The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater created a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Impacted Student-Veterans Program to improve support services for student veterans with TBI. The program aims to identify issues these students face, develop recommendations to address their concerns, and provide easy access to an up-to-date directory of on-campus and community services. As more service members enroll with TBI from recent wars, the university expects an increasing need for TBI-specific support and is already seeing greater use of services by student veterans with TBI.

1. TBI Impacted Student-Veterans Program
Introduction: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is fully committed to providing all of its
Student-Veterans with Veteran-Centric academic and moral support services that culminate in a
transformational educational experience.
In line with this commitment, the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Impacted Student-Veterans
Program was created to develop a comprehensive University action plan for bridging gaps in how
TBI Impacted Student-Veterans receive support services on campus.
Problem Statement
“Signature Wound”—Traumatic Brain Injury
After more than a decade of intense involvement in the wars in both Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan
(OEF) the Armed Forces continue to rapidly and drastically draw down the size its personnel. As
a result, a significant number of the men and women returning home from these wars are enrolling
in institutions of higher learning with the “signature wound” of the wars—Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI) that pose a serious threat to their academic wellbeing.
As such, it is clear that there is an urgent need to facilitate easy access to effective support services
for TBI Impacted Student-Veterans attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

2. 2
Goal 1 Objectives
Identify issues of concern to TBI
Impacted Student Veterans on the
University of Wisconsin-
Whitewater’s campus and develop
recommendations to address these
concerns through the development
and implementation of Evidence
Based programming and outreach
activities.
Collaborate with key university department staff and
faculty to aggressively pursue the development and
implementation of evidence-based programming for TBI
Impacted Student Veterans on campus.
Collaborate with key university department staff and
faculty to provide safe, secure and supportive
environment for TBI Impacted Student-Veterans on
campus.
Goal 2 Objectives
Provide easy access to an up to-
date directory of services that are
available to TBI Impacted Student
Veterans transitioning from
military to academic life at the
University of Wisconsin
Whitewater in order to ensure their
academic wellbeing.
Collaborate with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans
Affairs (WDVA) Hospital to develop and maintain an
up-to-date directory and services that are available to
TBI Impacted Student-Veterans who are transitioning
from military to academic life.
Collaborate with Wisconsin Vet Centers to develop and
maintain an up-to-date directory and services that are
available to TBI Impacted Student-Veterans who are
transitioning from military to academic life.
Build upon the local community partnerships and
outreach established for other programs, such as suicide
prevention and awareness services, to establish support
networks for TBI Impacted Student-Veterans in
accessing counseling and other critical services.

3. 3
Projected Outcomes
Growth in TBI Impacted Student-Veteran Population
Since the beginning of hostilities in Afghanistan in October 2001, more than 1.8 million military
service members have served in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan; OEF) or Operation
Iraqi Freedom (Iraq; OIF). During this time span it has been estimated that more 315,000 of these
military service members have been impacted by TBI (sustaining mild, moderate or severe TBI).
Ultimately these TBI Impacted Service Members will transition from Service Members to
Veterans and from Veterans to Students.
As a result, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater can expect to see an increase in enrollment
of TBI Impacted Student-Veterans accompanied by a greater need for TBI specific support
services.
Present Outcomes
Increased need/use of Support Services by TBI Impacted Student Veteran Population
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is currently experiencing a noticeable increase of self-
identified TBI Impacted Student-Veterans that have requested and received referrals to both
campus and community-based resources.
In one instance, a Student-Veteran disclosed (to the University’s Coordinator of Student Veterans
and Military Service Members) that he was experiencing difficulty concentrating on class
assignments due to multiple concussions sustained during his deployments to Iraq and
Afghanistan.
The disclosure resulted in referrals to the University Health and Counseling Services, Center for
Students with Disabilities (CSD), the VA Medical Center in Madison and the Disabled American
Veterans (DAV).
Key Efforts
Richard Harris, Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military Services will (CSVMS):
 Make contact at least once per month via face-to-face, by phone or e-mail with program
coordinators of VA Hospitals in Madison and Milwaukee that have OEF and OIF Programs
which provide an array of services to TBI Impacted Veterans to discuss ongoing strategies
to better serve the TBI Impacted Veterans population at the University of Wisconsin-
Whitewater.
 Make contact at least once per month via face-to-face, by phone or e-mail with program
coordinators of Vet Centers in Madison and Milwaukee that provide an array of services
to TBI Impacted Veterans to discuss on-going strategies to better serve the TBI Impacted
Veterans population at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

4. 4
 Engage in the distribution of educational and awareness material for TBI Impacted
Student-Veterans Services via prominent display at the designated Veterans Resource
Information Center located in the University’s Veterans & Service Members Lounge and
other areas on campus;
 Include TBI Impacted Student-Veterans education and awareness in the University’s
Veterans Orientation Program sessions;
 Partner with key university department directors to hold staff/faculty information
workshops on issues concerning TBI Impacted Student-Veterans; and
 Collaborate with various university student organizations to hold student information
workshops on issues concerning TBI Impacted Student-Veterans.
Program Documentation
Richard Harris, Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military Services (CSVMS) will:
 Document the number of TBI Impacted Student-Veterans requesting and receiving
education and awareness of service provider material;
 Document the number of TBI Impacted Student-Veterans referrals made to both on campus
and community-based resources;
 Document the number of student and staff/faculty information workshops conducted on
issues concerning TBI Impacted Student-Veterans;
 Document the number of the University’s Veterans Orientation Program sessions that
include TBI Impacted Student-Veterans education and awareness;
 Document results of TBI Impacted Student-Veterans Satisfaction of Program Services
Surveys; and
 Document CSVMS participation in trainings/conferences/seminars/workshops that focus
on services provided specifically to TBI Impacted Student-Veterans and Military Service
Members.
Key Collaborations/Partnerships:
Community-Based Resources:
 Dr. James Lickel VITAL Program Manager Madison VA Medical Center

5. 5
 Christine Molina Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Case Manager Madison VA Medical
Center
 Jay White, LCSW OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager Madison VA Medical Center
 Jill Snider, MSW, LCSW OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager Milwaukee VA Medical
Center
 Jerri Jefferson, Program Support Assistant Milwaukee Vet Center
 Jennifer Sluga, Readjustment Counselor Madison Vet Center
Campus-Based Resources:
 Andrew Browning, Case Manage University Care Team
 Jason Schreiber, Student-Veteran/Peer Support
 Ryan Krebs, Student-Veteran/Peer Support
 UW-Whitewater Student Veterans Service Organization (VSO)
TBI Impacted Student-Veterans Program developed and
implemented by:
Richard Harris, BSW
Coordinator of Student Veterans & Military Services
HarrisR05@uww.edu
Cell # 608-718-6120
Office # 262-472-5236

6. 6
APPENDIX

7. 7
UW Whitewater Outreach
TBI Service Agreement: Population served in the TBI clinic:
Madison TBI program serves combat Veterans who meet all of the following qualifications:
1. Those who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation
New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND)
2. Those who have sustained a head injury
3. The injury occurred after September 11, 2001
4. The Veteran served in at least one of the following locations:
a. OIF: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Southwest Asia, Turkey
b. OEF: Afghanistan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Philippine Islands, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Patients can only access the TBI clinic by having a positive TBI screen through the TBI Screen
clinical reminder.
1) Does the Veteran wish to have care at Madison VA?
If yes, proceed to number 2)
If no -> refer to appropriate VA (Milwaukee, Hines, etc…)
2) Does the Veteran meet the TBI Service Agreement Qualifications numbers 1-4?
If yes, proceed to number 3)
If no -> can recommend referral to Neurology at Madison VA or appropriate VA
3) Is the Veteran enrolled at Madison VA?
If yes -> refer to James Lickel by phone (ext. 17528) or email (james.lickel@va.gov) to do
TBI Screen
If no -> refer to James Lickel to assist with enrollment if Veteran wishes to have healthcare at
Madison VA or refer to appropriate VA (Milwaukee, Hines, etc…) to enroll

8. 8
Referral Tracking Form
Student-Veteran Date Issue/Concern Referral? Referred To:
#2689037 09/12/15 Student-Veteran indicated that he has been diagnosed with
multiple TBI along with PTSD. Student-Veteran indicates
that he is seriously behind in rent and he along with his
wife and children are in jeopardy of being evicted from
their home.
Yes Leon Black, HUD-VASH (homeless Veteran
housing program) Case Manager
#4897246 09/23/15 Student-Veteran indicted that he is experiencing severe
migraine headaches and nightmares as a result of several
TBI suffered during deployments to Afghanistan. Student-
Veteran states that he is at-risk of becoming homeless.
Student-Veteran further indicates that he is not receiving
medical and had filed a disability compensation claim a
couple of years ago that was denied.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL Program Manager
Leon Black, HUD-VASH (homeless Veteran
housing program) Case Manager
Rock Valley Community Program (Homeless
Program).
#6549620 10/01/15 Student-Veteran indicated that he has suffered multiple
TBI and expressed a great deal of interest in learning more
about TBI as well as assisting other Student-Veterans with
TBI.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL Program Manager
#5783291 10/01/15 Student-Veteran indicated that he has suffered multiple
TBI and expressed a great deal of interest in learning more
about TBI as well as assisting other Student-Veterans with
TBI.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL Program Manager
#9578961 10/02/15 Student-Veteran has no primary care doctor and states “I
had several concussions during my two deployments in
Afghanistan, but haven’t been to the VA Medical Center
since my discharge.” Also stated “I filed a disability
compensation claim a couple of years ago, but don’t know
what happened with it [the claim].
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL Program Manager
UW-Whitewater Center for Students with
Disabilities
UW-Whitewater University Health &
Counseling Services
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in
Milwaukee
#6742398 10/07/15 Student-Veteran indicates that she was diagnosed with one
TBI, but believes that she has suffered several more
(which have gone undiagnosed).
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL Program Manager
UW-Whitewater Center for Students with
Disabilities
* The Coordinator of Student-Veterans and Military Service Members assigns random seven digit numbers to Student-Veterans for confidentiality reasons.

9. 9
Student-Veteran Date Issue/Concern Referral? Referred To:
#3798418 11/06/15 Student-Veteran indicates that he has a TBI as a result of
his tour of duty in Iraq. Student-Veteran requested to
know what support services will be available to him while
campus.
Yes Dr. James Lickel, VITAL Program
Manager
UW-Whitewater Care Team
#6549620 11/14/15 Student-Veteran indicates that he needs someone to
accompany him to Madison VA Medical Center for a
medical appointment, but can’t find anyone willing to
accompany him.
No Coordinator of Student Veterans and Military
Service Members provided assistance to
Student-Veteran
* The Coordinator of Student-Veterans and Military Service Members assigns random seven digit numbers to Student-Veterans for confidentiality reasons.

10. 10
Efforts and Activities
Date Description