Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury (PTSD/TBI) are conditions that many veterans acquire during their service protecting our country. These life-long, invisible injuries destroy veterans' ability to function as part of their family and within society. PTSD/TBI affects as many as 20% of returning veterans and is strongly associated with an increased risk of addiction and suicide. There is no consensus on a model for correct treatment. Veterans often end up on ... 阅读更多
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury (PTSD/TBI) are conditions that many veterans acquire during their service protecting our country. These life-long, invisible injuries destroy veterans' ability to function as part of their family and within society. PTSD/TBI affects as many as 20% of returning veterans and is strongly associated with an increased risk of addiction and suicide. There is no consensus on a model for correct treatment. Veterans often end up on large regiments of drugs with addictive potential and/or serious side effects. Agencies they encounter often seem to be at odds about how to deal with their problems. Clearly, a new approach that doesn't involve more bureaucracy and pills is needed, one that treats these brave men and women with the respect and dignity they deserve after risking everything for their country. In response to the growing recognition of these problems, War Dogs Making it Home was founded in 2010. The program is delivered to the veterans by Elana Morgan of Morgan's Dogs. In early 2013, Eva Braverman-Sistrunk, LCSW became Executive Director of War Dogs Making it Home, and together she and Elana run the organization.
How it works. Veterans are paired with specially selected dogs rescued from local high kill shelters or surrendered to Morgan's Dogs. Morgan's staff trains these dogs in basic obedience and fundamentals of service for PTSD/TBI veterans. They are taught to interrupt attacks of panic, stress and hyper vigilance - hallmarks of PTSD/TBI. Over a 8-12 week period the dogs are introduced to the veterans in bi-weekly group classes. In this safe environment, veterans share their stories, events and concerns with each other while they learn about their dogs and their dogs learn about them. Under supervision from Elana Morgan they become the trainers of their service dogs.
Unique aspects of the program. The veterans are saving the dogs' lives. This decreases the stigma of negative labeling for those who most need help, but avoid seeking help for fear of looking weak. The veterans participate in the training of their service dogs in an ongoing program with other affected veterans. The time and cost to get the service dogs in our program is shortened by years and tens of thousands of dollars. Most veterans wait in vain for years to get a service dog. Our program pairs them with a dog in 8-12 weeks for only $5,000, of which there is no cost to the veteran.
A Safe Haven. This highly individualized training advances once the dog and veteran are together. Participation of the veterans in the training gives them the first success many have had in a while. As the bond with their dog deepens, love and hope enter their hearts. Of all the therapy these individual vets attend, they say that this program seems to be doing the most good. It becomes their lifeline.
Our program builds veterans' resiliency and self-respect, while reducing the impact of their disorder on their families, communities, and institutions. We offer a model that is bringing important positive changes in a dramatically shorter time and at a lower cost than traditional methods.
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