VFW Honors Family Service of RI Therapist

Family Service of Rhode Island’s Jeanne Sherman, MEd, CAGS, LMHC, has been selected to receive the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Community Service Award during ceremonies May 28 in Warwick.

Ms. Sherman, of Warwick, is an Army veteran and former sergeant who provides therapy for military and veteran families through Family Service of Rhode Island’s Children’s Treatment and Recovery Center.  The center is funded by a federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services grant through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.  Family Service of Rhode Island is the network’s regional site.

In addition, Ms. Sherman has led a community drive to collect personal care items for needy veterans and has been a featured speaker at a conference on adapting Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for military children and adolescents.  In March she participated in the first “Regional Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Event,” leading a workshop entitled “Understanding the Impact of Deployment,” which covered pre-deployment, sustainment, post-deployment and possible re-deployment,  and their effects on family members.

She is one of only four therapists in Rhode Island nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

 “Jeanne embodies the continuing commitment to service of our veterans,” said John Cesana, VFW state commander.  “Her work at Family Service of RI providing therapy for military children is greatly needed and appreciated, as are all of her commitments to helping the men and women serving our nation in the military.”

An awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 28, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 2081 Post Road, in Warwick.

“Congratulations to Jeanne and thank you for your service in the military and for your work caring for military and veteran families in Rhode Island,” said Margaret Holland McDuff, CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island.

“Jeanne has raised the bar in developing partnerships to serve our military and veteran families,” said Susan Erstling, Ph.D., Family Service of Rhode Island senior vice president who oversees the agency’s child trauma work.

Family Service of Rhode Island is a statewide non-profit human service and education organization.  More information is available at www.familyserviceri.org.