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Focusing on challenges such as moral injury, Rogers starts Fire Watch program for WI Veterans, service members
Posted on 09/10/24 05:52:pm
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – Specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Veterans and service members, a new Rogers Behavioral Health virtual treatment program is now providing services in Wisconsin.
“Our goal at Rogers is to demonstrate our commitment to military Veterans and service members in all that we do,” says Cindy Meyer, MSSW, Rogers’ president and CEO. “We’re doing so by supporting our internal Veteran experts such as Dr. Rae Anne Ho Fung in fulfilling her mission to expand access to our high-quality, evidence-based care to her brothers- and sisters-in-arms, by hiring Veterans to leverage their lived experience and professional expertise to facilitate the program, and by joining with others in our community in our shared venture to improve the wellness of those who have served us.”
Fire Watch, a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP), opened September 4, providing care that targets challenges such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms, as well moral injury.
“To our knowledge, this is one of the few non-VA programs that prioritizes helping people heal from moral injury,” says Rae Anne Ho Fung, PhD, Rogers' executive director of clinical integration and an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, who closely oversees the program. “Moral pain is a common human emotion that occurs when someone is involved in or witnesses an event that violates their morals, values, or ethical code of conduct. Moral pain can lead to moral injury when the person doesn’t have the opportunity to express themselves, work through it, and heal, resulting in long-lasting behavioral, psychological, or spiritual suffering. Most often we see moral injury in first responders, Veterans, and military service members. Those suffering are not alone. There is hope, and they can recover.”
A dedicated team with a passion for serving Veterans and service members provide the care through a virtual platform available in Wisconsin, increasing accessibility to treatment for an underserved population.
Rogers developed Fire Watch using a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA).
"For those who have served, it is crucial to have accessible and affordable mental health treatment when they need it," says WDVA Secretary-designee James Bond. "I'm grateful to the community partners like Rogers Behavioral Health, who are creating thoughtful and targeted programs that consider the unique needs of our state's Veterans. With a network of mental health care professionals across the state, Wisconsin Veterans will have more resources to live their best civilian life."
“I’m deeply grateful for the WDVA grant,” says Dr. Ho Fung. “My experiences deployed in Iraq are part of what motivated my life’s work: pursuing a career in mental healthcare with the goal of connecting people in need with effective, evidence-based treatment. I am thrilled to continue my mission at Rogers, where the Fire Watch program will fill unmet needs and offer accessible services to an underserved community. We are committed to building trust with Veterans and service members and providing the high-quality care they deserve.”
In IOP, treatment is tailored to the individual needs of our patients. The length of time the individual will be in the program varies based on their individual treatment goals and success in meeting these goals. Our patients are involved in the treatment planning process from day one until discharge.
About Rogers Behavioral Health
Rogers Behavioral Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit provider of mental health and addiction services. Rogers offers evidence-based treatment for adults, children, and adolescents with depression and other mood disorders, eating disorders, addiction, OCD and anxiety disorders, trauma, and PTSD. In addition to locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington, Rogers operates three inpatient behavioral health hospitals, 17 residential programs and seven centers offering PHP and IOP treatment in Wisconsin – soon to be nine. Outpatient services for medication management and psychiatric evaluations are offered virtually and in person in Wisconsin.
The System also includes Ladish Co. Foundation Center, home to Rogers Research Center, the Rogers Foundation, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room®. In addition, Rogers leads the nationwide WISE coalition with the goal of eliminating stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders. Learn more at rogersbh.org.
Contact:
Maddy O’Neill, Communications and Public Relations Lead
262-599-4542