Ombudsmen Key to Wounded Warrior Support

By Zona T. Lewis, Navy Safe Harbor Public Affairs

CHICAGO (NNS) -- Navy Safe Harbor representatives briefed Coast Guard transition/relocation managers, ombudsman coordinators, and ombudsmen during the U.S. Coast Guard's pre-conference meeting prior to the 2011 DoD/USDA Family Resilience Conference in Chicago, April 19.

Safe Harbor serves as a wounded warrior support program for the Navy and Coast Guard. Attendees were briefed on Navy Safe Harbor's role in providing non-medical support to seriously wounded, ill, and injured Coast Guardsmen.

"Since April of 2009, when the Coast Guard signed a memorandum of agreement with the Navy, Navy Safe Harbor has been the lead organization for providing non-medical support to seriously wounded, ill, and injured Coast Guardsmen," said Kelly Dempsey, Navy Safe Harbor family program coordinator.

The agreement reflects both services' commitment to providing the best care possible for Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and their families.

However; Dempsey said the enrollment numbers for the Coast Guard could be higher if more people knew about the program.

"I contribute the low enrollment numbers of Coast Guardsmen to the lack of awareness about the program," said Dempsey. "Navy Safe Harbor is still a relatively new program, and we are working to spread the word that we are here to support not only seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, but also Coast Guardsmen with their non-medical support needs."

Currently, 31 Coast Guardsmen are enrolled in the program, compared to 640 enrolled Sailors. An additional 15 Coast Guardsmen have been provided non-medical support assistance that did not qualify for enrollment.

When Dempsey asked how many people in the room were familiar with Navy Safe Harbor, only four of the more than 20 attendees raised their hands.

"Navy Safe Harbor is a valuable resource that many Coast Guard members are not aware of," said Christine DeGraw, U.S. Coast Guard ombudsman program manager.

DeGraw said she sees the role of the Coast Guard ombudsman as being pivotal to connecting ill and injured Coast Guardsmen in their commands with Navy Safe Harbor support and resources.

"During the 'Year of the Coast Guard Family' it is more important than ever that we continue to create awareness about existing and new programs and services available to our families," said DeGraw. "Ombudsmen are a vital link in that communication chain."

A Coast Guard ombudsman, just as a Navy ombudsman, serves as a link between the service member's command and the families of the command.

Lynette Fuge, Coast Guard ombudsman for Port Security Unit 313 in Everett, Wash., said she immediately thought of two service members in her husband's reserve unit that may be eligible for Navy Safe Harbor enrollment and support. One service member has been diagnosed with a serious illness that impacts his work schedule, and the other was injured while on deployment to Kuwait.

"It is hard enough to navigate the system when you are just taking your child in for a check-up," said Fuge. "It is another thing entirely when your spouse has a major illness or injury."

Dempsey agreed that navigating the waters of recovery following a serious illness or injury often is overwhelming and exhausting for a service member and his or her family.

"Questions about pay and benefits, bedside travel, child care, and employability muddy the waters of the recovery process," said Dempsey. "While providing bedside care for their loved-ones, families often don't have the resources or time to manage these concerns."

She said it is important that ombudsmen know that Navy Safe Harbor exists and how to refer potential enrollees and their families.

Ombudsmen can make referrals to the Coast Guard Health, Safety, and Work Life office in Norfolk, Va., or contact Navy Safe Harbor through its 24/7 toll free line at (877) 746-8563, or by e-mail at safeharbor@navy.mil.

Navy Safe Harbor's goal is to return Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to duty, and when not possible, work collaboratively with federal agencies including the VA and the Department of Labor and state and local organizations to ensure successful reintegration of service members back into their communities.

"Navy Safe Harbor support does not end at the door of a medical treatment facility," said Dempsey. "The key to the program's success is providing service members and their families with a lifetime of care and support."