HAPPENINGS & STORIES FROM THE HERO PROGRAM

A reflection on the unique Veteran transportation program of HERO Program.
(By Andrew Mullins, Head Transportation Coordinator, HERO Program)

HERO Program is the only program in Louisiana that is specifically geared to and designed for Veterans and Active-Duty Military.  From PTSD treatment to substance use and other disorders, HERO Program, located in Opelousas, Louisiana, gives help and hope to all members of all branches of the US Military and their veterans.

A unique feature of HERO PROGRAM is we are also the only program in Louisiana that has its own dedicated transportation department. The mission of HERO’s transportation team of eight drivers is to make the active member or veteran’s entry into HERO as comfortable, safe, and convenient as possible.    To that end, and on any typical day, our drivers can be found on the roads and highways all across Louisiana in the provision of transportation for initial admissions, final discharges as well as for all other appointments.

Heading up the HERO PROGRAM transportation service is Andrew Mullins, head transportation coordinator with HERO Program.  Andrew has been with our program for two years, having started out as a substance abuse technician before being promoted to the transportation department.

Discussing his role at HERO Program and the vital nature of the transportation service to the men and women entering and leaving HERO Program, Andrew offered the following reflection.
                                                                                 Andrew Mullins
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“As Head Coordinator for the transportation department at Hero Program, I am presented with the opportunity to act as an initial ambassador to, not only our facility, but to the world of recovery as a whole. My drivers and I enter our clients lives during a time of intense crisis and, recognizing that, we offer confidence, compassion, and patience as we interact with them in their journey to and from HERO Program.

When it comes to their healthcare appointments, we aim to comfort and shepherd our veterans through their uncertain times, through the good news and bad. Finally, after their stay at Hero Program, it is our privilege to deliver our Veterans to their new lives, with new skills and experiences to take with them.  

For me personally, and in my time in active addiction, I had lost the trust to drive vehicles, handle money, to be on time to anything, or to be accountable in any way.   I often see that same thing in the men and women whom we spend time with when on the road, coming to HERO.

Today, and coming a long way when I had lost my trust, I now manage a fleet of vehicles and it is my responsibility to protect the safety and security of clients and staff alike. Driving our veterans provides me (and also my team), with a lot of one-on-one client contact in ways I didn't have access to as a tech.  Often, a hour-long conversation about recovery with someone who is struggling ultimately becomes the part of my day I am the proudest of.   There is a strong opportunity for and a sense of bonding when you spend a lot of time together in a vehicle on the roads of Louisiana.

Coordinating the entire facilities transportation needs can be challenging, especially when sudden requirements come up, but it serves as an amazing metric by which my personal life’s duties seem much simpler.  It is my hope and determination that none of our clients’ needs ever slip through the cracks, and that though they look forward to going home, they feel they are leaving a second one behind.   

It is my great honor, and that of my staff, to be part of their new life.”

At left: 
Andrew and a member of his transportation team preparing to depart as they provide assistance to another veteran
in need.

By Craig LaSeur, MA, LAC, LCDC
Clinical Director/Program Manager 
The HERO Program

Since Vietnam, PTSD has progressively become understood and effectively treated. Often standing with PTSD or on its own lies a condition that is often not understood or remains invisible: Moral Injury.

Due to the acute nature of PTSD, significant attention is given to assessing, treating and education. If the PTSD is treated and moral injury is not, there can remain a condition that fosters instability, loss of joy, loss of trust, disconnection from healthy /
supportive relationships, negative self-image, loss of faith, and impulsivity. Further, PTSD and Moral Injury share some common symptoms that can make assessing the conditions difficult.

PTSD occurs when an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. The impact of the event(s) can be felt immediately, develop slowly overtime or remain dormant only to become operative later.

Some of the common symptoms are (there are more that will be identified below under shared symptoms):
   • Flashbacks
   • Memory loss
   • Fear
   • Startle response

Moral Injury is a condition of shame, self-defeating thinking/behaviors, anger, and demoralization occurring when an individual observes or participates in events that transgress their personal belief system about moral/ethical conduct. This can include the act of killing, violent behavior, betrayal of trust from leadership, witnessing depraved actions or failing to stop immoral/unethical acts. Moral Injury is a form of loss, a disconnection and distancing that can cause significant difficulty in a person’s life.

Here are the common traits of Moral Injury:
   • Grief
   • Sorrow
   • Shame
   • Alienation
   • Regret

There are symptoms that are shared by both conditions. Given the prevalence of information, education and treatment of PTSD, these symptoms have the tendency to be associated with PTSD solely thus overlooking the possibility of Moral Injury.

These include:
   • Anger
   • Depression
   • Anxiety
   • Nightmares
   • Insomnia
   • Self-medication with drugs and/or alcohol

The above definitions and symptoms are simplified nor are meant to be an exhaustive narrative on the subject. As with most conditions, the symptoms and manifestations can vary from person to person. It is a basic starting point to begin considering the role Moral Injury can play in a person’s wellbeing.

Healing from Moral Injury can take many different forms. At The Hero Program, we approach this healing in three different ways. 

   • Education: One component of the curriculum is an overview of Moral Injury, what causes it, the effects, and the process of healing. This is often the first exposure of the concept of Moral Injury for a veteran.

   • Individual Sessions: The case managers/therapists and veterans will discuss Moral Injury in order to assess if it is something the veteran needs and wants to address. The work to treat Moral Injury occurs in a group setting, requiring vulnerability and intensive work. The therapist and veteran will determine if the veteran is ready and capable of taking on the process of healing.

   • Moral Injury Group: For veterans who are committed to staying at the Hero Program 60 days, the Moral Injury Group is available to them. This is a three-week group that meets daily, Monday-Friday. Recovery occurs in the context of relationships thus the group is an essential component of recovery.

Recovery from Moral Injury can be a liberating experience. It means the end of isolation, connecting with healthy relationships, finding meaning, experiencing faith and joy. There is help for Moral Injury at the Hero Program and in many other institutions so if you think you suffer from Moral Injury, please reach out.

FOREWARD
At The Hero Program, we see first hand the impact that PTSD has on the lives of those who served in our various military branches and on their friends and family.

It is our duty to help them in their challenges so as to give them the opportunity to fully enjoy life in the years ahead.   That is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.  Please read a short article on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Craig LaSeur, our Clinical Director/Program Manager.

PTSD  
Things to know, things to think about

By Craig LaSeur, MA, LAC, LCDC
Clinical Director/Program Manager of the Hero Program

As the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan begin to wind down, the collective focus of the nation will naturally turn to other matters. It is important to remember that our men and women in uniform are left with the far-reaching impact of their experiences in war. Many of our service members suffer from PTSD, the effects of which are not only felt by the individual but by their families, friends and coworkers.

Untreated PTSD can progressively lead to depression, anxiety, isolation, nightmares, anger, fear, startle responses, substance abuse and insomnia. These can lead to difficulty maintaining employment, emotional intimacy, emotional regulation and diminished ability to manage stress. All involved begin to feel confused, powerless, scared and often for the service member hopeless.
 
There is help available. There is hope. There are many who have healed from PTSD through proven treatment methods. The stigma attached to having a mental health diagnosis keeps many from reaching out for help. PTSD awareness is about reducing the stigma, understanding the impact of the condition, identifying avenues of treatment and most importantly giving hope through our collective personal and professional experience of healing. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, I urge you to reach out. A simple phone call can save a life and allow a person to reconnect and heal. The ripple effect of someone healing from PTSD is amazing. Let’s all do our part to raise awareness, not just on a specific day but everyday. Leave no man or woman behind.

Please click on the link below to read more on effects of PTSD from the National Center for PTSD.

National Center for PTSD

By Craig LaSeur, MA, LAC, LCDC
Clinical Director/Program Manager of the Hero Program 

The Hero Program was created by a Louisiana family that wanted to make a difference in the lives of veterans by creating a quality program exclusively for veterans and active-duty personnel. Further, that program has been tasked with operating a program that exceeds industry standards in timeliness of admissions, quality of care and frequency of services. That family’s simple dream has spawned a community of staff, volunteers and the veteans themselves who strive to foster an environment of healing, compassion and accountability. Something else evolved from this combination of ingredients. John Madden used to talk about the ‘intangibles’, the skills that cannot be taught or bought and for the Hero Program that is the brotherhood of men and women in arms. 

This is nothing new, it has been around since the beginning of mankind. Throughout the history of the United States of America, there are countless stories of the extremes men and women will go through to act in defense of their comrades. Just read the citations for the Medals of Honor, Silver Stars and Bronze Stars not to mention the countless other actions never rewarded. 

In peace time and in war, members of the military have placed the welfare of their fellow service members above their own, often paying the ultimate sacrifice. This carries over into civilian life. Ask a veteran if a member of his old unit called him for help, what would he do? The answer is most likely: anything. 

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most visible example of the commitment to the brotherhood. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year the members of a select Army unit walk a very precise, disciplined guard that I personally feel is a holy vigil, to remind those alive that no matter what, you will not be forgotten, your selfless service honored, and you are never alone. That concept of ‘never alone’ has been embraced by the Hero Program family and is the cornerstone of our vital work. 

On a programmatic level from the first admission call to the day a veteran leaves our care and beyond that, the staff shows care, compassion and fosters a relationship with each individual so that they feel a part of the process and the community or what I consider a family. While that in and of itself is a noble pursuit, the real brotherhood comes out among the veterans. If one of them is having a difficult detox, the others step up and help. If a homeless veteran comes in and needs something, they get it for him. If one of them is having family problems, they support him. Even after they are out of the Hero Program, they check on each other and will call us or the VA and try and get them help. 

My first clinical supervisor once told me: “You with your fancy degrees and knowledge are not the fulcrum of change, the peer group is. Empower the group to care for each other and recovery happens.” The genius of that family’s dream of helping veterans exclusively lies in the inherent brotherhood. Therein lies the magic. The hubris of professionals and programs is often the expert trap. Believing I am the expert, and the catalyst of change means I have blinders on. We do not strive to be the coolest, cutting edge program. We do the small things well. We do the basics well. The brotherhood does the work and that can’t be taught, and it can’t be bought. 

Everyday I watch miracles happen around the Never Alone ethos that happens naturally if we as the ‘experts’ can get out of the way.

FOREWARD

An important day is approaching.  We see it come and then go each year at the end of May. We simply call it Memorial Day.  We usually consider it the start of summer time and vacations.  It’s a day of barbecues, watching the Indy 500, or just having a day off to rest, perhaps go fishing, or just do nothing special at all.  And while all of these are perfectly good things to do, the true meaning of the day should not be lost sight of.

HERO Program’s Program Manager and Clinical Director, Craig LaSeur offers his thoughts and feelings on Memorial Day coupled with a bit of history.  It’s not the shortest reflection but one well worth the time to sit and read, then to ponder it.   Craig’s reflection will give you a very true meaning of Memorial Day and about those who gave their lives so that you could live here to enjoy the freedom that were so deeply paid for with their sacrifice.

The Ultimate Sacrifice
A REFLECTION ON MEMORIAL DAY
By Craig LaSeur MA, LAC, LCDC
Program Manager/Clinical Director
The Hero Program

Memorial Day for most Americans means a three-day weekend, barbeques, and a chance to relax with loved ones and friends. The Red, White and Blue flies high and national pride swells. Veterans certainly enjoy these aspects of Memorial Day but there is a more serious meaning that lies beneath the surface. As a veteran, I signed on the dotted line to serve my country and if necessary, give my life in that pursuit. While I intellectually understood that oath, I never thought it would happen. Then war broke out.

    I am no war hero and this is not about me, but I know what it is like to go to war. The feelings of excitement, fear and brotherhood are real. It is a rite of passage as old as time and I am proud to have served next to brave men willing to sacrifice their lives for the greater good. With war, comes death. We hear about the death of cherished sons and daughters of this great nation on the news. We see memorials for the fallen. There are moments of silence to honor their sacrifice. Social media posts remind of the lives lost, that their deaths not be in vain. TV networks will run marathons of war movies. Yet, there is a detachment from the meaning of the day.

    The far-reaching impact of an individual making the ultimate sacrifice is hard to fathom. The scenes rarely seen are the mother crying on the grave of a son she lost or the family who meets the casket of their child/sibling/grandchild at the airport. The handing of the folded American flag to a widow has become a common scene in movies, on the news and in pictures. Seeing it in person is heartbreaking. Watching families bear the burden of grief is difficult to watch. When taps is played at the graveside, a sadness settles over the ground like a fog. These families are forever tied to this loss, this sacrifice. It never really goes away. Pictures from high school and boot camp or maybe college hang on walls in memory. And the folded American flag sits on the mantle in a case holding vigil.

    Also often unseen are the brothers and sisters in arms who survived. They also bear scars and their own burden in the form of survivors’ guilt and a deep sense of loss.  Seeing their comrades die has left a mark that will never go away. They often have a long road to heal the invisible wounds left by war. Their struggles are many and varied but always when you are among a group of veterans there is a solemnness and sacred protection of the memory of those who gave their very life. In that sacred space lies the meaning of Memorial Day.

    One of the first Memorial Day remembrances was in 1865 at a mass grave of Union soldiers who had been buried unceremoniously after dying in the horrible conditions of a prisoner of war camp in South Carolina. It was a mere month after the Civil War ended and was organized by freed slaves in what appears to be an overture of gratitude, calling the soldiers martyrs. The word grateful rings loud. I ask myself “am I grateful for the sacrifice men and women have made?”

   As a youth, I spent my summers with my grandparents and both my grandfathers were World War Two veterans. While other kids played baseball and went to camp, I was among the greatest generation who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima, flew 26 missions over Germany, held the line at Bastogne and landed at Normandy. They never talked about themselves or their exploits but they always honored the dead by making sure others knew of their sacrifice so they would not be forgotten. They counted themselves lucky to have served with heroes, to have known them and been a part of their lives. They were simply, in that understated manner of that generation, grateful.

    Gratitude changes your character. Gratitude makes you an instrument of good. Gratitude allows us to truly honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives. On Memorial Day people will often thank me for my service and I understand that it is well meaning. If I am truly honest, I have wanted on many occasions to give them a history lesson on what the day is about. I have two days in the year for that: the Marine Corps Birthday and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is for those who have died in the service of our nation.

As this sacred holiday approaches, I ask that you take the opportunity to remember and honor these great men and women. Also keep in mind the terrible sense of loss carried by their loved ones and fellow service members. Of course, enjoy the long weekend and all the fun activities that come along with it but remember that the opportunities we have today are the result of sacrifice, courage and honor. Am I living a life worthy of their sacrifice? I sincerely hope I am because their memory demands only the best I can give, nothing less.
 

Nursing on the Front Line

Being a nurse takes a special type of person. It takes specialized training, dedication to the job, and most of all, a caring spirit that the patient recognizes and bonds with. A nurse is often at the front line of a patients physical care, and the nursing department at HERO Program is no exception.

We’re pleased to profile two of our HERO nurses, Ratisha Batiste, LPN and Michelle Savoy, LPN. Ratisha is our Director of Nursing and has been with us for more than 8 1/2 years, four of those as our DON. Michelle has been with us as an LPN for five years.

This is their story in their own words.

Ratisha Batiste, LPN - DON
“My role as Director of Nursing at HERO program is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the nursing department. I am blessed to work with a great team who make the combined efforts of serving veterans a truly rewarding experience. 

I have always had a passion for nursing, but I was never sure which area or specialty I would end up in. I am pleased to say the work I get to do with veterans is the most gratifying work I have ever been a part of. I am humbled to participate in helping clients rediscover who they are while they progress through the HERO treatment process. Watching them build new foundations for their lives has been the absolute highlight of my career. 

I am tremendously proud to be a part of an organization who truly cares about the members we serve and strives to ensure they get the most out of their experience during their time with us.”

Michelle Savoy, LPN
“I absolutely love the work I do at HERO Program and have a very soft spot in my heart for our Veterans. My father was an Army Veteran who served in Vietnam. One of my favorite past times was listening to him talk about his experiences in the service. Although my dad is not living anymore, he is still my HERO and I feel his memory through the lives of the men and women I get to serve on a daily basis at work. 

Being a part of the nursing team is more than just a job to me. It is a deeply personal and rewarding experience, as well as a great honor to care for the Veterans who have sacrificed so much to serve our country. I am blessed to be a part of this program and share the love I have in my heart for my dad with the patients I get to care for.” 

Footnote: Pictured with Ratisha and Michelle is Brett Starnes, Substance Abuse Tech with HERO Program.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Gardening Offers Therapeutic Benefits to HERO Program Veterans & Staff.

The following is an article composed by Madeline Jackson, Lead Clinician at the HERO Program in Opelousas.

A native of Delaware now residing in Lafayette, LA, Madeline served as a licensed counselor in the state of Oregon before coming to Louisiana. She has taken it upon herself to bring into reality, a vegetable garden on the campus of HERO Program, an undertaking that involves veterans in HERO Program and has the side benefit of providing wonderful fresh vegetables during the harvest season. She is currently planting strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, gourds, carrots, lettuce, turnips, tomatoes, peppers, and           eggplant.                                                                                   Madeline Jackson                                         

Madeline’s Story:

"Veterans have always had a special place in my heart. I come from a long line of military men who helped instill in me a deep respect for the sacrifice our military men, women, and their families make to serve our country.

Working in a garden was an outlet for me to learn how to channel grief and have more solid footing in my own recovery. I am an experienced rose gardener, and I have often told people that roses helped save my life. There was a time when the gardens gave me a reason to wake up in the morning. They made me feel purposeful and productive, even on the days my mind tried to tell me otherwise.

My vision with the garden here at HERO Program was to recreate the same sense of hope and renewal I was able to experience during my recovery. Every year we have planted a garden here, it has been a raving success. Seeing the community come together to help bring the staff’s vision to life was tremendously rewarding. Watching the veteran men and women work side by side to create something they can help nurture and care for months to come was a powerful experience. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with them. This specific year we were able to plant the garden in remembrance of a veteran close to my heart and to those in HERO program. We have titled this year’s garden 'Until Valhalla'.

My work at HERO Program allows me to support these men and women state side, by working with them through their unresolved issues. I do this by focusing intently on helping veterans heal all aspects of their selves through mending body, mind, and spirit. I am honored and proud to work with a team who values and shares the common goal of supporting our service members in their healing processes.

I believe it takes a specific kind of healer to do the kind of work we do at Hero Program. A healer who embodies courage and is willing and able to connect to their own heart center through empathy and deep understanding. I was always taught that to experience meaning and truth, we must be willing to stand on the firing lines of the heartbreaking aspects of life, specifically the disease of addiction and alcoholism.

I am honored to work with a team of clinicians who collectively stands on the firing lines at HERO Program. As a team who leads with our hearts, we strive to create a sacred place that we believe is a critical part of the healing process, both internally and externally."

POSTED MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021

“I struggled with drugs and alcohol for many years of my life and wasted a lot of time in process, I was completely hopeless. Asking for help is one of the hardest things to do for a guy like myself”. 
                                                ~ Joby Riggs, Intake Coordinator, HERO Program

FORWARD: Joby is in his 7th year of recovery which he has built upon a strong spiritual base. He uses his personal recovery experience to help those coming to the HERO Program for help in their own lives. This is his story about his role in helping Veterans find help with the HERO Program.

HELPING OTHERS FIND HOPE AND ANSWERS
An article by Joby Riggs of the HERO Program.

Helping Veterans has become something I am deeply passionate about. In my role as Intake Coordinator, I work to provide solutions for the service men and women who are struggling and seeking help. It is the mission of the HERO Program to offer a new way of life to each Veteran who walks through our doors.  For me personally, to watch the light come on as our Veterans practice new disciplines and see positive results come from the little things is the reason I do this. 

The Admissions process at the Hero Program, of which I’m honored to be part of, is focused on helping veterans get into our facility as effortlessly as possible.  Starting with the initial contact with a Veteran in need, my goal is to direct them to the essential resources that will provide them with the authorizations needed to enter our program.  

If a Veteran reaches out to us with very little existing resources, we work tirelessly to ensure he or she is put in contact with the people necessary to get them the help they desire.  All of us at the HERO Program work closely with VA centers to guarantee Veterans are cared for and their needs are communicated and considered.  

The Hero Program is dedicated to providing a safe transition into our facility from all regions. To further help our Veterans, our passionate staff is available to transport them to our facility from wherever they are, with support and compassion given along their entire journey.
 
Summing up my role here at the HERO Program, I have made a personal commitment to go above and beyond to assist our Veterans who are suffering with drug addiction, or alcoholism by providing them a solution to a new way of life & purpose. The journey is the reward.