Latino Military Families: Current Issues & Implications for Clinical Work

Andrew Behnke, PhD is an Associate Professor of human development at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Andrew is bilingual and has focused his work on serving the Latino community since 1996. He developed the “Juntos” program along with Cintia Aguilar in 2007 and has grown it to serve thousands of Latino families across the U.S., and received over $12 million in grants for this work. 

Additionally Andrew, has also worked with military families since 2002, developing programs and best practice strategies for meeting the needs of military families. He worked with colleagues to create the Essential Life Skills for Military Families program which has served thousands of military members and their spouses. His life mission is bringing better attention to those factors that help families succeed and thrive in the U.S.

Xiomara A. Sosa is a United States military veteran (Army and Air Force Reserve) and a clinical mental health – forensic counselor, a nonprofit executive, and a social change advocate. She is the Executive Creator and Co-partner of the National Hispanic Veterans Advocacy Network (NHVAN). NHVAN’s mission is to provide culturally competent advocacy for the health and human services needs of U.S. Hispanic military veterans. NHVAN’s vision is to create a well-established, organized, active, and strongly connected community of Hispanic veterans by improving communication and advocacy for their health and human services needs that is culturally appropriate.

Xiomara is also the Founder and Principal of XAS Consulting, LLC (XAS), an integrative mental healthcare and holistic wellness private practice consulting firm that integrates the role of mental healthcare and holistic wellness efforts in providing culturally competent services to all communities but especially to the Hispanic, veteran, and sexual and gender minority (LGBTQQIA) communities.

Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a sought-after speaker for her thoughts on Entrepreneurship, Leadership in global, corporate organizations and Personal Branding for Military Veterans. She is the author of several books, including one inspired by her aviation service. Four-time award-winning Good Night Captain Mama/Buenas Noches Capitán Mamá, the first bilingual children’s book in a series about military mommies, recently won 1st Place honors in the picture book category, Writers Digest Magazine national competition among indie publishers. The International Latino Book Awards named it “Best Educational Children’s Book – Bilingual.”   

In March 2014, The White House recognized Graciela as a Champion of Change, Woman Veteran Leader for creating a unique SBA-certified woman-owned small business, California’s multicultural publishing and communications firm, Gracefully Global Group, LLC. Her work as cofounder of the National Women Veterans Speakers Bureau to amplify the voices of America’s published women veterans and advocacy through literature to raise educational expectations of Latino students were also cited.

Graciela completed both the Aerospace Studies program (as an AFROTC scholarship cadet) and her undergraduate degree in environmental design at U.C. Berkeley. She earned her Master Degree in International Management from the School of Global Commerce at Whitworth University in Spokane while on active duty. Graciela was honored by LATINA Style Magazine as the 2010 “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Washington D.C. In November 2014, she was honored by the Business and Professional Women's Foundation with the National Business Women's Week Award.

Cover photo image: E.Arambulo 2015

This presentation is not endorsed by the Department of Defense and the information, as well as any opinions or views, contained herein are solely that of the presenter.