It is the inner conflict or loss a person feels when they are a witness to, a participant in, or the target of any event that violated their moral values. Events can include:
-Killing in combat,
-Sexual assault,
-Hazing and Harassment,
-Witnessing abuse and not being able to stop it, etc.
Research shows that not all female service members get the support they need. Dr. Roberts conducted in-depth interviews with 10 women who were wounded during overseas assignments and found that only three of them received effective chaplain support.
How We Can Help
A follow-up study with 15 male chaplains from Christian and non-Christian denominations showed that many of them lacked counseling training and knowledge about problems women in the military face.
Through extensive research and practice, we have developed theories, models, and practices for providing pastoral care to women service members. We will provide seminars and workshops to help chaplains and organizations grow in their ability to provide care to those who guard our country. MISNS can also help schools and professors develop curriculum and case studies.
MISNS will work with organizations to develop and execute research projects that will add to the base of knowledge related to military chaplaincy, pastoral support, moral injury, and similar topics of interest. Our research team has extensive experience in a variety of subjects and methodologies Some of these include both quantitative and qualitative metrics and the Delphi case study. Our prices are dependent upon the type of project but are competitive and often offered at a discount.
Our Goal
MISNS’ research focus is on military moral injury and pastoral support to female service members. Women are an underserved population when it comes to spiritual leadership and support. By conducting studies with women veterans as the primary population, MISNS is able to develop theories and practices that will enhance the lives of women in the military.
As an educational and training organization, Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. helps men and women in the chaplaincy hone their skills as religious professionals and care providers. Since collaborative and wholistic approaches are needed to help veterans experience post-traumatic growth, MISNS also provides continuing education to social workers, psychologists, nurses and medical professionals of governmental and community health organizations. MISNS’ training inventory includes conferences, case studies, keynote speeches, class curriculum, and other products.
Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. helps pastors and chaplains understand how to better provide care to women who have experienced harassment, assault, and suppression. MISNS is an advocate for equality in religious leadership and support. Approximately half of the denominations in the U.S. ordain women, but only about 10% of churches are led by a woman. Also, many ministers take a male-centered approach to spiritual care, which does not always work for women who generally have a very different experience with the world than men. We found that Women view God differently than men which indicates that their life experiences require a nuanced approach to pastoral care and support.
Studies
“Exploring Military Moral Injury Among Service Members’ Partners” is one of our most important studies. The goal of the project is to explore the phenomenon of secondary moral injury. This includes injury among partners of military service members with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, this study will lay the groundwork for future projects aimed at addressing moral injury within military families.
Partnerships
We are looking for research partners, organizations that provide support to military personnel, veterans, and their families. We believe these organizations, who have invested time, money and energy into the veteran community, are in the best position to help us design, recruit, and conduct the research study. If you belong to one of those organizations, visit our partner page for more information: Partner Page.
To make a tax-deductible donation to this important research, follow this link: https://bit.ly/ResearchDonation.
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