CCC 28-1

FROM THE PRESIDENT

At the AACC, we hear these stories every day. Counselors, pastors, and ministry leaders come to us seeking help and resources, wanting to know how to competently and compassionately care for the men and women who have served. The pain is real, and the need is great. These are heroes, but they are also human. They need our help, our care, and our compassion. For me, this work is also personal. My dad, James E. Clinton, was a pastor and a World War II veteran. That is why the Helping Our Heroes FLOURISH Campaign is so close to my heart. At our recent “UNITED” AACC World Conference in Nashville, we stood together to launch this new partnership between the AACC, LUKE Staffing, and LOGOS. My good friends, Chad Robichaux, founder of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, and John Sanders, CEO of LUKE Staffing, joined me in announcing what we are call ing the Human Flourishing Alliance. This is not another short-term program. It is a national movement to ensure our heroes and their families receive the help they deserve and the care that meets the needs of the mind, body, and spirit. The Need is Real The statistics are sobering. On average, 17.6 veterans take their own lives every day, according to a National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. 1 A 2023 Annual Report on Suicide in the Military found that 523 service members died by suicide. 2 And a Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders reported that death by suicide is more likely than dying in the line of duty among police officers and fire fighters. 3 Behind every one of those numbers is a face, a name, and a story that matters deeply to God. These are not just statistics. These are people who stood watch for us, and now it is time for us to stand for them. Why Human Flourishing Matters The Human Flourishing Alliance exists to restore lives and create real pathways to wellness for those who serve and sacrifice for our country. It is built on the belief that true healing extends beyond mental health. It reaches into the heart, the home, and the soul. We aim to help people find hope again, rebuild strong families, and rediscover purpose through faith. The Alliance brings together churches, service organizations, and com munity partners to offer care that is both clinically sound and biblically anchored. Faith-informed care changes outcomes. Research conducted through the Human Flourishing Program (https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/global-flour ishing-study) at Harvard University and Baylor University reveals that individuals who are connected to faith and community tend to live longer, recover more quickly, and experience lower rates of suicide and depres sion. The Church has always been the first place people go when they are in trouble. It is time for us to equip the Church to respond with excellence and compassion. Partners with Purpose I am so grateful for the team at LUKE Staffing, who has spent more than 20 years working alongside the federal government to care for those who protect our nation. Their heart for service runs deep. And I am equally thankful for LOGOS, which is providing the technology and operational backbone that will allow this movement to grow and reach communities across the country. When professional care, ministry, and community sup port come together, lives change. This partnership is a testament to what can happen when God’s people unite around a shared mission.

This is not another short-term program. It is a national movement to ensure our heroes and their families receive the help they deserve and the care that meets the needs of the mind, body, and spirit.

Christian Counseling Connection 11