Welcome Them Home Help Them Heal - Softcover

John Sippola; Chaplain; LTC; Ret. MDiv; Amy Bluenshine; MSW; MA; Donald A Tubesing; PhD; MDiv; Valerie Yancey; RN

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1570252467 ISBN 13: 9781570252464

Publisher: Whole Person Associates, Inc, 2009

Synopsis

No two veterans have the same war experience, nor, upon returning from war do they face exactly the same reintegration challenges. Likewise, veterans heal and recover in their own ways and along their own timelines. Working together, compassionate, knowledgeable, and skilled caregivers, friends, and professionals can give veterans life-saving and life-giving care and support. This practical guide for ministering to veterans is packed with wisdom and advice to help caregivers understand the nature of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, the challenges soldiers face when returning home, and the physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds of war. Several chapters of the book are dedicated to helping faith communities minister effectively to returning soldiers by outlining the basic principles for outreach, providing guidelines for creating a welcoming and safe environment, and sharing ideas for activating the healing rituals of the church year. Also included in the book is a wealth of additionnal recommended resources including: agencies that serve veterans, tips for making effective referrals, quick screening tools for PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury; and a comprehensive Wounds of War Assessment with a whole person focus.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Caregivers who understand the healing power of story can offer hope. Pastors who understand the dynamics of forgiveness and reconciliation, spiritual direction, and confessional dialogue can greatly assist veterans in their quest for peace and reconciliation. Parish nurses who gain an understanding of the health issues facing returning veterans can provide preliminary health care screenings, locate treatment resources, and advocate for veterans and their families when they receive substandard medical care. Working together, compassionate, knowledgeable, and skilled caregivers, friends, and professionals can give veterans life-saving and life-giving care and support. This practical guide will equip caregivers with the knowledge of the challenges soldiers face when returning home, the understanding of the physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds of war, and guidelines for creating a welcoming and safe environment for returing soldiers.

About the Author

John Sippola, MDiv has served as a parish pastor for 20 years, hospital chaplain for 15 years, and as a Chaplain in the National Guard for 20 years. John served as the Family Assistance Center chaplain in Duluth Minnesota during the first Persian Gulf War and from 1997-2000 served as Family Assistance Chaplain for the State of Minnesota. As a hospital chaplain, he worked extensively with veterans in chemical dependency and mental health settings. Amy Blumenshine, MSW, MART, is a candidate for the diaconal ministry in the ELCA. In 2005 she convened the Coming Home Collaborative to engage faith communities and health professionals in reducing the secondary trauma veterans and their families often experience. Donald A Tubesing, PhD, MDiv, is a retired ELCA pastor. He holds a PhD in Counselor Education and a Master of Divinity degree. In 1973 he helped form and nurture the Wholistic Health Centers Project as well as the National Parish Nurse Program. In 1977 he founded Whole Person Associates, a training and publishing company focused on providing stress management and wellness promotion educational materials for professionals in medicine, ministry, social work, and counseling. He is an author of 21 books. Don grew up on the grounds of several VA Hospitals - his father having served his career as a chaplain. Valerie Yancey, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Southern Illinois University. She holds certifications in Holistic Nursing, Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing, and Stress Management. Dr. Yancey teaches courses in holistic care and the spiritual dimensions of health and healing.

About this edition

• Publisher: Whole Person Associates, Inc
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1570252467
• ISBN 13: 9781570252464
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112