The world’s uncertainties can be very stressful and frightening for military families. Children may experience the following reactions to news about a deployment: Fear: “What if something bad happens?” Helplessness: “There’s nothing I can do about any of this.” Anger: “Why does my (dad/mom) have to go?” Confusion: “What is happening? I don’t understand this.”…
Preparing for a loved one’s deployment is key to lessening the emotional, financial, social, and day-to-day impact. The following suggestions will help you prepare for a loved one’s departure. List your monthly bills and other important expenses so that you are aware of your financial obligations (this is especially important if your spouse or partner…
Deployment and separation is a part of military life. Having to separate emotionally and physically from loved ones is challenging and stressful. Each stage of military activity has its own unique stresses: Pre-deployment: As you prepare for departure, you may experience anxiety, fear, uncertainty, in- creased emotional distance, and family conflicts. Some of those being…
June is National Safety Month. The goal of this month is to increase safety awareness and decrease the number of accident-related injuries or deaths. Here are some tips for minimizing risk in your workplace: Practice sun safety. The best way to prevent skin cancer is to use SPF 30 or better sunscreen as directed, wear…
Last time on OnTopic, Trauma-Informed Care Coordinator Scott Webb talked to Rick about the Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care, a new approach to professional engagement that involves peering into a complete picture of any individual’s entire life and the traumas that have shaped their behavior since. But how does an organization start to implement trauma-informed…
Management support is key when someone is transitioning their gender at work. A proactive approach will help to ensure that the process is handled with empathy and respect. When a team member informs a manager that they are transitioning, it is important that management become part of the workplace planning process. Together, they can: Determine…
Taking a summer vacation doesn’t have to break your budget. Consider these options for creating a healthy, relaxing summer break: Sleep at home. If hotel or rental prices are more than you can afford, consider a vacation comprised of local day trips. Sleeping in your own bed could substantially decrease your vacation costs. You’ll save…
Critical Incident Response: Practice. Practice. Practice. Please join us for this free live webinar provided by Empathia and Bob VandePol. Don’t test your product on the customer! Building upon content shared previously in this series, this session will provide participants with a highly interactive opportunity to role-play selected CIR scenarios and share immediate feedback and…
A prepared employee is part of your response tool kit. Empowering your employees to be individually prepared will help your organization to bounce back faster should a disaster occur. Here’s how: Help Employees Help Themselves Email employees the link to ready.gov. Encourage them to make a list of things they will do to prepare. Encourage…
Does adversity in childhood affect a person’s health long-term? Organizations across the United States have developed a new way of understanding and managing employees – trauma-informed care – but does it really work? Rick Hoaglund sits down with Scott Webb, trauma-informed care coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to talk about the six principles of…