Individual Counseling Services for War Time VeteransEssay Preview: Individual Counseling Services for War Time VeteransReport this essayIndividual Counseling Services for War Time VeteransKeller Graduate School of ManagementExecutive SummaryThe United States of America is at war. Every since the tragedy of 9/11 America has been fighting two wars, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are over one million sailor, soldiers, airmen, marines who have been deployed to a combat zone. Some of these individuals have been deployed on more than one occasion. There is no end in sight. Statistics revealed that one in five service members return from their deployment and have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Major Depression Disorder (MDD). Review of statistics and reports confirms that the agency is moving in the right direction by providing and offering individual counseling services to combat veterans and their families. This service will prove to be a valuable asset in the community and in the combat veteran life.
The staff is trained Licensed Professionals that consist of social workers, counselors and psychologist. They have been working with veterans with PTSD and MDD for many years. They are caring providers who are willing to invest their time and energy in helping this agency to be a top runner in providing counseling services for combat veterans. They will assist with implementing the marketing plan.
Although this is non-profit agency it will be successful with implementing the marketing plan with the limited budget set aside for marketing. The use of free advertisement through public radio and television will be used. The agency will use a multimedia approach to inform everyone who may be a part of the combat veteran life. Through these efforts and establishing long term relationships with community partners, the agency will be able to recruit veterans for individual counseling services and build a practice where the quality and value of the work speaks for itself.
2.0 Situation AnalysisCurrently the company is capable of providing individual counseling services to Combat Veterans. The company has trained licensed therapists ready to provide individual counseling to veterans and room to grow to provide family counseling services. The services currently rendered are group counseling, and veterans benefits information and assistance. The critical issue currently facing the company is attracting Combat Veterans to our business location and the lack of funds to market the service. At this time there is not any marketing visibility in the community besides word of mouth.
2.1 Market SummarySince 9/11 our military forces has been utilized to great extent to protect American and others freedom. There are over one million Veterans who are war time veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan War in the past eleven years. The war isnt over yet and who knows how long it will last. One in five veterans who has been deployed to a combat zone will suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Major Depression Disorder (MDD) (Rand Corporation, 2008). In the state of Texas as of 9/30/2010 there are at least five hundred thousand Gulf War Veterans. These are veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. This number will increase by at least ten thousand on a yearly basis. Service members are exiting from the military on a daily basis. These veterans will have many problems when they arrive home for combat and individual counseling services will be a valuable tool in their life to help them to adapt to life after the war.
2.2 SWOT AnalysisStrengthsShorter appointments times and waitNot seen as federal government where veterans tend to shy awayNon-traditional hours including weekendsWeaknessLocation not on a bus routeLimited funds in the marketing budgetNon-profitOpportunitiesVeterans are being discharge daily. Texas has one of the highest numbers of veterans living in the state.Reach out to the rural areasServices to outlining countiesCollaborate with community partnersThreatsComparable Services with the Department of Veterans of AffairsCompetitors has an head start in marketingLow Customer RetentionHard to attract veterans for mental health services2.3 CompetitionOne of the main competitors is the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center who provides outpatient mental health services. They are providing individual and group counseling services to all veterans. The Dallas VAMC has several different teams that have a specific focus such as trauma, mental illness, drug/alcohol and sexual trauma. They are the top competitors because they have been around for a long period time providing services to our military veterans. Not only do they provide treatment but they are top in the nation for doing research on veterans in different aspects. The services that will be provided will be just as good of a quality of that of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The therapist has been trained on the treatment of combat veterans and they continue to get ongoing training that will help them provide the best service to war time veterans.
2.4 Product (Service) OfferingThe service that will be provided is individual counseling service that is centered on the Combat Veteran. This service will be provided by Licensed Therapists. The problem that it will tend to solve is to help War time Veterans manage or alleviate their Post Traumatic symptoms or Major Depressive symptoms where it will not affect their overall functioning such as occupation, marriage, family and social lives. This treatment will provide them psychological aid to their invisible war injuries. As mention earlier there is one in five veterans will suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Major Depression Disorder (MDD). Studies have shown that evidence base also known as best practices is different
2.5 The Service
Service is a group of Military leaders involved in resolving military conflicts (e.g., a national security officer and an officer at the head of the division, a Joint Chief). In the service they care for all who are not participating (other than veterans, their spouses, and those who are not military members who are unable to serve). A service provides emotional support and emotional support to any individual who is unable to attend. The Service provides therapy, relaxation and self guidance.
2.6 As described earlier,
The Service will be a place that includes but not limited to:
General Support for active military veterans (military family, friends, the elderly) and people under the age of 25, who are recovering from trauma or have recently been wounded, who are suffering mental health issues to cope with their trauma.
Special Interest Community Support, Services, Support for all members who feel, have seen, heard or know about PTSD, or the ability of current members to handle post traumatic stress symptoms.
Veterans Affairs
1. The service will be a group of civilian personnel located in the United States to share counseling resources with other Military Service members from the Military. This includes:
Veterans’ Rights Program
National Service
2. General