| Last updated on 2008-09-09 14:09:09 |
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Military Service Organizations and Veterans Service Organizations
March 24,2005 The March meeting focused on three major areas: an overview of a recently released Gulf War health related report, the Department of Defense's policy on prevention and response to sexual assault and the Risk Communication Working Group. Dr. Kelley Brix, a DHSD analyst, provided an overview of a recent study by the Boston University School of Medicine and the VA Boston Healthcare System, titled Predicting alcohol and drug abuse in Persian Gulf War veterans: What role do PTSD symptoms play? Lt. Col Jolisa Dudley, Joint Task Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, spoke on DoD's policy on prevention and response to sexual assault. On October 12, 2004, the Joint Task Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response was established as the single point of accountability on sexual assault policy matters. Their first priority was to develop DoD's sexual assault policy. In January 2005, the Joint task force delivered to Congress the new policy along with 11 memorandums. The primary objectives of the sexual assault policy are to enhance and improve education and training programs, treatment and support of victims and system accountability. In addition the policy is intended to create a climate of trust and confidence for victims of sexual assault, commanders and investigators. Jodi Graul, Environmental Health Analyst, Deployment Health Support Directorate, spoke on the DoD Deployment Health Risk Communication Working Group. The working group was created to improve risk communication within DoD and the Services to develop and disseminate health risk communication products when deployment related health concerns arise. The next VSO/MSO roundtable meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2005, at 10 a.m.
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