What: Seton Hill University’s Social Work Program is Sponsoring its annual Spring Seminar, which is open to Seton Hill students, faculty and staff as well as members of the public. This year’s seminar, “Forever Changed: The Military Journey,” focuses on how social workers, as well as friends and family, can help active military personnel and veterans reintegrate into civilian life.

The event is free to Seton Hill students, staff and faculty. Members of the public can register for a $20 fee. Continuing education credits for social workers are available at no extra cost and a permanent record of attendance is available for a posting fee of $10.

For more information and to register, contact Bernadette Mendish at 724-830-4637 or mendish@setonhill.edu. Participants can also register online.

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 from 9 to 11 a.m. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and refreshments will be available.

Where: Cecilian Hall, Second Floor Administration Building, Seton Hill University’s Hilltop Campus in Greensburg, Pa.

Who: The keynote speaker for the event is filmmaker JulieHera DeStefano, who will discuss the reintegration experiences of women in the military.

DeStefano was embedded, alone, with the Task Force Medical East in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. She spent the next two years traveling across the United States to document the re-integration experiences of the women she met during her time with the unit. She and her team were present for the births, marriages, divorces, custody battles, employment challenges and re-enlistments faced by these female veterans. From these conversations and experiences, she produced and directed the documentary, "Journey to Normal," which will be released later this year. DeStefano will be showing clips from the documentary to illustrate her presentation.

Background: More than 1.3 million men and women serve as active duty military personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. When they return home, many do not feel understood by those around them, beginning with family and friends and extending to employers, teachers and health and service providers.

“Forever Changed: The Military Journey” will explore the recent experiences of veterans, especially women, who have served in combat and what it is like for them to return and readjust to life at home. It will also serve to help bridge the gap in understanding between the military and civilian communities and offer ideas on how to reach veterans before they seek help.