Students, Families benefit with continuum of services

By Ms. Kaytrina CurtisAugust 2, 2016

As a part of the power projection platform, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield's Soldiers are deployed throughout the world. Sometimes these deployments can have a negative domino effect on school-aged children. To help thwart some of the behavioral challenges some students may face, the School Behavioral Health program launched in two Fort Stewart schools this month. The SBH follows the Army Child and Family Behavioral Health System's model.

The CAFBHS is a comprehensive behavioral health model designed to support the needs of Army children and Families through the alignment and teamwork with the Army Medical Home and other primary care Family Member oriented clinics.

With the 2016-2017 Fort Stewart school year kicking off today, students at Diamond and Kessler Elementary will have the opportunity to receive care without having to leave school for an appointment. The SBH also improves service efficiency, effectiveness and outcomes directly in the child's natural learning environment--the school.

The launching of the CAFBHS was on the Army Family Action Plan, and School Behavioral Health is a huge component of the AFAP.

"The school based program is a huge multiplier to compliment what the school staff and providers are doing for students," said Lieutenant Commander Sara E. Pulliam, U.S. Public Health Service,

PsyD, Chief, Child and Family Behavioral Health System. "Adding our clinicians to the team will add to the impact of care, reduce the time previously spent out of school to come to an appointment in the Liberty Wing of the hospital, and promote collaboration and interventions. I am very excited about this expansion."

According to an Institute of Medicine 2013 report, more than one million children experienced a parent's deployment throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom campaigns. More than 50 percent of kindergarteners were identified as "at risk" by standard measures, yet only 33 percent of their parents reported their child as having had a problem.

As part of the continuum of services, the SBH offers psychiatric diagnosis/evaluation as well as psychiatric emergency evaluation; individual and Family counseling; behavioral health case management with SBH students; psychoeducational and therapeutic groups; and prevention and wellness/resilience services.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mary Van Stavoren, is an SBH provider who will be embedded at an on-post school, and expressed her appreciation for the program.

"This is an honor and a privilege," Van Stavoren said. "My perspective is unique in that my husband is a retired combat veteran. I understand the challenges that Military Families face on a daily basis."

Although new to the military environment, Dr. Stephanie Soriano-Daughtery, a doctor of psychology provider who relocated to the area last year, said she is enthusiastic to get started on this new journey.

"I very excited about starting this new adventure," Soriano-Daughtery said. "I am really looking forward to working in the school setting and helping kids, that's why I moved here."

The program's goals are to improve the climate and culture of the school, organize the community around the students and Army Families. The SBH's goal is to also promote prevention and wellness activities within the classroom, decrease bullying in schools, and help to improve the academic performance of the students.

Looking forward, the Stewart program's long-term goal is to have one provider at each school in the future. For more information about the SBH program, call 912-435-7349/5707.

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