NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A grant from the Baxter International Foundation will help provide assessments, education, and a resource to veterans while teaching veteran family members and first responders how to identify and manage the mental and behavioral health issues faced by many veterans. The one-year more than $50,000 grant to ARVets will fund the Bridge to Care program that delivers mental health care coordination to veterans and their families living in northern Arkansas.
''ARVets greatly appreciates Baxter for helping us build our capacity to provide assistance to the men and women who served our great country,'' said Sharon Lanier, Vice President ARVets. ''This innovative program will enable the community to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental crisis while lowering the stigma associated with mental health disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The support of this partnership with Baxter further demonstrates their commitment to empowering our heroes and providing opportunities that improve their quality of life.''
The Bridge to Care program will include resources for veterans to develop formal relationships with community-based health providers; provide mental health first aid training sessions for first responders and offer care coordination to connect veterans with local providers to address behavioral health treatment.
''Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation are committed to increasing access to care in communities where Baxter employees live and work,'' said Stacey Eisen, president of the Baxter International Foundation and vice president, global communications at Baxter and. ''By helping veterans access mental health services, we not only honor this commitment but also the dedication of those who have served our country.''
Trainings will focus on individuals who come into frequent contact with veterans, such as first responders, and will be a supplemental form of support for veterans dealing with behavioral health challenges, many of whom do not currently seek behavioral healthcare services from professionals.
About ARVets
The mission of ARVets is to enhance the overall quality of life for military personnel, veterans and their families by improving access to resources and strengthening support systems through all phases of the military life cycle. ARVets will proactively offer more innovative ideas and methods to deliver services and focus on a grassroots case-management approach.
About Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation
Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation are committed to saving and sustaining lives and creating healthier communities. Every day, Baxter employees strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who depend on Baxter products, and in the communities where employees live and work. The company focuses on three core areas including improving access to healthcare; fostering tomorrow’s innovation and serving its communities. Baxter works closely with public and private partners around the world to ensure people have access to the healthcare they need, to develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing care, and to create long-lasting impact in Baxter’s communities. The Baxter International Foundation supports initiatives and organizations that make a positive, lasting impact on increasing access to healthcare for the disadvantaged and underserved.
About Baxter in Arkansas
In Arkansas, Baxter has been a part of the Mountain Home community for more than 50 years. Since 1964, the 550,000- square-foot facility, one of Baxter’s largest plastics and device manufacturing plants, has produced high-quality disposable medical products that serve the essential healthcare needs of patients in the U.S. and beyond.