College of DuPage to Host Veterans Mental Health Summit Sep. 20
The Human Services Department at College of DuPage, in collaboration with Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, will host a Veteran's Mental Health Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, in the Student Resource Center, Room 2000, on the College's main campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.
During this free event, participants will learn about resources and services that are available to veterans in DuPage County and the greater Chicago community. Breakout sessions during the summit will include a variety of topics related to challenges faced by veterans including education assistance, employment opportunities for veterans, caregiver support, stress management and vocational rehabilitation.
This partnership between College of DuPage and Hines VA came about in part due to a mandate from Washington promoting programs that facilitate a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life for veterans.
According to Human Services Professor Emeritus Maryann Krieglstein, the decision to partner with Hines VA was an easy one.
“College of DuPage is hosting this event because it cares about veterans and their success in college and in life,” Kreiglstein said. “Mental health issues have a huge impact on returning veterans. We see this every day in Veteran's Services and in our classrooms. Educating the College and the larger community about the challenges faced by veterans is a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Hines VA Hospital offers primary, extended and specialty care and services as a tertiary care referral center for VISN 12. The hospital offers specialized clinical programs including blind rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, neurosurgery, radiation therapy and cardiovascular surgery. In addition, the hospital serves as the VISN 12 southern tier hub for pathology, radiology, radiation therapy, human resource management and fiscal services. Hines VA currently operates 471 beds and 6 community-based outpatient clinics in Aurora, Elgin, Joliet, Kankakee, LaSalle and Oak Lawn. Click here to learn more about Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.
The College's Veteran Services offers financial aid assistance, the VA work study program, a dedicated student veteran's lounge, referrals for specialized veterans counseling, as well as social and educational programs. College of DuPage also hosts job fairs and workshops to help veterans seeking employment.
In 2012, College of DuPage became the first community college to receive the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition the College has maintained its status as a ”Military Friendly School“ by G.I. Jobs, the premier publication for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are cited with doing the most to embrace America's military service members, veterans and spouses.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information on this event or about Veterans Services at College of DuPage, visit www.cod.edu/admission/veterans or call (630) 942-3814.