Veterans and Military Service Organization Roundtable Meeting, June 24, 2004

The June meeting focused on two major areas. Ms. Polli Brunelli, discussed the Federal Voting Assistance Program and Ms. Victoria Bruner provided a briefing on Project De-STRESS.

Ms. Brunelli provided an update on the initiatives that the Federal Voting Assistance Program has taken to ensure that overseas citizens are given an opportunity to vote. She pointed out that extra steps have been put in place especially for servicemembers who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ms. Bruner detailed the pilot study Project De-STRESS. The project was designed to help individuals who are experiencing military-related trauma symptoms, such as sleep disorders, anxiety and/or depression. The aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness of Stress Inoculation Training to Standard Care. The study uses a two-hour assessment, a two-hour face-to face training session and eight weeks of web-based participation.

The next VSO/MSO roundtable meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2004, at 10:00 a.m.