POST-EVENT PRESS RELEASE

September 28, 2009
Contact: Jane Simpson, Director of Public Relations
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska
(402) 978-5646

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska launches At Ease℠ program
Trauma treatment and therapeutic support for active military, veterans and their loved ones

Bellevue, Neb. - Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS), an Omaha-based statewide non-profit organization, announced a new program today which offers quality behavioral health services to focus on the needs of individuals who serve our country in the armed forces.  U.S. Senator Ben Nelson was the guest speaker at the kickoff celebration and press conference, held at 3 p.m. at the Lutheran Family Services Bellevue At Ease office.

At Ease℠ is a trauma treatment and therapeutic support program that serves active military, veterans and their loved ones affected by untreated trauma reactions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program places special emphasis on helping military personnel and their loved ones cope with the affects of deployment and the uncertainty of war.

Ruth Henrichs, President and CEO of Lutheran Family Services, said, “LFS is honored to be serving our active military, veterans and their loved ones through At Ease℠.  Together with community partners, At Ease behavioral healthservices are one more expression of our LFS mission to ’build and strengthen individual, family and community life!’”

Lutheran Family Services was selected to develop and operate the program through a Request for Proposal process by a group of community volunteers raising funds to provide services for trauma treatment for veterans and their families and loved ones.  The volunteer organization, Friends of At Ease, is led by President Scott Anderson of Omaha.
Anderson said, “Lutheran Family Services has exceeded our highest expectations and hopes as a partner.  It is an exceptionally well-run non-profit organization.

“LFS shares our passion for serving military families and has a large, highly-trained and experienced team of therapists who are ready to handle the demand for services we anticipate.

“Best of all, LFS has offices located not only in larger Nebraska population centers such as Omaha and Lincoln, but also in smaller rural communities where the incidence of active military is higher than average, but the availability of services is lower than average.

“We couldn’t be happier about our choosing LFS as our partner for this important work.”

Estimates show up to 35% of armed forces deployed in Iraq will suffer from PTSD.* In addition, their families are suffering in equal amounts with a 20% increase in the number of children of active duty troops seeking mental health treatment each year.**

The At Ease℠ program provides confidential, individualized counseling and treatment using a combination of individual and group approaches, including educational opportunities, families/couples and peer-to-peer mutual support groups. The program supports and encourages additional partnerships with community providers. When appropriate, staff will coordinate services with other community agencies and refer clients to area resources.

Services are coordinated out of the Lutheran Family Services’ Bellevue office, but veterans and their loved ones may also be served at LFS locations in Blair, Fremont, Plattsmouth, Papillion and four Omaha-area locations. Additionally, Telehealth sessions can be used to accommodate veterans and/or their loved ones living in greater Nebraska. 

All active military, veterans and their loved ones will be accepted into the At Ease℠ program regardless of ability to pay. LFS behavioral health services are made available through insurance payments, sliding scale fees and contributions.   

Debra Jones (MSW, LCSW, LIMHP) serves as the At Ease program supervisor and can be reached at 292-9105 or AtEase@LFSneb.org.

Thousands of families of all faiths are served through Lutheran Family Services’ statewide programs and services in the areas of Behavioral Health, Children Services and Community Services.  Behavioral Health Services focus on the needs of those who have experienced trauma, including outpatient mental health treatment, substance abuse/addictions treatment, 24/7 urgent care and emergency and community support services.  To learn more about LFS services, visit www.LFSneb.org.

* Source: Wein, Lawrence, “Counting the Walking Wounded,” New York Times, Jan. 25, 2009
** Source: Hefling, Kimberly. “Military Sees Big Increase in Troops’ Children Seeking Mental Health Care,” Associated Press, July 7, 2009