1:00pm - 2:00pm

Cohen Clinic Overview & Tools for Stress and Worry

Organization: Cohen Clinic at Child & Family Service

Presenters: Annisa Budiman, Outreach Manager; Tatiana Abasolo, Lead Clinician

The Cohen Clinic, operated by Child & Family Service, offers accessible, high-quality mental healthcare to post-9/11 veterans and military families across the state of Hawai`i.

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Child & Family Service provides in-person and telehealth mental health counseling for post 9/11 veterans, service members of all branches (to include National Guard and Reserves), and anyone they consider a family member. We offer individual (adult/child), couples, family, and group counseling. All of our Hawaii staff have military connections as a veteran, spouse of a veteran, or child of a veteran. We understand the challenges you may be facing. We are a non-profit organization that provides high-quality, accessible, and integrated mental health care using evidence-based practices. We offer brief, client-centered therapy for a variety of mental health issues (including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems, and children’s behavioral problems) by using a Targeted Treatment Model meant to address the specific behavioral concern within 3-4 months.

Tools for Managing Stress and Worry is for anyone who wants to better understand stress and worry and build a toolbox of techniques to help effectively manage these experiences in the future. Although the course is designed for military family members, anyone can benefit from this content. This presentation teaches research-based strategies, tools and techniques to help manage daily stresses and worries. Learn how you can identify when your body is feeling stressed, tools that can help redirect how it impacts your wellbeing, and some practical practices you can implement in your daily life.

Annisa Budiman - Outreach Manager & Military Spouse: Annisa is the Outreach Manager for the Cohen Clinic at CFS. She fosters relationships with community partners across Hawaiʻi to reach the military & veteran population statewide. She is a military spouse to a Hawaii Army National Guardsman, who was a former Army active duty soldier. Familiar with the hardships transitions bring to military families, she dedicates her outreach efforts to ensure military families in Hawaiʻi are aware of the access they have to receive care from the Cohen Clinic. Annisa began her work at the clinic in the front desk role, helping families navigate the intake process to enroll in a therapy program.

Annisa has nearly 8 years of experience in the public relations, media, and communication field, which includes her work as a TV reporter and producer in Missouri at NBC-affiliate KOMU 8 News. Prior to moving to Hawaiʻi, she worked as the Indonesian Representative for the Missouri School of Journalism, building partnerships between the school and media related organizations and journalism schools in Indonesia. During her final year in graduate school, she worked at public relations office, CLS Strategies, in Washington D.C. as a digital marketing intern. Her educational background is in journalism, with a Master of Arts in TV broadcast from the University of Missouri, Columbia – School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in communication from University of Maryland, College Park.

Tatiana Abasolo, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC - Lead Clinician

Air Force Reservist and Military Spouse: Tatiana is the lead clinician at the Cohen Clinic. As the Lead Licensed Clinician, she is the liaison to the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) Central Office Clinical Programs team. She supports the clinic director through the provision of supervision, case consultation, and mentoring. Prior to joining the Cohen Clinic, she worked at the Desmond Doss Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks from 2016 to 2019. As a technician, she gained the knowledge and experience of working with soldiers in Embedded Behavior Health, as well as the Intensive Outpatient Program.

In 2004, Tatiana joined the Air Force Reserve as an Aerospace Medical Technician. Throughout her medical career she has deployed to Kuwait (2007) and provided contingent medical support in Germany (2009). During her deployment to Kuwait, she gained a deep understanding of the impact combat has on our service members’ mental health. In Germany, with an influx of service members from all locations of the area of responsibility (AOR), it further solidified her experience with the impact of combat on our service members.

Both tours helped launch her career that originally started out in the medical field. She pursued the mental health field with the goal of being able to make a greater impact in the lives of the people she helped. In 2013, Tatiana enrolled at Chaminade University in the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program with an emphasis in mental health. Tatiana received her master’s degree in counseling psychology in 2016 and is a licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Hawaiʻi. She is also certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC).

Connect with Cohen Clinic:

• Cohen Clinic at CFS Website

• https://www.childandfamilyservice.org/

• https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/

• Instagram @cfshawaii / Facebook

• Instagram @CohenClinicHI

Email: abudiman@cfs-hawaii.org

Phone: 808-204-4020

2:00pm - 3:00pm

The Public Health Model, Lone Offenders, and Targeted Violence / Terrorism Prevention

Organization: Hawai’i State Fusion Center

Presenter: Patricia Kickland, Program Manager

Direct Services are violence prevention. This training focused on how we can help prevent targeted violence and acts of domestic terrorism that occur far too often at our schools, places of worship, businesses, and public places?  Traditional prevention efforts have focused on law enforcement and justice systems solutions.  But according to experts, lone offenders who commit hate-inspired attacks have surpassed large terrorist organizations to become the deadliest domestic terrorism threat in the U.S.. The dynamics of lone offender terrorism require a different approach than previous strategies designed to protect against terrorist organizations.  Learn how a public health inspired approach to violence prevention, especially within a whole-of-community framework, may support targeted violence/terrorism prevention efforts.

Ms. Kickland has been a Program Manager at the Hawai’i State Fusion Center (HSFC) for four years, where her duties include education, outreach, and training on topics related to violent extremism and targeted violence/terrorism prevention.  She previously worked as an Investigator with the state of Hawai`i Crime Victim Compensation Commission, and a deputy prosecutor at the Honolulu prosecutor’s office.

Connect with HSFC & Patricia:

Website: hsfc.hawaii.gov

Email: Patricia.kickland@hawaii.gov

Phone: 808-271-0082

315:pm - 4:00pm

Suicide Prevention 101: The Basics, Intro to safeTALK & Suicide Prevention Resources

Organization: Prevent Suicide Kaua’i Task Force

Presenter: Patricia Lei, Co-Chair

Learn about the Prevent Suicide Kaua'i Task Force (PSKTF), which is part of the statewide Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force under the State of Hawai’i Department of Health. The task forces are made up of people from local, state, and federal government, nonprofits, private businesses, and especially everyday individual community members who have been impacted by suicide. The Task Forces focus on suicide prevention outreach education and advocacy throughout the Hawaiian islands and promotes the message of Hope, Help, and Healing to reduce suicide and mental health stigmas.

Key Takeaways you’ll learn about through SP101:

• Overview of Prevent Suicide Kaua’i & Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Forces: Hope-Help-Heal

• The Best Way to Prevent Suicide Is By Talking About Suicide!

• How to Become a Helper + safeTALK Basics - Tell. Ask. Listen. KeepSafe. Register for Oct 22nd Kaua’i Training!

• 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 9-8-8 Press 1 for Veterans, and Crisis Mobile Outreach

• Crisis Text Line - Text 'ALOHA' to 741 741

  and additional Resources

• Upcoming Outreach, Trainings & Activities Statewide: Check out Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force’s Monthly Newsletter!

Patricia Lei is a TEDx Speaker, Suicide Prevention Educator, and Co-Chair for the Prevent Suicide Kaua'i Task Force , alongside her counterpart and friend, Madeleine Hiraga-Nuccio. PSKTF focuses on Hope, Help, and Healing to reduce suicide and mental health stigmas.

As a lifelong advocate for Mental Health, Women, Veterans, and as a Military Spouse, Patricia has served as Founding Vice-Chair for the statewide Veterans Caucus, and is a proud 2023 graduate and 1st place Ho'ike Pitch Competition winner of Kaua'i Community College's STRIVE Entrepreneur program for veterans and their family members. As a small business owner, Patricia empowers Women Entrepreneurs and Nonprofit Leaders to Connect, Collaborate, and Amplify their Income & Impact!

Connect with Prevent Suicide Kaua’i & Patricia:

• PreventSuicideKauai.org

  preventsuicidekauai@gmail.com
  

• ConnectCollaborateAmplify.com

• Watch Patricia’s TEDx Talk

Email: patricia@patriciawistinghausen.com

Phone: 808-346-7492

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Talk Saves Lives: An Intro to Suicide Prevention

Organization: Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force - University of Hawai’i

Presenters: Deborah Goebert, Dr.P.H. and PSHTF Co-Chair + Annisa Budiman, Outreach Manager, Cohen Clinic at Child & Family Service

Talk Saves Lives is American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) community-based presentation that provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what they can do in their communities to save lives. Participants will learn common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe.

Topics covered include:

• Scope of the Problem: The latest data on suicide in the U.S. and worldwide

• Research: Information from research on what causes people to consider suicide, as well as health, historical, and environmental factors that put individuals at risk

• Prevention: An understanding of the protective factors that lower suicide risk, and strategies for managing mental health and being proactive about self-care

• What You Can Do: Guidance on warning signs and behaviors to look for, and how to get help for someone in a suicidal crisis
  
  You will also learn about the statewide Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force under the State of Hawai’i Department of Health. The task forces are made up of people from local, state, and federal government, nonprofits, private businesses, and especially everyday individual community members who have been impacted by suicide. The Task Forces focus on suicide prevention outreach education and advocacy throughout the Hawaiian islands and promotes the message of Hope, Help, and Healing to reduce suicide and mental health stigmas.

Dr. Deb Goebert is a Professor at the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Office of Public Health Studies.  She is an inaugural member of the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force and is the current Co-Chair.  She is the Co-Director of Hawaii’s Caring Systems Initiative for Youth Suicide Prevention. Her scholarly work center on the social-cultural determinants of mental health and well-being by identifying disparities and implementing culturally-grounded interventions through collaborative partnerships. She has a passion for public health, enjoys spending time outdoors, and loves to laugh.

Connect with Prevent Suicide Hawai’i & Dr. Deb:

• PSHTF Website

• UH Manoa - Dept. of Psychiatry

Email: goebertd@dop.hawaii.edu

Annisa Budiman - Outreach Manager & Military Spouse: Annisa is the Outreach Manager for the Cohen Clinic at CFS. She fosters relationships with community partners across Hawaiʻi to reach the military & veteran population statewide. She is a military spouse to a Hawaii Army National Guardsman, who was a former Army active duty soldier. Familiar with the hardships transitions bring to military families, she dedicates her outreach efforts to ensure military families in Hawaiʻi are aware of the access they have to receive care from the Cohen Clinic. Annisa began her work at the clinic in the front desk role, helping families navigate the intake process to enroll in a therapy program.

Connect with Cohen Clinic:

• Cohen Clinic at CFS Website

• https://www.childandfamilyservice.org/

• https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/

• Instagram @cfshawaii / Facebook

• Instagram @CohenClinicHI

Email: abudiman@cfs-hawaii.org

Phone: 808-204-4020

5:00pm - 6:00pm

VA Benefits 101

Organization: VA Benefits Advisors - Team CALIBRE, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam

Presenter: Cande Cepeda, Senior Benefits Advisor

An overview on VA health care, services and benefits that may be available to Service members, Veterans, dependent spouses or children, caregivers or survivors.

Cande Cepeda is a Senior Benefits Advisor under the VA Transition Assistance Program at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in support of transitioning service members (TSM) throughout the state of Hawaii . Her team is contracted under the Veteran Benefits Administration’s Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED), which supports VA’s mission of helping veterans and their families navigate VA benefits and services.  Prior to her current position, she was an Assistant Director at an Army Child Development Center and an Assessment Coordinator for the National Assessment for Education Progress.  She also spent nearly 2 decades working with military children and families as an educator at several school districts in the US, including Hawaii, and with the Department of Defense Education Activity in Germany.   

Connect with VA Benefits Advisors & Cande:

Website: https://benefits.va.gov/transition/VA-TAP-Course-Catalog.asp

Resource: https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/docs/mlc-va-benefits-101.pdf

Email: cande.cepeda@VATAP.calibresys.com

Phone: 571-461-8617

Hawaii SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)

Resource Table + Digital Resources (see below)

Organization: Hawai’i SHIP

Contact: Candace Nakamoto, Hawaii SHIP Volunteer Coordinator & MIPPA Director

Hawaii SHIP is a federally funded volunteer-based program under the Hawaii Department of Health, Executive Office on Aging. SHIP volunteers provide free, local, and unbiased Medicare information and education.

Connect with Hawai’i SHIP:

Website: https://www.hawaiiship.org
Social Media Links:

• Facebook

• YouTube

• Twitter

Candace Nakamoto

Email: candace.young@doh.hawaii.gov

Phone: 808-586-7299

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

Resource Table + Digital Resources (see below)

Organization: VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

Contact: Wendy Schwartz, LCSW, Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator

At VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, our health care teams are deeply experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers. Find a health facility near you, and manage your health online. Sign up for community events and updates. Veterans must make an appointment prior to coming in to a clinic for care. Call 1-800-214-1306 to make an appointment.

Connect with VA Pacific Islands & Wendy:

• VA Pacific Islands Health

• Instagram @va_pacific_islands

• Video: VA’s Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention

Email: wendy.schwartz@va.gov

Phone: 808-758-4129

Kaua’i Community College Veterans Support Center & STRIVE Entrepreneur Program

Resource Table + Digital Resources (see below)

Organization: Kaua’i Community College

Contact: Alicia Sams, Veteran Support Counselor

Mission Statement: To provide Student Veterans with a comfortable atmosphere equipped with all the tools necessary to aid them in their collegiate pursuits, and provide experienced knowledgeable, and friendly staff to all who enter as the link between them and other resources needed to make the most of their scholastic endeavors. The Kaua‘i Community College Veterans’ Support Program provides Kaua‘i CC Student Veterans with referrals & assistance for services, on and off campus, geared toward their health, wellness, and college success.  Within the Program, the VSC-Veterans’ Support Center facility, on campus provides a supportive atmosphere where Veterans can discuss issues ranging from benefits, educational challenges, and shared experiences.  In turn, the Center provides Computer workstations, WiFi connectivity, and study areas staffed by Veteran Student Workers.

Alicia Sams has been the Veteran Support Counselor at Kaua‘i Community College for 4 years and assists student veterans with enrollment and utilizing their VA educational benefits, plus serves as a contact person for all of their educational needs.

Alicia also Co-Hosts the STRIVE Entrepreneur program - which stands for Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship - alongside KCC Business Instructor Dirk Soma. Alicia assists the program with marketing, recruitment, and administrative tasks and is happy to answer any questions you may have. Applications are being accepted to participate in STRIVE Cohort 3, which begins in May 2024. See below for the flyer and additional details!

Connect with KCC & Alicia:

Website: https://www.kauai.hawaii.edu/veterans-support-center

STRIVE Website: https://www.kauai.hawaii.edu/strive

Email: samsa@hawaii.edu

Phone: 808-245-8317