New coordinator for Hanscom

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Fresh faces are common when referring to the military lifestyle and Hanscom recently welcomed a new face into their community. Terrie Jordan, the new special needs coordinator at the 66th Medical Squadron, brings a breadth of experience to the servicemembers and families requiring extra medical or educational needs here.

Jordan is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social worker who has taken on a variety of roles throughout the years. Some of those include working with special needs adults in a residential program and as a transitional housing program support staff member for homeless veterans. Most recently she worked with servicemembers and their families as a care coordinator with the Deployment Cycle Support Program for the New Hampshire National Guard.

When a family is inbound to Hanscom, Jordan is responsible for ensuring the Hanscom clinic, or an alternate provider within 40 miles, can meet their medical, psychiatric and educational needs.

"We are working with families that have critical medical or educational needs and it just makes good sense to be involved in the process so that they are not arriving in a 'strange place' and frantically looking for the appropriate medical and educational services," she said. "We want to avoid gaps in treatment, ensure smooth transitions and provide a sense of stability - so servicemembers know that anything their spouse or child needs is there when they arrive."

Although this is Jordan's first time working on a military base, she has always been interested in the military culture and the unique needs and difficulties that military families face each day.

While part of the job involves working with families PCSing to Hanscom, Jordan also has an important role in the process for outbound families. She conducts medical records reviews for all traveling family members to screen and ensure all needs are met or are identified, if they haven't been before then. She then sits down with those family members during a mandatory interview to conduct a further review.

While many of the cases are Air Force, Jordan also provides the same services and commitment to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps active duty families that are seen at Hanscom.

Settling in to a new job can be a challenge but Jordan is tackling any obstacles with an open mind and positive attitude.

"One of my current challenges is learning a new position during the busiest PCS season and trying to learn all the Air Force and military forms, acronyms, requirements for sponsors, my position and all the position requirements," she said.

The work can also be difficult when Jordan has to discuss with families that they have been denied travel. This can happen when a gaining assignment cannot support the incoming family's medical or educational needs.

"It can be a very emotional and disappointing time and that information can be met with a number of mixed emotions," she explained.

For now, she is concentrating on learning the ins and outs of her new job and enjoying getting to know the people of Hanscom.

"I really am enjoying a number of things about this position," Jordan said. "Every day is a learning experience and I embrace any challenge or obstacle that may arise."