MEDIA RELEASE
Post-Event Press Release
February 1, 2010
Contact: Jane Simpson, Lutheran Family Services Director of
Public Relations
(402) 978-5646
or Scott Anderson, At Ease U.S.A. Founder and Board Chairman
sanderson@andersonpartners.com or
cell (402) 630-899
Fundraiser with Chuck Hagel benefits Lutheran Family Services’ At
Ease program
Trauma treatment and therapeutic support for active military,
veterans and their loved ones
Former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel served as keynote speaker for the At
Ease fundraising and awareness luncheon at Qwest Center Omaha
Monday, January 25. The event was hosted by At Ease U.S.A. to
benefit Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska’s At Ease℠ program
for military families. There were 325 in attendance,
and guests included Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Bellevue Mayor Gary
Mixan. Honorary Chairman of the event was Bob Bell, Vice
Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.).
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. Lutheran Family Services (LFS) was selected
to develop and operate the At Ease℠ program by At Ease
U.S.A., a group of community volunteers raising funds to provide
these vital services which began last summer.
Senator Hagel, who served two terms in the U.S. Senate, is currently
a Distinguished Professor at Georgetown University and the University
of Nebraska at Omaha. He is Co-Chairman of the President’s
Intelligence Advisory Board, Chairman of the Atlantic Council, a
member of the Secretary’s Defense Policy Board and Public Broadcasting
Service (PBS) board of directors. A Vietnam veteran and
former Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration, Senator
Hagel is the author of the recently published book “America: Our
Next Chapter.”
Senator Hagel commented, “Less than 1% of the U.S. population
is in military service, and all are volunteers. These men and
women are the building blocks and foundation for the next generation. We
must take care of them, as we need them back in society. When
men and women go through horrific experiences, they manage it. They
should be thanked and they should be helped.
“The government structure and circuits are overloaded. We
need to bring private and public partnerships together; we need to
blend our resources. The world is completely interconnected. We
are woven into one fabric, and our capacity to solve problems together
has never been greater. These important partnerships are interconnected
with At Ease℠, and I’m privileged to be a part of it.”
At Ease U.S.A. Founder and Board Chairman Scott Anderson
of Omaha said, “Lutheran Family Services has exceeded our highest
expectations and hopes as a partner. LFS shares our passion
for serving military families and has a large, highly-trained and
experienced team of therapists.”
Anderson chaired the event planning committee Other committee
members included At Ease U.S.A. board members Lisa Mellen,
Kevin Munsey and Cary Tobin and Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska’s
Ruth Henrichs, President and CEO, and Ruth Henneman, Vice President
of Development.
The Presenting Sponsor was The Nebraska Military Support Coalition
and Gold Sponsors included Valmont, Kutak Rock, Kiewit, Lozier, Target,
Anderson Partners Advertising, Mutual of Omaha, James Timmerman,
Flatiron Café, and David and Janis Thom. Howard and
Rhonda Hawks and Rod Markin, M.D. were Silver Sponsors.
Estimates show up to 35% of armed forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan
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.**
Lutheran Family Services President and CEO Ruth Henrichs said, “700,000
soldiers could return home from war as seemingly strangers to their
family and friends. In 2008, two million children of active
duty troops sought help, and 55,000 of those children under the age
of 14 were hospitalized for mental health reasons.”
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, as
the program is funded primarily by contributions. 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 (402) 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 | 
