Military service has evolved over the years, with multiple deployments per service member becoming standard. But what does this mean for our veterans? “There was a time when veterans were deployed, served their country, and were sent home to continue their normal lives,” said Middlesex County Veterans Services Specialist Henry Busby, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. “The reality of today’s military is various deployments, and multiple exposures to wartime activities.” The gap between civilian and military life leaves many veterans struggling to adjust when they complete their service. The County’s Veterans Services offers dedicated support, connecting U.S. military veterans with services such as affordable housing, security deposits, food assistance, mental health care, resume building, and job placement. Veterans Services works closely with local, state, and federal partners to secure these services for veterans and relies on the County’s Homelessness Trust Fund for financial support. GET TO KNOW Serving those who served their country Veteran Services
From Our Offices
An important step in the process is screening those seeking assistance. Both Veterans Services team members are veterans themselves, which uniquely enables them to form personal connections with veterans and to recognize potential areas of need, a common one being mental health support. “We’re veterans helping veterans,” said Busby, who has been with the County since 2013. “This allows us to better understand what the veteran might be going through, and the typical symptoms to look for, such as emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.” In 2014, U.S. Army veteran Kristin Poulsen came to Veterans Services seeking resource assistance. She went through the vetting process and worked with veteran services specialists to secure a job working for Soldier On, a national partner of Veterans Services that also provides life changing services to veterans. In 2021, Poulsen joined Middlesex County as a veterans resource specialist. “I saw what the veteran services specialists were doing to help veterans, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” said Poulsen. “The work we do gives veterans hope for their futures and puts the resources needed to succeed in their hands.” For information about services and resources for Middlesex County veterans and their families, please contact Veterans Services at 732-746-4051 .
Building a Resilient Community
As a result of the resounding success of the Coral Springs case study presentation, on November 9 the prosecutor hosted another powerful presentation led by Newtown, Connecticut Police Chief, Dave Kullgren. This time the audience learned crucial insights from the frontline response to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. While the subject is alarming, the prosecutor understands that no neighborhood in America is immune to these horrific events and with the right training and resources in place, communities in Middlesex County may help prevent tragedies both now and in the future. This is true community resiliency ― awareness, preparation, communication, and collaboration. Ciccone took the helm of the Middlesex County Office of the Prosecutor in June 2020 as the first female prosecutor in the County’s history. In the past three years, under her leadership and the hard work of her office, lifesaving community programs have been launched including Blue Cares, a 24/7 addiction support hotline; Safe Place, designated community safe havens for anyone experiencing a bias crime, discrimination, or harassment; and Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) to respond to psychiatric crisis, 911 calls. For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov and type “Prosecutor.”
Under the leadership of Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and in keeping with the County’s ongoing commitment to behavioral health, the County’s Prosecutor’s Office has been fostering educational efforts focused on community resiliency. Starting in September 2021, Ciccone initiated programming around mental health specifically affecting K-12 students and hosted the Educators Summit on Mental Health and School Safety, bringing together County educational leaders, elected officials, administrators, and students to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible solutions to address these issues. This event was the first of many annual events led by the Office of the Prosecutor driven to educate by convening key community stakeholders and residents to address current and potential societal issues. Last year, the prosecutor invited the Coral Springs Police Department to educate Middlesex County leaders, educators, school district administrators, local law enforcement, and school security personnel on warning signs, prevention, intervention, and the necessity for clear communication as key learnings from the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas School tragedy.
“Community resiliency begins with breaking down the silos of local organizations, agencies, law enforcement and communities to ensure the safety, well-being, and security of residents, especially the youth of Middlesex County. They need to be prioritized
HOUSING
FOOD ASSISTANCE
MENTAL HEALTH CARE CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Health Services Wins National Award Vaccine-preventable diseases cause up to a million hospitalizations and thousands of deaths annually, but the Office of Health Services’ “PROMOTE Vaccination: Everyone, Everyday” program is making a difference. The Office of Health Services was awarded the Novel Practice Award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for the program’s effectiveness and the fact that other health departments can easily replicate it. “Receiving a national recognition award for our program is truly an honor,” said Marybeth Caruso, director of nursing for the Office of Health Services. “This is validation of the ongoing hard work that the staff does to ensure that the residents/patients at our health department receive all the services they can when they access care at our clinics, which will in turn keep our community healthy and protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases.” Launched in 2010, the program is designed to reach adults aged 19 and older when they visit a clinic for any reason, by using that visit to offer them the necessary vaccines to update their vaccine status. In the 10 years they’ve analyzed data, the program has resulted in the Office of Health Services giving more than 28,000 unscheduled and unexpected vaccines. “Our ‘Promoting Vaccines: Everyone, Every Day’ program is making a difference by addressing some of the inequity and access problems that have traditionally been a barrier to care,” said Sherie Wolpert, an epidemiologist and public health preparedness coordinator for the Office of Health Services. “We want to help people maintain good health and promote good health choices.”
and on the forefront of the minds of municipal and educational leadership, if we want a safer, brighter future,” explained Ciccone on why this work matters.
(L-R) Marybeth Caruso, Lester Jones, and Sherie Wolpert honored with the Novel Practice Award from NACCHO
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10 Your Middlesex | 2023 Issue 3
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