Invisible No More: Substance Use Disorders Among Women Veterans - December 2, 2026
Includes a Live Web Event on 12/02/2026 at 12:00 PM (EST)
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- Learners - $25
A 1-Hour Training with Sheena Bice, DMSc, LCMHC & Casey Lancaster
Virtual via Zoom | 12pm-1pm
Content level: Intermediate
Presentation: This presentation explores the unique challenges women Veterans face regarding substance use disorders, mental health, and access to appropriate treatment. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how military culture, military sexual trauma, PTSD, and other service-related experiences contribute to substance use and create barriers to seeking care. The session examines how traditional treatment models often overlook the specific needs of women Veterans and emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed, Veteran-centered approaches. Through practical strategies involving early identification, harm reduction, peer support, and community collaboration, attendees will learn how to improve engagement, reduce stigma, and strengthen access to effective treatment and recovery services for women Veterans.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Identify population-specific risk factors for SUD among women veterans;
- Apply trauma-informed, veteran-centered engagement strategies; and
- Describe community-level interventions to improve access and outcomes in NH.
Break Information: This training does not include a break.
1 Contact Hour Available
CRSW Performance Domains: 1 & 4
LADC/MLADC Categories of Competence: 3-7 & 11-18
Certified Prevention Specialist Domains: 3-6
NBCC: LICSW/L-MFT/LCMHC (Category A) & Psychologist (Category A)
NH Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No 6754. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NHADACA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
This course has been approved by New Hampshire Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association (NHADACA), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #23792, NHADACA is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
This training is financed under a contract with the State of NH, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of NH and/or such funding sources as were available or required, e.g., the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Sheena Bice, DMSc, MLADC, CCTP
Head of Veteran and First Responder Services
Forge VFR
Sheena Bice, DMSc, LCMHC, MLADC, CCTP, served in the United States Marine Corps and has strong family ties to the military, medical, and law enforcement communities. She has over 15 years of experience providing mental health and addiction treatment to Service Members, First Responders, and their families.
Sheena holds a Doctorate of Medical Science from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from New England College. She is the Head of Veteran and First Responder Services for Forge VFR, heads the New Hampshire Women Veterans Coalition, and is the owner of Shield and Compass Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, a private practice dedicated to serving Veterans and First Responders.
Her career spans community mental health, crisis intervention, corrections, private practice, and managed care. She has developed gender-specific wellness programs for female offenders, led utilization management for specialty psychiatric care, and secured a first-of-its-kind VA contract to expand Veterans’ access to mental health treatment outside of the VA system. Sheena has also served on national and state committees. She remains committed to increasing access to care, reducing stigma, and shaping policy initiatives to improve the mental health and wellness of those who serve.
Casey Lancaster
Programs and Initiates Specialist
Forge VFR
Casey Lancaster is a distinguished former United States Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officer with a proven track record in leadership, advocacy, and service. During his tenure with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, he served as a Machine Gunner, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2010. He concluded his military career in 2012 as a Combat Instructor at Quantico’s Infantry Officer Course, where he played a pivotal role in training and mentoring future leaders of the Marine Corps. In addition to his military accomplishments, Mr. Lancaster’s personal experiences with PTSD and survivor’s guilt have fueled a deep commitment to advancing mental health support for veterans and first responders. His advocacy efforts are grounded in a firsthand understanding of the unique challenges these individuals face.
Currently, Mr. Lancaster serves in a leadership role at Forge Health, where he utilizes his expertise to drive strategic initiatives aimed at improving access to care and the effectiveness of mental health services. He is committed to making a lasting impact in the lives of those who serve and protect our communities.
Mr. Lancaster has been a featured speaker at numerous wellness events and engagements, and in 2023, he delivered impactful testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, addressing the ongoing challenges veterans encounter in navigating the VA system. His advocacy continues to inspire and drive meaningful change in mental health care for those who have served.