Endeavors Cohen Clinic Remains El Paso Strong In 2020
Last Updated: 27 Oct 2020

2020 has been anything but expected, leaving many of us facing various challenges due to unexpected circumstances.

“This COVID-19 experience is happening to all of us,” shared Dr. Jill Palmer, Senior Director of Clinic Operations at Endeavors. “We are all experiencing difficulties, stressors, worries, and concerns.”

Many have taken on a variety of roles. From parents/guardians to full-time teachers to employees working from home, the list goes on and on. While all of this can be quite taxing, it’s essential to remember that one’s mental health cannot be put on hold during this time.

“For a lot of us, anxiety can build for the new day ahead as we’re navigating through virtual business meetings, answering emails, making sure breakfast and lunch are prepared and finished promptly, having to quickly address your crying child coming into your office space because they got kicked off the internet for the fifth time, and so much more,” states El Paso Cohen Clinic Director, Jeanette James, LPC, NCC.

James went on to say, “we are expected to have endless amounts of energy now more than ever, yet at times we have less to give because we are not able to fill ourselves back up from giving so much.  This is why being able to attain high-quality mental health care needs to be a priority. We must take care of ourselves to take care of one another.”

Here are some tips to help you along the way:

• Balance Your Schedule. Create a visual calendar of your day.  This allows you to see how your day is truly broken down and where you can make adjustments.  
• Strengthen Quality Time. Try activities that stimulate your household (e.g., have a karaoke night in the living room, do arts and crafts, water the lawn together, have a water balloon fight on hot days, read a book together, color together, exercise together).
• Organize Daily Meals. Find recipes that are quick, easy, delicious, and healthy to make.  If everyone participates in the process, meals will be done faster and there will be more quality time to enjoy together.

ADAPTING TO SERVE THOSE WHO SERVED

Our goal at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, El Paso, is to make high-quality mental health care easily accessible to Veterans and military families, including those from the National Guard and Reserves, regardless of role or discharge status.

As pandemic concerns have evolved, our Cohen Clinic team has quickly transitioned to confidential face-to-face video therapy via Telehealth to ensure our Veterans and military families could receive the care they need and deserve.  Across the Cohen Veterans Network, the clinics have delivered more than 40,000 telehealth sessions throughout 2020.  These virtual services continue today, with no loss in quality.

“Recently, a client expressed that they have been pleased with the professionalism, timeliness, and courtesy of our Cohen Clinic staff,” Clinic Director Jeanette James reflected. “They feel that their clinician is a perfect fit for their needs and they couldn’t be happier.”

IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY ONE DAY AT A TIME

Our Cohen Clinic staff truly value community partnerships and the long-lasting impact they are making in El Paso and surrounding areas. Continuing to stay active in the community while abiding by COVID-19 safety protocols has been a learning experience for our team, but we are determined to continue serving Veterans and military families. 

Throughout the pandemic, our staff has hosted virtual events, participated in the Travis Manion Foundation’s 9/11 Heroes Run and 5th Annual NAMI Walk, 5th Annual El Paso Giving Day, and contributed to numerous virtual community meetings and events, including media interviews to raise awareness about the challenges many are facing and how we can help those in need.

With National Family Caregivers Month and National Military Family Month around the corner, our team is looking forward to collaborating with the El Paso VA and multiple partner organizations during the Veteran Caregiver Drive-Thru Resource Fair.  *This event was scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 14 from 10 am-12 pm (MT) at the El Paso Cohen Clinic, however, due to current COVID-19 restrictions, it has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

WE REMAIN HERE FOR YOU

As we continue toward the end of 2020, our El Paso Cohen Clinic remains here for you.  If you’d like more information regarding Telehealth, case management, medication management, and other services, please contact our team at [email protected] or 915-320-1390 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for upcoming virtual event info.

About Endeavors

Endeavors, a San Antonio based nonprofit, is a longstanding national nonprofit agency that provides various programs and services supporting children, families, Veterans, and those struggling with mental illness, disabilities, disasters, or emergencies. Endeavors has served vulnerable people in need since 1969 through personalized services. For more information, please visit www.endeavors.org.

About Cohen Veterans Network

Cohen Veterans Network is a 501(c)(3) national not for profit philanthropic network of mental health clinics for post-9/11 veterans and their families. CVN focuses on improving mental health outcomes, via a network of outpatient mental health clinics for veterans and their families in high-need communities, in which trained clinicians deliver holistic evidence-based care to treat mental health conditions. The network currently has 19 clinics in operation serving veterans and their families across the country. Learn more about Cohen Veterans Network.