PITTSFIELD - AHECs (Area Health Education Centers) nationally are

gearing-up to improve the mental/behavioral health services for

returning veterans and their families. The approach is to provide

civilian health professionals continuing education opportunities that

can increase their knowledge and skill in caring for returning

veterans.

Nationally, the first phase is to equip AHEC staff with resources and

models to produce continuing education in their own service area.  The

first step is offering a Train-The-AHEC Trainer (TTT) Workshop called

AHEC Veterans/Service Members & Families Mental & Behavioral Health

Project in each of the ten HHS/HRSA regions nationally. Relying

heavily on the established research and data from the Citizens

Soldiers Support Program, the goal was to identify locations that

would allow for the maximum number of AHEC staff to be able to attend

the workshops while being sensitive to the high need areas for mental/

behavioral services to returning veterans.

Berkshire AHEC, competitively selected by the National AHEC

Organization to host the Region 1 Boston training, will utilize its

extensive experience supporting such trainings.  Supported by a grant

from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA),

Berkshire AHEC will coordinate meeting logistics and services, market

the workshop, provide pre and onsite registration, and complete

evaluation and follow-up activities.  Timothy Diehl, Berkshire AHEC’s

executive director, said, “It is an honor to be selected to have a

role in advancing critical mental and behavioral health service for

our returning veterans.”  “As we prepare for this training event yet

to be scheduled in early 2012, we are acutely aware of the many

supports our returning veterans deserve and need.”