S. Ward Casscells, MD

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• S. Ward Casscells, MD
• Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

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No Higher Priority
They deserve the very best facilities and care
to recuperate from their injuries and ample
assistance to navigate the next step in their
lives, and that is what we intend to give them.
Apart from the war itself, this department and I
have no higher priority. Robert Gates

Secretary of Defense
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MHS Priorities

• Enhance warrior care
• Strengthen the continuum of care from point of
  accession, through active service (including
  deployment and casualty care) to rehabilitation
  and transition
• Build a bridge to peace
• Expand humanitarian missions and disaster relief
  to support US strategic objectives and champion
  aspirations for human dignity through better
  health
• Promote patient choice and accountability,
  healthy communities, safety and quality
• Strengthen medical education and research
• Create healing environments

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Social Work Code of Ethics

• Service
• Social Justice
• Dignity in the Worth of a Person
• Importance of Human Relationships
• Integrity
• Competence

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Rewarding Your Service

• Our Social Workers Are Making A Difference
• Case Management
• Behavioral Health
• Sexual Assault Prevention Response
• Family Advocacy
• Combat Stress Units

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New DoD Policies and Programs

• Question 21
• Approved revisions to question 21 on the
  Questionnaire for National Security Positions,
  Standard Form (SF) 86, regarding mental and
  emotional health counseling.
• Our people deserve the best mental health care
  we can provide without the fear of hurting their
  career in the long run. ADM Michael Mullen
• Disability Evaluation System (DES) Pilot Program
• Eliminate the duplicative, time-consuming, and
  often confusing elements of the two current
  disability processes of DoD and VA.
• Key features include one medical examination and
  a single-sourced disability rating.
• Recent expansion of the DES pilot to 19
  installations across the country, representing
  all military departments.
• Recovery Care Coordinators
• Oversee and assist the Service member throughout
  the care, management, transition and
  rehabilitation services provided by the Federal
  Government (to include the DoD, VA, Labor, and
  the Social Security Administration).
• Develop Comprehensive Recovery Care Plans to
  efficiently and effectively move a Service member
  through the continuum of care, accessing the
  services and benefits appropriate to the needs.

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Communication is Key

• DoD Military Health System (MHS)
• www.health.mil
• DoD Quality of Life Website
• www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
• Military Personnel and Family Resources
• www.militaryonesource.com
• MHS Behavioral Health Web Portal
• afterdeployment.org
• The National Resource Directory (17 November)
• www.nationalresourcedirectory.org

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We Want to Hear From You

• What is working well?
• What needs to be fixed?
• What barriers make your job more difficult?
• Why are service members and veterans still
  slipping through the cracks?