Thank You

National Returning Veterans Conference

The Road Home:
National Conference on
Returning Veterans' and Their Families' Behavioral Health

Date	March 16-18, 2006
Location	Washington Hilton Hotel 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20009 Phone: (202) 483-3000 Fax: (202) 232-0438 Website: www.washington.hilton.com
Sponsors	The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Therapeutic Communities of America (TCA)
Participants	Federal, State, and local public and private agencies; primary-care providers; community health and prevention specialists; substance abuse and mental health care providers; educators; advocacy groups; policy makers; consumers; veterans; members of tribal communities; and those interested in issues facing returning veterans and their families.
Conference Purpose	This conference will give Federal, State, and local public and private service providers evidence-based information and approaches that can help veterans and their families build resiliency to prevent and to treat mental health disorders (including PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders), substance abuse disorders, suicide, and/or co-occurring disorders.
Overview	As the servicemen and servicewomen who have been engaged in combat return home to their families and communities, SAMHSA recognizes the many challenges they may face. This successful transition will be aided by the collaboration of many partners to identify, prevent, and treat substance use and mental health disorders.
Schedule at a Glance	Click here to view the agenda.
Conference Workshops	Workshops on various topics related to research, best practices and policies, financing strategies, education and awareness, building partnerships, outreach, and advocacy will be offered. See workshop descriptions below.
Lodging	Registrants are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Washington Hilton Hotel at the conference rate of $219/night (single and double) + 14.5% tax (total: $250.76/night). Reference the “Returning Veterans Conference” when calling to make your reservations or visit the hotel’s website (www.washington.hilton.com), and when prompted use the “RVC” access code. The deadline for making lodging reservations is February 27, 2006. Registrants are responsible for all expenses related to their hotel stay. Using a credit card at time of reservation is the preferred method of payment to guarantee your hotel room.
Travel	Registrants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the conference and for covering any associated costs of attendance. Area airports include Ronald Reagan–Washington National Airport (closest), Washington Dulles International Airport, and Thurgood Marshall Baltimore–Washington International Airport. On-site self-pay hotel parking is available for persons who drive their own cars to the conference. If you need assistance with making your travel arrangements, call Omega Travel at 1-800-723-9403. Again, you will be responsible for all charges associated with your conference attendance.
Exhibitor Row	Visit the exhibits throughout the conference to get the latest information and tools available to assist returning veterans and their families.
For More Information	Please contact Andrea Vincent, CRP, Incorporated’s Returning Veterans Conference Logistics Coordinator, at (202) 362-0691 or toll-free at 1-866-277-4772.

Conference Workshops

Workshop One	*A Clinical Perspective: Addressing Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Associated with Combat-Related Traumatic Stress* The workshop will illustrate the physiological, psychological, and/or behavioral implications of traumatic stress on returning veterans and their families.
Workshop Two	*Meeting the Needs of Children and Families of Returning Veterans* The workshop will describe how military and civilian communities can work together in forging partnerships and support systems to address the needs of children of deployed and returning military personnel.
Workshop Three	Strengthening Behavioral Mental Health Systems Through Community Coordination and Collaboration Community efforts need to be bridged with existing military services and community resources to support deployed and returning military personnel and their families. This workshop will show how to mobilize community organizations and assure their readiness to meet the needs of returning veterans and their families.
Workshop Four	Veteran-to-Veteran Peer Support The workshop will address how to develop and effectively implement peer support programs and services, including peer counseling, training, and referrals targeted to returning veterans.
Workshop Five (Thursday 3/16)	*Meeting the Housing Needs of Returning Veterans* The workshop will address the unmet housing needs of returning veterans and their families.
Workshop Five (Friday 3/17)	*Meeting the Housing Needs of Returning Veterans* The workshop will address employment housing needs of returning veterans and their families.
Workshop Six	*Psychological Impact of Physical Injuries* The workshop will address special issues and considerations related to returning veterans who are physically disabled.
Workshop Seven	Faith-Based Recovery Support Services The workshop will highlight innovative faith-based recovery support service programs.
Workshop Eight	Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion The workshop will focus on ways to help returning veterans and their families recognize the signs and symptoms that can lead to suicide.

Registration	Registration is officially closed at this time. Deadline: The official deadline for complete registration forms received by mail, e-mail or fax was March 3, 2006. Registrations received after this date will be treated as onsite registrations (not guaranteed; processed on a space-available basis), and late registrants’ names will not be included in meeting materials (e.g., Participant Directory). A separate registration form must be submitted for each participant. There is no registration fee to attend this meeting; however, you are encouraged to register as soon as possible, as space is limited! There are now two ways to register: via mail or fax. A separate registration form must be submitted for each participant. CRP, Inc., will send a confirmation correspondence to all registered participants prior to the conference. You can also secure lodging at the Washington Hilton hotel via the conference’s website. To request a mail-in or fax registration form, contact CRP’s Returning Veterans Conference Logistics Coordinator, Andrea Vincent, by phone at (202) 362-0691 or toll-free at 1-866-277-4772, or at avincent@crpcorp.com. Cancellations and Substitutions: Cancellation and substitution notifications must be submitted in writing to CRP’s Andrea Vincent via email or fax (see above) by March 3, 2006.