Here's a news release from Chris Barons, Democratic candidate for the 139th Assembly District.
The Returning Vet: A Tale of Two EAPs
Our state prepares to welcome home tens-of-thousands of military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Once the joy of reunion has subsided, our vets will be challenged to reintegrate into the civilian world.
Aside from the dramatic change in duty, our vets return to a highly competitive, repressed job market. Even for those with awaiting jobs, the transition to civilian life promises the strain of adaptive decision-making.
As a gloss, one might presume that veteran transitioning responsibility resides with the federal government. Limited to chronic needs and benefit administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs is the go-to agency.
However, transitioning thousands of returning veterans into an economically depressed setting demands a well-thought-out, comprehensive plan.
New York State has a highly developed Employee Assistance Program that offers a wide, a la carte array of services to participants. The public EAP program draws on public agencies to offer comprehensive support services to public employees. Private businesses typically contract EAP programs through private agencies and insurance carriers.
Their programs are Return On Investment (ROI) modeled and tend toward short-term interventions aimed at improving job performance and lowering absenteeism. Private focus is on the top three performance issues: stress, substance abuse and interpersonal relationships.
New York’s public EAPs offer participants long-term counseling and intervention opportunities. They are publicly funded and draw on public resources, though they serve the public employee workforce. The state EAPs also network with public agencies to provide accessible and diverse services.
Our returning vets will require specialized attention to successfully merge into civilian life. New York State has the existing agencies and networks to assist in that transition.
Now is the time to prepare for embracing our service men and women -- to have a mechanism in place for reintegrating them into our ranks. They have earned a proactive effort on their behalf. Adding our returning military personnel to the list of eligible NYS Employee Assistance Program service recipients is practical and deserved.
Great article, Billie.
Great article, Billie.
This is a press release from
This is a press release from Chris Barons.
C M, I read this on Friday
C M, I read this on Friday and have been thinking about it for the last 3 days. First, thank you for taking up this issue it's an important one. Making the State Employee EAPs available to recent military veterans could probably help some of them. In my opinion what most of the men and women will need is time and space. We can't possibly give that to everyone of course, but please bear it in mind. I know when I left the service, I had had a lifetime of being told what to do, and being critiqued constantly. The constant stress of making a mistake or a bad call could result in your injury or death; or worse, the injury or death of a friend who's put his/her life in your hands. I didn't want anyone to need me or rely on me or help me or "constructively criticize" anymore. But, I like many of the returning military now had a family, 3 small children and had no option for time and space, 4 people were relying on me and I had to forget that and get on with it. It was a different time. That may not be so easy considering what this country has put our people through in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention every other job all over the world that has to be done right the first time and everytime, no room for error. Sure counseling can help, but it's not for everyone. Many former servicemen crave individuality, not being classified by a bureaucrat, free to seek their own solutions. They've been there, done that. I know personally Vietnam vets who pushed their issues aside and went off to raise families and have careers only to have it all come back as they age and begin to look back and assess themselves. 40 years all of sudden is like yesterday.
Let our veterans have some space, don't pressure them about getting back to work or going back to school or marrying the sweetheart. They need to de-compress and everyone is on a different journey. Many people, like you C.M. and me want to help, I like having the programs there if they ask for it. If not, let them be. I will pray for them, and you're damn right we owe them.
Thanks for the benefit of
Thanks for the benefit of your experience, Dave. EAP programs are voluntary. Certainly personal and family counseling are an EAP's prime focus- I also envision financial planning, family services, employment, education and training assistance. Tying in state agencies and contract service providers would provide a comprehensive, one-call network available to any vet seeking aid. The one-call aspect, to my mind, is a critical plus.
I'd agree with the one-call
I'd agree with the one-call aspect. A lot of guys may call, and ask questions, but won't ask for help straight out. A trained ear may be able to steer them in the right direction. Again thanks for taking this up.