SWK X006 - Serving Those Who Served: Veteran Informed Care
Veterans face unique challenges in mental health and substance use care due to their military experiences, cultural values and service-related exposures. This training provides social workers with foundational knowledge to enhance their effectiveness when working with this population. Participants will explore the cultural dimensions of military service, key engagement strategies and special considerations, such as higher rates of suicide, trauma and substance use among Veterans. Through a blend of lecture, case discussions and interactive exercises, attendees will gain practical skills to build rapport, assess risk and implement evidence-based approaches tailored to Veterans’ needs. Special attention will be given to trauma-informed care, strengths-based engagement and Veteran-specific resources. At the conclusion of this training, participants will obtain a deeper understanding of military culture and actionable tools to improve their clinical work with Veterans.
Delivery Options
This training is constructed as a non-interactive, video-based asynchronous distance learning training.
Time to Completion
Total Asynchronous Time is approximately 2.75 hours.
Training Completion Requirements
- Participants must submit a pre-training survey, complete all coursework requirements, and pass the training post-test with a score of at least 80%. Unlimited attempts are allowed.
- The post-training evaluation survey will be immediately available once the required coursework and post-test are finished, and the evaluation must be completed to receive CE credit.
Technology Requirements
- Reliable internet connection
- Modern web browser (Google Chrome or Firefox recommended)
What You'll Learn
After completing this training, participants will be able to...
- Describe key aspects of military and Veteran culture that impact mental health and substance use treatment.
- Analyze the unique engagement challenges and risk factors affecting Veterans, including suicide, trauma and substance use.
- Apply practical, evidence-based skills to improve therapeutic rapport and intervention effectiveness when working with Veterans.
What You'll Earn
Social workers completing this training will receive 2.75 cultural competence continuing education clock hours under ACE.
This training is approved for 2.75 CE clock hours for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, as well as substance use counselors in domain C2 - counseling procedures and strategies as applied to those with substance use disorder in the state of Ohio.
Additional Information
Development Date: March 2025
Target Audience: 988 crisis call line staff and other human services professionals
Content Level: Beginner
Training Outline
- Understanding military & Veteran culture (values, identity, transition challenges) and key engagement considerations (building trust, overcoming barriers)
- Special attention areas (suicide risk, trauma, substance use)
- Practical skills & evidence-based interventions (risk assessment, trauma-informed approaches)
Presenter
Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS
Community Lecturer, The Ohio State University College of Social Work
Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, has been a social worker in mental health and substance use for 20 years, focusing on advancing evidence-based practices. He is accomplished in Motivational Interviewing (MI), clinical settings, teaching and research, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in the national MI VA program. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, Portner has extensive expertise in the core components of MI, fidelity assessment and effective delivery methods. Portner is also a certified trainer and provider of Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), a treatment targeting emotional overcontrol. Since 2014, he has practiced and taught RO-DBT, specializing in its application to complex, treatment-resistant cases. For over a decade, Portner has been a community lecturer at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. His professional interests include the intersection of culture and mental health, social signaling and innovative approaches to challenging conditions. Outside of work, Portner enjoys time with his wife, a fellow social worker, and their two children. He is dedicated to fostering connection and understanding, balancing leadership and mentoring with his passion for supporting the next generation of social workers.
Continuing Education Approvals
The Ohio State University College of Social Work provides approvals for continuing education for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists that are accepted by the state of Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.
The Ohio State University College of Social Work has been approved by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDP) Board as a provider of Continuing Education, approval number: 50-24068.
The Ohio State University College of Social Work, (Provider: 1628), is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Ohio State University College of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 4/30/25-4/30/28. Social workers completing this course will receive 2.75 cultural competence continuing education credits.
Certificates & CE Reporting
CE certificates will be available for download in your learner portal within 1 business day after submitting the evaluation survey.
Hours for those with Ohio licenses that are submitted with the evaluation survey will be reported to CE Broker every 14 days (twice per month).
⚠️ Note: You may only complete this training once for CE credit. You may revisit the content, but only one certificate will be issued and credit will only be reported to CE Broker one time.
Cancellations, Refunds, Grievances, Accessibility Requests & Learning
Please visit the Policies section of our website for more information on our processes for cancellations, refunds, grievances, training completions & certificates, participant conduct, and accessibility requests and learning accommodations.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require an accommodation to participate in this training, please contact CSW Accessibility as early as possible and in advance of the training start date by email at csw-accessibility@osu.edu or call 614-688-1657. Requests received at least 14-days prior to the date you plan to begin a training will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the College will make every effort to meet requests that we receive regardless of lead time.
Contact Us
For questions about the enrollment process, payment options, technology, or training records, please submit an inquiry and our Enrollment Support team will assist you within 24 hours during business days.
If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about the training content or delivery format, please contact the CSW Office of Continuing Education at cswce@osu.edu. For questions related to the training content, our office will facilitate communication with the training instructor on your behalf and connect you, if applicable. Presenter contact information will be provided within the training for questions, feedback, or comments.
The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, 302 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210.
Phone: (614) 292-3032
Email: cswce@osu.edu
Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/