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Discussion About Help for Returning Troops
(IRN) -- A handful of Illinois National Guard soldiers got to talk about ways the nation can help returning troops and their families.

As part of the Joining Forces initiative, launched by the office of the first lady, held a roundtable discussion with Illinois National Guard soldiers and health care providers. Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, was one of those in attendance.

The roundtable, held in Chicago, included talk of post-deployment family reintegration, education outreach programs for military children and faith-based support for military families.

Katherine Dillingham, therapist with the Institute for Therapy through the Arts, explained that many younger children don't have strong verbal skills and instead express how they feel through art. In one example she provided, a child was asked to draw a picture of his family. The boy drew a puppy in a fenced in yard and nothing else. He explained that the puppy was him. Dillingham says it's a sign of isolation.

The purpose of the roundtables is to drum up ideas that can be used as a model for support and treatment of soldiers and their families nationwide. Regular Joining Forces events, such as additional roundtables, are being planned.

(Illinois Radio Network)
06 20 11 by Newsroom
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