Right on Time: July 2022

The dog days of summer are upon us and many are trying to enjoy a little respite from the heat wave gripping much of the country. Remember to stay hydrated and practice a little extra self-care because heat stroke is no joke! Summer also has us approaching the one-year mark of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and Give an Hour is doing what it does best: connecting and supporting people and resources. This includes providing culturally appropriate educational training and tools for those assisting with the resettlement efforts. You can read more about our role in this press release.  

Additionally, Give an Hour is coordinating licensed provider support for the upcoming #AfghanEvac Coalition Wellness Day is happening August 6. More details to come as they are made available. 

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PROGRAM UPDATES

Inquiring Minds Want to Know …

You may be aware that Give an Hour provides mental health care services to U.S. service members and veterans. But you also might be a little fuzzy on the details … No worries! Let us help you fill in the blanks. 

Any U.S. service member or veteran is eligible to receive one-on-one mental health care with a licensed mental health professional in the Give an Hour network at absolutely no cost. No kidding. No strings attached. The branch in which you served doesn’t matter. Guard or Reserve? No problem. Era doesn’t matter and neither does campaign. Length of service? You guessed it. It doesn’t matter. No deployment? No problem. And … Discharge status doesn’t matter either. If you served, you are eligible. 

Give an Hour also has individual counseling available for family members or loved ones who are directly affected by the member’s military service. While not quite as cut and dry, there are resources available and we absolutely will help you determine eligibility.  

Please know that any service member, veteran or family member who sees a Give an Hour provider can be assured their sessions are completely confidential. Our providers do not report to the military in any way, shape or form. Anything discussed with a mental health professional through our programs stays between the provider and client. 

If you have any questions about eligibility, please email info@giveanhour.org or visit www.giveanhour.org/military.

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Rare Care Peer Support Welcomes Participants

If you are a rare disease caregiver and would like to share lessons learned from your journey with others who may be experiencing some of the same challenges, our Rare Care Peer Support training may be for you.  

You may be asking … What exactly is a peer supporter? A peer supporter is someone who shares their experience and assists their peers identify needs and build on strengths and resources to achieve desired goals. Particular attention is paid to self-care and self-compassion.  

This 12-hour training is designed specifically for rare disease caregivers. A few things participants can expect to learn: 

• The effects of trauma and the elements of a trauma-informed approach 
• About self-compassion and how to practice it 
• Prioritizing self-care 
• Caregiver burnout and medical issues 
• Ethics and boundaries 

The first class is scheduled for August 9. So don’t delay, register today! Please contact Sonja Chapman at schapman@giveanhour.org with any questions. 

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How Culture Impacts Our Emotional Well-being

SAVE THE DATE … As part of Minority Mental Health Awareness month, Give an Hour will host a FREE webinar.

WHEN: July 27, 2002 – Noon EST/9 a.m. PST
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XQ47LTeCS_2uPBUpFl6hfg 

Description: Panelists will discuss moving past generational barriers and stigmas by taking charge of their personal well-being. They will offer suggestions for how we can work together to move forward in a healthy and productive way.  

PANELISTS: 

• Antonio E. Puente, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Give an Hour Board Member
• Brittany Chatman, M.H.A, Program Manager, Give an Hour 
• Dug Y. Lee, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., Board Certified Couple and Family Psychologist 
• Celestine LaVan, Ed.D., Veteran, Champion and Servant Leader and Give an Hour Ambassador

MODERATOR: Freshta Taeb, Family/Refugee Interventionist, Dari Language Specialist, Community Rights Advocate 

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