BTM166 - Erika Hoover and Andrea Norton - LGBTQ+ Veterans Public Health Awareness Campaign
04/23/24 • 26 min
Show Summary
On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Navy Veteran Erika Hoover and Air Force Veteran Andrea Norton about their experiences as both veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ Community, as well as a public awareness campaign being developed in partnership with the Michigan Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families
About Today’s Guests
Erika Hoover has been working at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and serving veterans since October 2017. In her role, Erika oversees a team that includes our Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Analyst, Community Health Technicians, Homeless Veteran Coordinator, Women Veterans & Special Populations Coordinator and General Office Assistant-Veteran Connector. She is also the Chair of the Michigan Women Veterans Coalition, a statewide coalition created by MVAA to engage with federal, state and local organizations to solve statewide female veterans' issues.
Erika served in the Navy from 2009-2013 as an Aviation Machinists Mate, Petty Officer Third Class. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Portland State University and a culinary arts degree from Oregon Culinary Institute.
Andrea Norton is an USAF Veteran and Licensed Master Social Worker at the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC in Saginaw MI. Prior to working at the VA, Andrea served in the USAF for 8 1⁄2 years as an intelligence analyst and mobile instructor. Ms Norton left the Air Force in 2007 to pursue her education earning both her BSW and MSW at Michigan State University.
She has worked with and advocated for underserved Veterans her entire career as a Housing Specialist, Intensive Case Manager, LGBTQ Veteran Care Coordinator, Women Veteran Program Manager, and most recently as a Community Engagement & Partnership Coordinator on the Suicide Prevention Team.
She is passionate about working with communities to help promote a public health approach to suicide prevention and increase the awareness of the rich diversity that exists in the Veteran community.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Website
MVAA’s She Is a Veteran Campaign
Andrea’s She Is a Veteran Spotlight
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is episode 20 of the Behind the Mission Podcast, an interview with Jennifer Dane, Advocating for LGBTQ+ Service Members and Veterans. In this episode, Jenn talks about the Modern Military Association of America, the nation’s largest non-profit organization working to advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community.
You can see find the episode here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/jennifer-dane
This Episode Partner:
This episode is brought to you by partners that believe that education changes lives. The partner this week is the Michigan Governor’s Challenge, working to prevent suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Show Summary
On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Navy Veteran Erika Hoover and Air Force Veteran Andrea Norton about their experiences as both veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ Community, as well as a public awareness campaign being developed in partnership with the Michigan Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families
About Today’s Guests
Erika Hoover has been working at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and serving veterans since October 2017. In her role, Erika oversees a team that includes our Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Analyst, Community Health Technicians, Homeless Veteran Coordinator, Women Veterans & Special Populations Coordinator and General Office Assistant-Veteran Connector. She is also the Chair of the Michigan Women Veterans Coalition, a statewide coalition created by MVAA to engage with federal, state and local organizations to solve statewide female veterans' issues.
Erika served in the Navy from 2009-2013 as an Aviation Machinists Mate, Petty Officer Third Class. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Portland State University and a culinary arts degree from Oregon Culinary Institute.
Andrea Norton is an USAF Veteran and Licensed Master Social Worker at the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC in Saginaw MI. Prior to working at the VA, Andrea served in the USAF for 8 1⁄2 years as an intelligence analyst and mobile instructor. Ms Norton left the Air Force in 2007 to pursue her education earning both her BSW and MSW at Michigan State University.
She has worked with and advocated for underserved Veterans her entire career as a Housing Specialist, Intensive Case Manager, LGBTQ Veteran Care Coordinator, Women Veteran Program Manager, and most recently as a Community Engagement & Partnership Coordinator on the Suicide Prevention Team.
She is passionate about working with communities to help promote a public health approach to suicide prevention and increase the awareness of the rich diversity that exists in the Veteran community.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Website
MVAA’s She Is a Veteran Campaign
Andrea’s She Is a Veteran Spotlight
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is episode 20 of the Behind the Mission Podcast, an interview with Jennifer Dane, Advocating for LGBTQ+ Service Members and Veterans. In this episode, Jenn talks about the Modern Military Association of America, the nation’s largest non-profit organization working to advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community.
You can see find the episode here: https://psycharmor.org/podcast/jennifer-dane
This Episode Partner:
This episode is brought to you by partners that believe that education changes lives. The partner this week is the Michigan Governor’s Challenge, working to prevent suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Previous Episode
BTM165 - Virginia Wimmer - CalVet Women Veteran's Division
Show Summary
On today’s episode, we feature a conversation with Deputy Secretary for Women Veterans of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Air Force Retiree Virginia Wimmer, in which we discuss the importance of supporting women veterans and the services available in California
About Today’s Guest
Virginia Wimmer was appointed on August 24, 2021, by Governor Gavin Newsom as Deputy Secretary for Women Veterans Affairs at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to her appointment, Wimmer was the Deputy Director of Veterans Services and the County Veterans Service Officer at the San Joaquin County Health Care Services Agency since 2014.
While serving veterans in San Joaquin, she worked with Superior Court Judge Barbara A. Kronlund, CalVet, and other veterans support groups to establish the county’s first Veterans Treatment Court, which debuted in 2015. It identifies veterans in the criminal justice system who are eligible for treatment and court supervision instead of jail or prison.
Wimmer served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force as Security Forces, cross-trained to Health Care Services Manager, and finally retired as a Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) in 2012. She did tours in South Korea and Italy, and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Wimmer earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She has been the education and training chair at the California Association of County Veterans Services Officers. She currently resides in Vacaville with her husband, Mike, and two dogs. She has two children.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Deputy Secretary Wimmer’s Email: [email protected]
CalVet Women Veteran Services Division
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course Communicating With Veterans. This course discusses how to communicate effectively with Veterans using communication tools, such as open-ended questions, affirmations, and reflections.
You can see find the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Hiring-and-Retaining-Women-Veterans
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor. PsychArmor is the premier education and learning ecosystems specializing in military culture content PsychArmor offers an. Online e-learning laboratory that is free to individual learners as well as custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
Next Episode
BTM167 - Kate DeBartolo - The Conversation Project
Show Summary
On today’s episode, we feature Kate DeBartolo, a senior director for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the leader for the conversation project. IHI has public engagement initiative to help people share their wishes for care through the end of their life
About Today’s Guest
Kate DeBartolo is a Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and leads The Conversation Project, IHI’s public engagement initiative to help people share their wishes for care through the end of life. The Conversation Project was founded in 2010, on the belief that these discussions should begin at the kitchen table—not in the intensive care unit. The Conversation Project offers free tools, guidance, and resources to begin talking with those who matter most about your and their wishes.
Kate joined IHI in 2007, with earlier work designing and executing the national field operations for IHI’s hospital-based programs. Prior to joining IHI, Kate worked as a grant analyst at The California Endowment. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and currently lives in Washington DC with her husband and son.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Conversation Project Website
PsychArmor Resource of the Week
This week’s PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor course Caring for Veterans through End of Life: Caregivers and Loved Ones. In this course, you will learn how to support and care for Veterans as they near the end of their lives.
We will explore the impact of the final journey on caregivers and loved ones, and the importance of planning and respite care. We will discuss how a Veteran's service in different eras may impact their care and the unique challenges faced by caregivers and loved ones in the grieving process.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide compassionate care and support to Veterans and their families during this important time.
You can see find the course here: https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/caring-for-veterans-through-the-end-of-life-caregivers-and-loved-ones
This Episode Sponsored By:
This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor. PsychArmor is the premier education and learning ecosystems specializing in military culture content PsychArmor offers an. Online e-learning laboratory that is free to individual learners as well as custom training options for organizations.
Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media
Theme Music
Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.
Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families. You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com
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