The Coming Home Project
The Coming Home Project is an effort by the School of Social Work at Monmouth University to recognize and prepare social work students and community practitioners to meet the needs of returning career, reservist, and National Guard military personnel and their families. While remaining invested in Social Work’s historic commitment to work for peace, we are also cognizant of our duty to serve vulnerable populations, such as persons who have experienced combat either directly or indirectly.
Action Plan
On Friday, October 3, 2008, The Coming Home Project hosted an all-day conference at the university on the need for providing support for returning combat veterans and their families. The conference brought together career and reserve military personnel, chaplains, community practitioners, and academics to learn from each other and to set an initial agenda for action on the part of the School of Social Work. From that day’s meeting, the following action plan emerged:
1. The Need for Training and Continuing Education
Target populations:
- Religious/spiritual personnel
- Employers
- Social Services
Format:
- Professional Education Program (PEP) Workshops
Topics:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- VA/State entitlements
- Military culture
- Spirituality
- Self care
2. Development of an Information/Resource Guide
Target populations:
- Returning military personnel
- Community practitioners
Format:
- Web-based (easily updated, easily accessible)
3. Summer Institute for Military Personnel
Target populations:
- Military leadership
Format:
- Provide training opportunities for military leadership on psychological topics
- Week-long, on-campus program
4. Curriculum development
Target populations:
- BSW and MSW students
Format:
- Course development
Topics:
- Working with military families
- Military culture
5. Development of additional field sites related to
working with military families
Target populations:
- Military bases
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Brain Injury Association of America
Additional Resources
Student Veterans of America
MilitaryOneSource.com - "A 24/7 Resource for Military Members, Spouses & Families"
Developers
Coming Home Project Advisory Committee:
- Hunter Brockriede, Monmouth University student
- Charles Brown, Monmouth County Division of Mental Health
- Carol Cashen, Brain Injury Association of New Jersey
- Anne Marie DeRosa, Monmouth University student
- Elaine Egidio, LPC
- Latoya Fields, Monmouth Medical Center
- Cynthia Freier, US Navy
- Celina Gray, Governor's Council on Mental Health and Stigma
- Sandy Grebel, Preferred Behavioral Health
- Mike Hanlon, New Horizon Treatment Service
- Jill Harrington Lamorie, TAPS
- Jean Judge, Monmouth University
- Barbara McMorrow, Freeholder
- Donald McNamara, Veterans Service
- Kirk Moore, Asbury Park Press
- Declan O'Scanlon, Assemblyman, Veteran Affairs
- J. Bryan Smith, Mental Health Association of Monmouth County
- Lynn Spector, LCSW
- Lisa Wilson, Long Branch Concordance
