Operation Outreach
Operation Outreach is an effort to help veterans and their families navigate the difficulties and challenges of living with Post-traumatic epilepsy, post-traumatic stress, and seizures in the unique environment of the military and post-military community. Veterans of all services and eras are welcome here.
Operation Outreach, a signature program of the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana, reaches out to veterans across the Commonwealth of Kentucky as an advocate to ensure both physical and mental health. Operation Outreach is made possible with a state funded grant from the Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs (KDVA). We are concerned about veterans who have sustained traumatic brain injuries and/or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans who have suffered a TBI are at risk for developing a debilitating and potentially life-threatening medical condition called post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) and veterans who develop PTSD are at risk for developing psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).
The primary function of Operation Outreach is to raise awareness of PTE and PNES and to provide support services to returning veterans, their families, and the greater community by providing advocacy, education, prevention, outreach, and support services. We raise awareness and educate the individual service member or veteran through static displays at health fairs, job fairs, and social media. We also raise awareness and educate mental health clinicians who serve our service members and veterans. Through no fault of their own, mental health clinicians may be unaware of the symptoms of seizures and often mistake a seizure for a mental health issue.
Follow and Like Operation Outreach on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram. If you or any service member/veteran you know are in need of assistance, do not hesitate to contact the Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Donald Bow, USN, MCPO (Ret) at (502) 907-1536 or (502) 637- 4440 Ext. 17.
Operation Outreach believes the United States owes a debt of service and gratitude to our veterans and their families, and we take that seriously. Regardless of whether you need or use our services, please know that we thank you for your service and sacrifices!
Training Opportunities
Veterans and Epilepsy: Better Treatment Begins with Knowledge
If you are serious about understanding how epilepsy and seizure disorders affect America's veterans and how mental health clinicians can better serve the veteran population, the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana's TRAINING IS FOR YOU. Click below to learn more about the available training programs offered.
TRAINING CAN BE ACCOMMODATED FOR ORGANIZATION AVAILABILITY.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Epilepsy Resources
Operation Outreach partners with Alex Nauert, the Military Outreach Coordinator at the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky. The resource guide below is a publication of Alex's organization. If you would like to contact Alex, you may do so at alex@biak.us.
biak_military_resource_journal.pdf