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Select a particular mental health or social service issue affecting military clients and families. Imagine you have been engaged to increase the success of a local community organization’s response to the needs of military clients and families related to your selected issue. Write a paper that does the following: Define the problem and provide prevalence, incidence, and relevance to the military population. Describe evidence-based treatments or psychosocial/rehabilitation treatments and their relevance to a military population. Identify agency resources needed to address the problem and treat military members and their families. Identify training and education needed for treatment providers and provide a rationale. Identify Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and community resources to assist treatment providers with referrals for additional services.

Paper For Above Instructions

Overview

This paper addresses intimate partner violence (IPV) among active-duty service members and military families. IPV is a significant social and mental health problem affecting military populations with unique risk factors (deployment stress, PTSD, military culture) and barriers to help-seeking (stigma, career concerns). The goal is to recommend evidence-based clinical approaches and organizational resources for a local community organization to better serve military clients and their families.

Problem Definition and Prevalence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) encompasses physical, sexual, psychological abuse, and coercive controlling behaviors between partners. Among military populations, research indicates comparable or heightened risks for certain forms of IPV relative to civilians, with deployment-related stress, combat exposure, and PTSD associated with increased perpetration and victimization (Jones, 2012; Klostermann et al., 2012). Estimates vary by sample and method, but studies report elevated rates of both physical and psychological IPV among military couples, and military sexual trauma (MST) remains prevalent among service members and veterans (Barth et al., 2016; Stander & Thomsen, 2016).

Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs) and Psychosocial Interventions

Effective interventions for IPV in general and those adapted for military populations include behavioral couples interventions, cognitive-behavioral approaches that address anger and trauma-related symptoms, and specialized group programs for perpetrators and survivors. The “Strength at Home” group intervention, designed for military populations, combines cognitive-behavioral, trauma-informed, and relationship skills components and has shown promising pilot outcomes in reducing IPV and improving relationship functioning (Taft et al., 2013). Trauma-focused therapies (e.g., cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure) address co-occurring PTSD and MST, which can reduce risk factors associated with IPV perpetration and revictimization (SAMHSA, 2014).

Relevance of Approaches to Military Populations

Military populations require adaptations that address: (1) the high prevalence of trauma exposure and PTSD; (2) career and confidentiality concerns that impede help-seeking; and (3) the impact of military culture and frequent relocations. Interventions like Strength at Home were specifically developed for service members to incorporate trauma processing, address hyperarousal and anger regulation, teach nonviolent communication, and provide a confidential group setting that respects military-specific concerns (Taft et al., 2013; Klostermann et al., 2012).

Agency Resources Needed

To implement an effective program for military clients and families, a community organization will need:

  • Trained clinical staff experienced in IPV and trauma-informed care (licensed clinicians, group facilitators).
  • Partnerships with military and VA entities for referral pathways and confidentiality guidance.
  • Safe, confidential spaces for survivor services and separate treatment settings for perpetrators when required.
  • Case management capacity to address co-occurring needs (housing, legal advocacy, child welfare, employment).
  • Data systems for screening, outcome tracking, and continuous quality improvement.
  • Funding to support sliding-scale services, outreach to military families, and transportation or telehealth platforms for remote access.

Training and Education for Treatment Providers

Providers should receive training in:

  • Trauma-informed care and assessment of military-related trauma (including MST) (SAMHSA, 2014).
  • Evidence-based IPV interventions adapted for military clients (e.g., Strength at Home facilitation training) (Taft et al., 2013).
  • Risk assessment for lethality and safety planning specific to military contexts.
  • Cultural competence regarding military life, rank dynamics, confidentiality and clearance concerns, and family separations due to deployment.
  • Collaboration protocols for working with DoD, VA, and civilian criminal justice or child protective agencies.

Rationale: Military clients present intersecting clinical and systemic issues (PTSD, deployment stress, career impact) that make standard community IPV interventions insufficient without adaptation. Training reduces provider hesitancy, improves fidelity to EBTs, and increases safety for clients and staff by ensuring consistent risk management (Klostermann et al., 2012).

Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Community Referral Resources

Key referral sources and collaboration partners include:

  • DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and installation Family Advocacy Programs (FAP) — for coordinated reporting, prevention, and family services (DoD SAPRO).
  • VA Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program and VA mental health services for veterans experiencing IPV or MST (VA IPVAP).
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline for 24/7 support and local shelter referrals.
  • SAMHSA treatment locators and trauma-informed care resources to link to specialized behavioral health care.
  • Local legal aid, child welfare agencies, and housing services for comprehensive case management.

Creating formal MOUs with military installations and VA facilities will streamline referrals, clarify confidentiality limits, and expedite access to higher-level care when needed (Stander & Thomsen, 2016).

Implementation Recommendations

Recommended steps for the community organization include: (1) implement routine confidential IPV screening for military-affiliated clients; (2) adopt an evidence-based, trauma-informed group intervention such as Strength at Home; (3) train multidisciplinary staff and establish a liaison role to coordinate with installation Family Advocacy Programs and VA providers; (4) develop safety and confidentiality protocols mindful of military career concerns; and (5) collect outcome data to evaluate program effectiveness and adapt services.

Conclusion

Addressing IPV in military families requires clinically effective, trauma-informed treatments adapted to military culture, and organizational capacity for coordinated referrals and safety management. By investing in targeted training, partnerships with DoD and VA resources, and evidence-based group and trauma therapies, a local community organization can significantly improve access, outcomes, and safety for military clients and their families (Taft et al., 2013; Klostermann et al., 2012).

References

  • Barth, S. K., Kimerling, R. E., Pavao, J., McCutcheon, S. J., Batten, S. V., Dursa, E., & Schneiderman, A. I. (2016). Military sexual trauma among recent veterans: Correlates of sexual assault and sexual harassment. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(1), 77–86.
  • Jones, A. D. (2012). Intimate partner violence in military couples: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17(2), 147–157.
  • Klostermann, K., Mignone, T., Kelley, M. L., Musson, S., & Bohall, G. (2012). Intimate partner violence in the military: Treatment considerations. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17(1), 53–58.
  • Taft, C. T., Macdonald, A., Monson, C. M., Walling, S. M., Resick, P. A., & Murphy, C. M. (2013). Strength at Home group intervention for military populations engaging in intimate partner violence: Pilot findings. Journal of Family Violence, 28(3), 225–231.
  • Stander, V. A., & Thomsen, C. J. (2016). Sexual harassment and assault in the U.S. military: A review of policy and research trends. Military Medicine, 181(1S), 20–27.
  • U.S. Department of Defense, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (DoD SAPRO). (2020). Resources and policy guidance. Retrieved from https://www.sapr.mil
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (VA IPVAP). (2019). Clinical and referral resources. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Intimate partner violence: Basic facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services (TIP 57). HHS Publication.
  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline. (2023). Resources for survivors and service providers. Retrieved from https://www.thehotline.org

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