This one-day conference will convene elected officials, public and private agency leaders, health-care professionals, members of the armed services, veterans, and concerned civilians to work toward the following goals:

• Create visibility for the linkage of mental and physical disabilities like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and serious burns with failed intimate relationships that contribute to higher suicide rates, divorce and other problems
• Strengthen specific initiatives around intimate relationships for persons with combat-related disabilities
• Develop and expand enduring networks of people to serve these populations

This conference is your opportunity to contribute to a national dialogue on how U.S. agencies, health-care providers and communities can help wounded troops and their partners develop and maintain healthy intimate relationships.

You will hear first-person experiences and receive briefings from experts on:

• How healthy intimate relationships contribute to recovery from physical and mental trauma
• How lack of a satisfying intimate relationship contributes to ongoing mental health problems and suicide
• The special challenges and concerns of wounded women warriors
• How intimate relationships help wounded spirits heal
• The specific sexual health concerns of troops with disabilities
• How addressing sexual health concerns strengthens marriages and other committed relationships

When
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Where
Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Barbara Jordan Conference Center
1330 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

For more information, contact Dr. Mitchell Tepper at mtepper@msm.edu or (404) 752-1844.