Illinois State's Psychology Department Receives National Guard Grant

Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan often have trouble reintegrating into civilian society.  A team from Illinois State University’s Department of Psychology will assist with that reintegration of National Guard combat veterans thanks to a $55,000 grant from the National Guard Association of Illinois. 

This is not the first time the Psychology department has assisted veterans.  In 1945, Illinois State (Normal) University became one of five counseling and testing centers in Illinois, with members of the department providing counseling services to constituents, including veterans returning from World War 1I.

Psychology Professor Mark Swerdlik said the team for this round of assistance, consisting of faculty members Jef Kahn, Adena Meyers, Margie Nauta and Joel Schneider as well as two doctoral students, will examine the Illinois National Guard reintegration program where soldiers and their families learn how to readjust and access veterans’ benefits.  Swerdlik added that he has been impressed with the strong support of the program evaluation project up through the National Guard command, including the project director, Second Lt. Justin Anweiler, his commander, Colonel Lucretia Heard-Thompson and the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, Major General William Enyart.

Col. Heard Thompson said: “The reintegration program uses the common illustration of the three-legged stool.  In order for our local military members to successfully reintegrate back into their communities, they must be supported by those three legs—the community, family and employer.  Each leg plays an important role in the military member’s reintegration back into civilian life.”

The mandatory program brings the unit of veterans together a month after their return home.  It combines outreach to soldiers, their families and communities through town hall meetings, workshops on family life and accessing benefits, and counseling.       

The Guard program will be enhanced by an Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs program which will help solders become homeowners as well as a free 24-hour hot line staffed by experts in post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Swerdlik said they will examine the variables designed to bring about changes in the soldiers, their family and the community.  “The project officer of the Illinois National Guard Reintegration Program, Second Lt. Justin Anweiler, has put together a good program to address the needs of returning combat veterans,” Swerdlik said.  “Our team will focus on strengthening and enhancing the program.”  

“The program will train and resource every soldier and their family for a safe, healthy and successful reintegration into their family and community following mobilization,” Anweilier said.  “Obligations do not stop once they return home.  One of the reasons the Illinois Army National Guard looked to Illinois State for support is because we recognized that it takes entire communities to assist in the reintegration of our veterans.”  He added that although success is measured by things such as suicide and divorce rates, alcohol and drug abuse, employment and college admissions, the Illinois National Army Guard “also measures success just one soldier and family at a time.”