Fort Hood social workers honored

By Patricia Deal,
CRDAMC Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas— In celebration of national Social Work Month, more than 150 social workers and support staff from across post took a day to enjoy a free lunch, fellowship and education at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s third annual social work luncheon at the Community Events Center here March 29.

The 2012 National Social Work Month slogan, “Social Work Matters,” was also the focus of the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Rear Adm. Epifanio Elizondo, chief health services officer from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Throughout his long, multi-branch, multi-disciplined career, Elizondo told attendees he has seen many social workers go above and beyond to help the people and communities they serve.

“In whatever field you work in, whether you’re helping families that have experienced domestic violence, the child who has been abused or neglected or Warriors who are struggling with the wounds of war, your contribution is significant and valued. You make a big difference in people’s lives. You matter more than you think you do.”

Public Health Service officer Lt. Cdr. Alysa Jackson, CRDAMC social worker and Social Work Month committee co-chair, agreed.

“Social workers typically work hard, dedicate much of their personal time to their patients, and the only reward they expect is seeing their patients get better,” she said. “They often don’t take the time to take care of themselves. Yet for social workers to continue to provide quality care to Soldiers and families, they have to take care of themselves. This event is our way of taking care of the provider and help build their resiliency. It’s time just for themselves where they can talk to their peers, have a nice lunch, maybe win a door prize, and knock out some of the required training.”

Also at the luncheon, Social Work Month committee members shared highlights of this year’s “Social Workers Give Back” project for veterans at the Veterans Affairs Hospital Temple, Texas. Through their fund raising efforts, the Department of Social work donated $700 worth of books and magazines and gave signed Thank You cards and flags to the vets.

“The social worker’s mission is to ‘give back’ to the community and everyone pitched in to make this year’s give back project a success,” said Public Health Service officer Lt. Cdr. Allah Sharrieff, CRDAMC social worker and committee co-chair. “We don’t always have time to show appreciation to others, but it’s an important gesture to help boost morale and make people feel better about themselves and what they do. While we were thanking the veterans for their service, they were thanking us for doing what we do. While we were recognizing the hard work of our social workers, they were thanking us for hosting such a luncheon. Plus, when someone of the magnitude of Admiral Elizondo gives a personal “thank you,” it enforces the idea that what you do matters.”

Also as part of the luncheon, participants attended a three-hour course for continuing education units on “Life Endings and Ethics” presented by Dr. Helen Harris from Baylor University School of Social Work and Dr. Isaac Gusukuma from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.

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SIDE BAR

The Department of Social Work offers a variety of individual and family counseling services that impact the lives of over 100,000 Soldiers, retirees, and family members.

Clinic locations and services include:

• Outpatient Social Work: Building 424, 761st Tank Battalion Road, (254) 618-8582. Provides therapy for deployment related stressors, anger management, grief and loss and emotional trauma.
• Family Advocacy: Building 2255, 761st Tank Battalion Road and 52nd Street, (254) 288-6474. Provides domestic violence and child abuse intervention and treatment, Batterer’s Intervention Program, command consultation and education and parenting groups.
• Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic: Building 415, 761st Tank Battalion Road, (254) 287-1893. Marital and family counseling services.
• R&R Center: Building  39003, Tank Destroyer Boulevard and Wratten Drive, (254) 553-2288.  Deployment related issues or other mental health needs.
• Addiction Medicine Intensive Outpatient Clinic: Building 39003, Tank Destroyer Boulevard and Wratten Drive, (254) 553-2288. Four-week long intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment program.
• Social Workers also work in various other service areas on Fort Hood including, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Embedded Behavioral Health, Medical Social Work, Army Substance Abuse Program, New Parent Support Program, and in the Emergency Department.

For more information, call (254) 288-6474 or visit http://www.crdamc.amedd.army.mil/default.asp?page=social_work.

Rear Adm. Epifanio Elizondo, chief health services officer from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, addresses social workers and support staff from across post who attended CRDAMC’s third annual social work luncheon. Throughout his long, multi-branch, multi-disciplined career, Elizondo told attendees he has seen many social workers go above and beyond to help the people and communities they serve. (U.S. Army photo by Patricia Deal, CRDAMC Public Affairs)

 
Rear Adm. Epifanio Elizondo, chief health services officer from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, meets with U.S. Public Health Service Command officers from the CRDAMC Department of Social Work and surrounding region after the third annual social work luncheon. Approximately 176 USPHSC officers serve in 50 medical treatment facilities throughout the Department of Defense. (U.S. Army photo by Patricia Deal, CRDAMC Public Affairs)

Social workers and support staff from across Fort Hood congratulate themselves during CRDAMC’s third annual social work luncheon. The annual event with its free lunch, fellowship and training honors the hard work and dedication of social workers and helps build their resiliency. (U.S. Army photo by Patricia Deal, CRDAMC Public Affairs)