HealthPOWER! Prevention News (Fall 2011)—National TEE Tournament 

Disabled Veterans Get Healthy and Active at National TEE Tournament

When over 250 visually impaired and disabled Veterans traveled from over 30 states to Iowa to participate in the National Veterans TEE (Training, Exposure, and Experience) Tournament in September, VISN 23's HPDP prevention team was there to spread the word...and the sunscreen.

"The TEE Tournament provided us a great venue to reach out to Veterans and their caregivers one-on-one with the Healthy Living Messages," said Iowa City VAMC HPDP Program Manager and Veterans Health Education Coordinator (VHEC) Jennifer Gonzalez. "And we made the HPDP topics practical by distributing healthy living kits for use right there at tournament events."

HPDP staff members, including program managers Laurie Ness (Sioux Falls VAMC), Patty Davis (Des Moines VAMC) and HBC Dr. Julie Rosebrook (Iowa City), handed out health promotion materials, counseled attendees, and provided on-site preventive services at tournament checkin, an HPDP booth, and selected outdoor TEE activities.

Sponsored by VA, hosted by the Iowa City VAMC, and supported by 375 volunteers and a variety of corporate sponsors, the Tournament offered disabled Veterans an opportunity to improve their confidence through adaptive recreational activities that promote rehabilitation, friendship, and camaraderie. This year, Veterans golfed, bowled, kayaked, and rode horses at sites in the Iowa City environs and learned that having a visual or physical disability is not an obstacle to being physically active.

"This event was another great example of how VHA clinicians are actively using new skills like MI to take HPDP messages directly to Veterans," said Gonzalez. "We got great feedback from attendees and organizers alike, and we'll be back next year to provide Veterans with the guidance and tools to live a healthier life."

HPDP Program Manager Patty Davis provides a Veteran
with a healthy living kit

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