RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath agencies offer ‘Helping Hands’ to those in need

[The Patriot]

RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath agencies offer ‘Helping Hands’ to those in need

03-09-2013 07:48 PM

Tags:
News
Resiliency
Helping Hand
SARC
Drug Demand Reduction
Drug Abuse
Counseling



RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath agencies offer ‘Helping Hands’ to those in need


by: Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing PAO
published: March 10, 2013

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RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Between RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, many agencies are available to advise and assist those dealing with personal or family issues.

These agencies offer help in a variety of areas. Base personnel can talk to subject-matter experts on topics including anger and stress management, mental health issues, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment, new parent support, relationship enhancement and sexual assault.

The following information specifically outlines the sexual assault response coordinator and drug demand reduction program:

SARC:

"We assist people who have been the victim of sexual assault," said Kelli Hardin, from Santa Clara, Calif. As RAF Mildenhall's alternate sexual assault response coordinator, she helps run the sexual assault prevention and response program.

"We also provide training to the base as a form of prevention, and help supervisors so they can respond to sexual assaults if they occur," she said.

There are 30 victim advocates across RAF Mildenhall. This role is a volunteer position; victim advocates assist with training, or at events or locations where the SARC office hands out information.

"They also work with survivors of sexual assault," Hardin said.

There are two reporting options available to someone who was the victim of sexual assault: restricted and unrestricted.

"Restricted is just between us and them, and the victim advocate, should they choose to work with one. (The victim) can also seek medical help, but the information is kept (confidential) within a small group," Hardin said. "In an unrestricted case, an investigation is launched with the (Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 100th Air Refueling Wing Judge Advocate General), and the commander of the survivor is also involved."

The chapel is another resource survivors can utilize when seeking help or advice, and anyone talking to a chaplain is assured of complete confidentiality.

Anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault is encouraged to contact the SARC office.

"The biggest thing is for the support," she said. "We can (put people in touch) with mental health at RAF Lakenheath, with a victim advocate here, and the other helping agencies that are around, to help them regain their life back - to get that strength back that was taken away from them," Hardin said.

Bystander intervention is vital in helping prevent sexual assault, said Hardin, stressing the importance of stepping in if something doesn't look right.

"Have the courage to stop something (before it turns into sexual assault)," she said.

To contact the SARC, call DSN 238-7272, or call commercial 24-hours-a-day 07876-148603.

Drug Demand Reduction:

Since different kinds of drugs and supplements exist with a potential for abuse, one of the things the drug demand reduction office can do for service members is check the ingredients to ensure items are suitable to take.

"Some of the supplements people use may show up as a positive for illegal drugs, or as a drug that may not be very healthy for individuals," said Mike Dubroff, 48th Medical Operations Squadron drug demand program manager at RAF Mildenhall. "If anyone has any concerns about a supplement they are taking or are planning to take, they can call me with the supplement name and if I don't know the answer then I'll contact the drug lab at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas."

The stateside lab then checks the full list of ingredients. If anything is illegal, the service member can then be notified not to use the supplement.

The DDR program managers both here and at RAF Lakenheath also work hand-in-hand with adolescent substance abuse counseling services counselors at the Department of Defense Dependant Schools, Dubroff said.

"We provide information to family members on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and we go into schools and talk about the dangers of drug usage - both legal and illegal drugs," he said, adding that they also brief at the bases' weekly newcomers' briefings, on usage and awareness of alcohol and drugs.

Prescription Take-back Day is held twice a year so base members have the opportunity to turn in old or unused prescription medication to be disposed of safely.

Members of the drug demand reduction program are also available to brief at commanders' calls.

For more information, call DSN 238-5091, 238-7289 or commercial 01638-545091 or 01638-547289.

Full details on all the Helping Hands agencies are on the RAF Mildenhall website. Go to www.mildenhall.af.mil and click on the 'Resilient' button on the right-hand-side of the main page.


Tags: Counseling, Drug Abuse, Drug Demand Reduction, Helping Hand, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, Resiliency, SARC, News
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RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath agencies offer ‘Helping Hands’ to those in need


by: Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing PAO
published:

Share This:


Tweet

Comments
Email
Print


RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Between RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, many agencies are available to advise and assist those dealing with personal or family issues.

These agencies offer help in a variety of areas. Base personnel can talk to subject-matter experts on topics including anger and stress management, mental health issues, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment, new parent support, relationship enhancement and sexual assault.

The following information specifically outlines the sexual assault response coordinator and drug demand reduction program:

SARC:

"We assist people who have been the victim of sexual assault," said Kelli Hardin, from Santa Clara, Calif. As RAF Mildenhall's alternate sexual assault response coordinator, she helps run the sexual assault prevention and response program.

"We also provide training to the base as a form of prevention, and help supervisors so they can respond to sexual assaults if they occur," she said.

There are 30 victim advocates across RAF Mildenhall. This role is a volunteer position; victim advocates assist with training, or at events or locations where the SARC office hands out information.

"They also work with survivors of sexual assault," Hardin said.

There are two reporting options available to someone who was the victim of sexual assault: restricted and unrestricted.

"Restricted is just between us and them, and the victim advocate, should they choose to work with one. (The victim) can also seek medical help, but the information is kept (confidential) within a small group," Hardin said. "In an unrestricted case, an investigation is launched with the (Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 100th Air Refueling Wing Judge Advocate General), and the commander of the survivor is also involved."

The chapel is another resource survivors can utilize when seeking help or advice, and anyone talking to a chaplain is assured of complete confidentiality.

Anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault is encouraged to contact the SARC office.

"The biggest thing is for the support," she said. "We can (put people in touch) with mental health at RAF Lakenheath, with a victim advocate here, and the other helping agencies that are around, to help them regain their life back - to get that strength back that was taken away from them," Hardin said.

Bystander intervention is vital in helping prevent sexual assault, said Hardin, stressing the importance of stepping in if something doesn't look right.

"Have the courage to stop something (before it turns into sexual assault)," she said.

To contact the SARC, call DSN 238-7272, or call commercial 24-hours-a-day 07876-148603.

Drug Demand Reduction:

Since different kinds of drugs and supplements exist with a potential for abuse, one of the things the drug demand reduction office can do for service members is check the ingredients to ensure items are suitable to take.

"Some of the supplements people use may show up as a positive for illegal drugs, or as a drug that may not be very healthy for individuals," said Mike Dubroff, 48th Medical Operations Squadron drug demand program manager at RAF Mildenhall. "If anyone has any concerns about a supplement they are taking or are planning to take, they can call me with the supplement name and if I don't know the answer then I'll contact the drug lab at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas."

The stateside lab then checks the full list of ingredients. If anything is illegal, the service member can then be notified not to use the supplement.

The DDR program managers both here and at RAF Lakenheath also work hand-in-hand with adolescent substance abuse counseling services counselors at the Department of Defense Dependant Schools, Dubroff said.

"We provide information to family members on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and we go into schools and talk about the dangers of drug usage - both legal and illegal drugs," he said, adding that they also brief at the bases' weekly newcomers' briefings, on usage and awareness of alcohol and drugs.

Prescription Take-back Day is held twice a year so base members have the opportunity to turn in old or unused prescription medication to be disposed of safely.

Members of the drug demand reduction program are also available to brief at commanders' calls.

For more information, call DSN 238-5091, 238-7289 or commercial 01638-545091 or 01638-547289.

Full details on all the Helping Hands agencies are on the RAF Mildenhall website. Go to www.mildenhall.af.mil and click on the 'Resilient' button on the right-hand-side of the main page.


Tags: Counseling, Drug Abuse, Drug Demand Reduction, Helping Hand, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, Resiliency, SARC, News
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