Missile Ranger Social Services Programs expand at McAfee clinic

The programs provided by the Social Services Office at McAfee U.S. Army Medical Clinic are expanding with the recent addition of a Public Health Service Clinical Social Worker.

Lt. Mark Williams, the new Chief of Social Work and Social Services at WSMR’s clinic, has degrees in Social Work and Family Therapy and was previously the director of the Ben Archer Health Center in Las Cruces while teaching part-time at New Mexico State University in the subject of Marriage and Family Counseling.

According to Williams, the Department of Defense and Public Health Service signed an initiative last May to allocate PHS resources to augment the medical staffs with the Department of Defense. “Previously we had served with the U.S. Coast Guard and had independently served with the Army and Air Force with a provider here or there,” said Williams, “but nothing at the level of this new initiative.”

Since his arrival near the end of September, Williams has been working to reinvigorate several social service activities that fall under him. “Other military posts have the Family Advocacy system, the social work system, mental health, and the ASAP (alcohol and substance abuse program) and all those are run by different offices. But here at our facilities all of those programs are run out of this office.

Williams calls it “operationalizing” the office. “I had to move this office from a kind of small town system to a New York City (system),” he said. “Because of the influx of Soldiers and their families, I had to change the structure and the running of this office to expand the services so we better meet the needs of the population.

One of the projects he will implement will assist WSMR school children. Williams says he will consult with the schools to have a therapist from his office make regular visits to the school to save children who are receiving therapy from losing school time by traveling to the clinic.

Williams also worked to establish an Alcoholics Anonymous organization on post to assist those who need it. Previously, AA was only available in the local civilian communities. Williams also serves as WSMR’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor and is licensed in that area.

Another area Williams sees expanding is the availability of group therapy. “My goal here is to get groups going because you need groups; different groups like anger management, women’s groups - social development groups for children. You need those things to be in place,” he said.

At the same time he is seeking to expand the work done out of his office, Williams is growing his staff. One part time office administrator is changing into a full time position and an additional clinical therapist will begin working at WSMR in January.

As a member of the Public Health Service, Williams wears a uniform similar to that of a naval officer. In fact, his rank is the same as that of a Navy lieutenant, the equivalent of an Army captain. He says he is glad to be working with the Army.

“We’ve had tremendous support (from the community),” Williams said. “I’ve had a great welcoming from the Commanding General, Brig. Gen. David Mann and (Garrison Commander) Col. Gary Giebel and Lt. Col. Clint Schreckhise, who runs the clinic here.

They have worked very close to really motivate and helping get this program going in the right direction.” Williams said he also receives continuous support from William Beaumont U.S. Army Medical Center.

The WSMR medical clinic commander is glad to have Williams’ expertise on hand. “It is great to have the opportunity to have a Public Health Service Mental Health Provider join our team to deliver the necessary care for the Soldiers needs at White Sands Missile Range,” said Lt. Col. Clint Schreckhise. “Lt. Williams brings with him a wealth of experience and great energy to support the Soldiers and we are happy to have him here.”

Williams says his overall goal is to have a comprehensive care system so everyone who needs social services gets help. “I’ve been doing a lot of community outreach and coordination with the other units on the base, so they have an awareness of what is here,” he said.

Williams said his office will provide general social work services and general counseling such as relationship or marriage counseling, simply by calling his office at 678-4992.

The Social Services office also implements several command driven programs such as the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program and the Family Advocacy Program.

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