A strategy for reintegrating families of returning veterans

The vivid drawing of men in combat told the story the 6-year-old boy couldn’t bring himself to tell: of a father in a distant war zone, far from family, alone, and afraid. It was the fear that the crayons brought instantly to life—a fear so palpable that it could be felt continents away.

“We don’t know if the battle scene really took place,” says Dr. Ted Rubenstein. “But in the child’s mind, it was real enough. And putting it on paper helped him express what he was feeling.”

A Chicago School clinical psychology professor with a practice in creative arts therapy, Dr. Rubenstein is the architect of a project designed to address the mental health needs of children whose parents have recently returned from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. He worked closely with a team from TCS’ Office of Community Partnerships, the Illinois National Guard, and the Michael Reese Health Trust to design activities that could support statewide family-reintegration efforts being undertaken by the Illinois National Guard. The Yellow Ribbon Project, as it is called by TCS students who devote their weekends to painting and singing with children, is funded by the Health Trust and an anonymous co-donor.

Thirty-six students representing several TCS departments participate weekly through community service, research, clerkship, and volunteer opportunities in 18 small-to-midsize Illinois towns. They work with small groups of children ages 3 to 15, while their parents—both veterans and spouses—receive their own specialized services nearby. The project is expected to serve a total of 1,500 children in the next few months.

“The readjustment process is a difficult one,” says Dr. Rubenstein, who compares the challenges facing the family of a returning soldier to a canoe that has been overturned.

“You have to adjust and start rowing again when you get the boat right-side up, but when the person who went overboard climbs back on, the boat is upset again. Everyone in the boat has to work together to get the canoe moving smoothly again.”

Because children often have difficulty putting their feelings into words, student volunteers use the creative arts—painting, drawing, music, and drama—to elicit the anger and fear that often preoccupies them. The goal is to help participants cope with stress, anxiety, and depression, and to build empathy and feelings of empowerment.

“They don’t want to talk, but when given the opportunity to tell their story in a different way, they open up,” Dr. Rubenstein says. “Often others in the room—including soldiers who are functioning as security guards—are drawn into their stories.”

Our goal is that one week from now, or one month from now, there will be a family at the dinner table and a child will be able to say to his mom or dad, ‘While you were away, I missed you and I was scared and I was mad that you left’.

Although each child attends only one or two sessions with TCS students, follow-up takes place with the help of a book that parents receive, offering suggestions on communication and readjustment strategies to use with their children. The hope is that parents will continue the conversations initiated during creative arts therapy sessions and build healthy communication skills in their children.

“Our goal is that one week from now, or one month from now, there will be a family at the dinner table and a child will be able to say to his mom or dad, ‘While you were away, I missed you and I was scared and I was mad that you left’,” Dr. Rubenstein says.

Continuing its long-term commitment to filling service gaps and meeting community needs, The Chicago School hopes to build on the relationship created with the Michael Reese Health Trust and the Illinois National Guard to provide ongoing mental health services for both veterans and active-duty soldiers and their families.