How The Government Treats Their Own
1. Sources Say Case Workers for Wounded Laid Off
Sources Say Case Workers for Wounded Laid Off
By Karen Jowers, Army Times
As reported on http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012207O.shtml
Saturday 20 January 2007
Defense Department officials have laid off most of their case workers
who help severely injured service members, sources said.
The case workers for the Military Severely Injured Center serve as
advocates for wounded service members who have questions or issues
related to benefits, financial resources and their successful return to
duty or reintegration into civilian life - all forms of support other
than medical care.
The center officially opened in February 2005, with its primary
offices in Arlington, Va., but also hired advocates at hospitals around
the country.
Four sources said the decision was made to cut back the personnel
because officials with the Army's Wounded Warrior program felt the
Defense Department program was a duplication of efforts.
Defense officials did not comment on the actions as of Jan. 19.
Wounded Warrior officials also could not be reached.
Reports indicate that Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Fort
Campbell, Ky., were among the locations that had case workers cut. It is
not clear what will happen to case workers at the Arlington center.
The only case workers that have not been laid off are at three
hospitals: Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas; Tripler Army Medical
Center, Hawaii; and Naval Medical Center San Diego, sources said. But
those case workers will not be allowed to work with soldiers and must
refer them to the Army Wounded Warrior program.
The laid-off workers were told Wednesday to finish up their case work
with severely injured troops, and that Friday would be their last day.
"I'm just livid about this," said Janice Buckley, Washington state
chapter president for Operation Homefront.
She was notified that the two case workers at Fort Lewis were given
short notice that their jobs were ending, but she has no further
information.
"They did a fabulous job for these families," Buckley said. "The kind
of work they do for these families who are hanging by a thread ... no
other organization helped service members and their families like they
did."
The MSIC case workers provided the wounded service members with
contacts and referrals to other organizations and agencies, ranging from
the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Social Security
Administration, depending on their individual needs. Operation Homefront
often helps with the families' emergency financial needs. See also
Pentagon Cruse
Missile 9/11 Victims |
