013 he co-authored his 2nd book entitled Courage After Fire for Parents: Strategies for Coping When your Son or Daughter Returns from Deployment. In 2014 he participated in a Congressional roundtable in Washington, DC. focusing on how best to reach out to returning Veterans and in 2016 he presented to the Commission on Care established by Congress to evaluate and assess access to VA Healthcare in Washington DC.

Alicia 

Texas Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow: Roxana Delago, PhD

For seven years, Roxana Delgado and husband Sergeant First Class Victor Medina thrived on military life throughout Victor’s OEF and OIF deployments. In 2009, an explosive struck Victor’s vehicle and he sustained a moderate TBI along with other injuries. Victor’s rehabilitation took two and a half years. During that time, the couple identified gaps in TBI identification, diagnosis and treatment, which they brought to the attention of military and civilian leadership to help shape new military healthcare policies. In March 2012, Roxana and Victor were honored with a Congressional Record in recognition of their contributions.

Roxana completed a PhD in Health Sciences and is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Military Health Institute, University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio. She’s also on the board of Returning Heroes Home. Roxana and Victor are passionate advocates for wounded warriors and caregivers, helping them navigate the systems to find resources to support their needs. Faith, hope, love, perseverance and teamwork are the couple’s key ingredients for thriving during the healing journey.

Additional Resources

Slides for the above webinar: Navigating the Role of Caregiver (*PDF)

Transcript for the above webinar: Navigating the Role of Caregiver (*PDF)

Powered by Blackbaud
nonprofit software