Joanne Steen Presents Grief Solutions at the Headquarters Marine Corps 2008 Casualty ...( PHOENIX Feb. 19 /- U.S. Marine Co...),Health

PHOENIX, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Assistance Calls Officers (CACO), often the first to respond to a Marine's family concerning the loss, injury or illness of their loved one, received some in-depth training on how to execute this critical duty by noted author and certified counselor Joanne Steen.

Through a partnership with TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Steen presented her Grief Solutions program at the Headquarters Marine Corps Casualty Conference in Quantico, Va. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. During the presentation to the more than 150 Marines stationed world-wide, Steen offered relevant insights and lessons learned on notifying family members and practical tips on how to assist them, both immediately and in the months afterward.

"CACO's are on the front lines, delivering life-changing news to a service member's family," said Steen, the widow of a naval aviator killed in the line of duty and co-author of Military Widow: A Survival Guide. "My goal was to offer the Marines the most current information on traumatic loss and equip them with additional skills to help them continue to provide the highest quality of assistance to families coping with the complexities of military loss."

The presentation is just one of many that Steen has provided to Service members, including National Guard, Reserve, active-duty Army units and many other military organizations since collaborating with TriWest in July 2007. The first-of-its-kind partnership is one of many behavioral health initiatives developed by TriWest to support the ongoing needs of the military community.

"Partnering with Steen demonstrated TriWest's deep and ongoing commitment to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "This has enabled us to expand the scope of our support of these families, who will continue to suffer from their losses long after the war is over."

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