VSU offers innovative new course supporting military community – Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces
Photo Credit Ervin Clarke
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, VA — Virginia State University has announced the establishment of Virginia’s first and only military cultural competency training certification program offered at a university. The online Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces certificate program is designed to teach students how to interact with active duty service members, veterans, and their families with consideration for military culture and sensitivities. In the program, participants learn to identify and facilitate access to essential services and resources, social support, case management, care coordination, and advocacy options for the military community.
“Prince George, Petersburg, and Colonial Heights have the highest density of veterans and service members in the state,” said VSU Professor of Social Work, Dr. Jimmie D. Fedrick. “This fact, paired with the esteemed faculty in our social work department, makes VSU the perfect home for this groundbreaking program. In addition to benefiting our military population, this certification program will also make students more marketable for potential employment opportunities.”
This academically certified program is the first and only program statewide that is created, designed, and taught by licensed social workers and psychotherapists, who are also veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. This program benefits military children in public schools, healthcare providers, and military and veteran employers across the country. Virginia has the second largest active duty military presence in the United States; however, the program is fully virtual which makes it convenient and accessible nationwide.
“Virginia State University believes wholeheartedly in supporting our military– through our renowned ROTC program, our Military Appreciation Days, the dedication of our ROTC room in honor of Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Jona McKee, and now with this new certification program,” said Dr. Donald E. Palm, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. “This program is a show of our appreciation for the needs of our military personnel and their families and is a testament that greater truly happens at VSU.”
The VSU Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Services certificate program is the first and only military cultural competency certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia, provided by a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program and approved by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The mission of the VSU Department of Social Work is to prepare traditional and non-traditional students for professional, entry-level, generalist social work practice– who are committed to social, economic and environmental justice throughout the surrounding urban, suburban, rural and military base communities in Central and Southern Virginia. For more information on the program, visit www.vsu.edu.
