Military Family Support
Information and Resource Websites
MilitaryHOMEFRONT - This is the Department of Defense website for official Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) program information, policy and guidance designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers. (Added 1-27-12)
A compilation of resources from SAMHSA for Military Families (Added 1-5-12)
SAMHSA News—Latest Issue features a discussion of what military patients want civilian providers to know. (Added 12-30-11)
New Mobile Apps Help Users Self-manage Behavior, Diagnose, Assess - This Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) blog post discusses a new genre of smartphone programs specifically designed for troops and health care providers. These apps, developed by the DCoE National Center for Telehealth and Technology address psychological health and TBI. (Added 12-29-11)
VA and HUD report decline in Veteran Homelessness; VA Announces $100 Million to Expand Homeless Prevention Program - The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that a new national report shows homelessness among Veterans has been reduced by nearly 12 percent between January 2010 and January 2011. VA also announced it will make $100 million in grants available to community agencies across the country to prevent nearly 42,000 Veterans and their families from falling into homelessness, or to quickly return them to stable housing. The funds are offered for fiscal year 2012 through VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, a homeless-prevention and rapid re-housing program. (Added 12-29-11)
Working With Your Child's Educators During Deployment - Throughout the deployment cycle, service members and their families experience many changes, including shifting roles and responsibilities as well as new routines. Children may experience stress as a result, but parents and guardians can help them build resilience by actively engaging with their child's educators – including school administrators, counselors, and teachers. During this time of change, the stability and predictability of school can be a source of support for children. (Added 12-29-11)
New Video and Radio PSAs - Leaders play a critical role in building and maintaining psychological health among warriors of all ranks and services. In these public service announcements (PSAs), leaders discuss the importance of psychological strength and resilience for total force fitness. The PSAs are available in 29- and 59-second formats. (Added 12-29-11)
Video Offers 10 Ways for Military Kids to "Let it Out" - This DCoE blog post describes a new music video created by Sesame Workshop to help military children express their feelings about deployed parents, multiple moves, holidays without loved ones, and a whole host of unique emotional issues military families face. The just-launched initiative is a result of ongoing collaboration between DCoE and the nonprofit Sesame Workshop to help military families cope with challenging transitions. (Added 12-28-11)
Helping Families Understand Combat Stress - Welcoming home a loved one from a deployment is an emotional time for service members and their families. Family members hope that their warrior quickly reintegrates to "normal" life, but the stresses associated with combat experience can linger. Traumatic events involving direct combat or non-combat can sometimes lead to behavior changes or even development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (Added 12-28-11)
Resources for Transitioning Back to School - Many members of the National Guard and reserve choose to enroll in a higher education or a vocational program while continuing to serve their country. National Guard members and reservists share a common bond and unique experiences that often differ from the experiences of other students at their school or university. Some individuals may experience challenges adjusting to student life, relating to their fellow classmates, and navigating benefits options. Many of the benefits, resources, and services available to active-duty service members are available to National Guard members and reservists as well. (Added 12-28-11)
Spouse Telephone Support Program Demonstrates Improved Quality of Life -
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is implementing a telephone support program to help the spouses of returning Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, after a pilot telephone support program showed significant reduction in stress for spouses. The spouse telephone support program, which is part of VA's Caregiver Support Program, builds spouses' ability to cope with the challenges that reintegration to civilian society can bring, helps them serve as a pillar of support for returning Veterans, and eases the transition for families after deployments. Spouses in the pilot program reported decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety, with an increase in social support. (Added 12-28-11)
VA Plans 3,000 Units of Housing for Veterans at 25 Locations Nationwide (Added 11-30-11)
VA Introduces Make the Connection: Shared Experiences and Support for Veterans (Added 11-30-11)
Youths Living with a Veteran Father are More Likely to Use Illicit Drugs, Tobacco or Alcohol (Added 11-30-11)
Real Warriors: Suicide Prevention Training for Line Leaders (Added 11-30-11)
VA Debuts Documentary Highlighting Heroes, Polytrauma System of Care -
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a campaign to increase awareness about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and services provided by the VA for Veterans and Service members recovering from TBI and co-occurring complex injuries. The campaign debuted with a 25-minute documentary highlighting individual stories of recovery for some of the most severely injured and wounded Veterans through the VA Polytrauma System of Care at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va. (Added 11-5-11)
Department of Justice Awards $20 Million to Support Mentoring Children of Military Families - The DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded a total of $20 million to nine organizations to support mentoring programs and services for youth with a parent in the military. The Department of Defense provided this funding to OJJDP as part of a joint effort to support military families. (Added 11-5-11)
New Real Warriors Mobile Site - This mobile site allows service members, veterans, military families, and health professionals to seamlessly access the campaign website from their smart mobile device. Visitors can access resources including video profiles and informative articles, and they can order materials through the online shopping cart directly from their mobile device. (Added 11-3-11)
New Video Profile - Warriors train their bodies to build physical strength and resilience. To be at peak performance, however, it is equally important to use available tools and resources to build and maintain psychological strength, as warriors and their family members explain in this video feature. (Added 11-3-11)
Reaching Out to Someone with Suicidal Behavior - This blog series highlights service-specific resources, programs, and multimedia tools for service members, veterans, and families that help prevent and treat self-destructive behavior. (Added 11-3-11)
What's the Difference Between PTS and PTSD? - This blog reviews the differences between post-traumatic stress (PTS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Key differences include: post-traumatic stress symptoms resolve on their own and improve within a month; PTSD symptoms are more severe, numerous, and interfere with normal life; PTS is common and most people with PTS do not develop PTSD; and PTSD is a medically-diagnosed condition. (Added 11-3-11)
174 Stores and Businesses offering discounts to military families w/IDs (Added 10-26-11)
Free Public Forum about Foreclosure on October 29, 2011 in Detroit (Added 10-26-11)
New Resources for Families - Marital Counseling, Dating Soldiers at War, and Deployment and your Children (Added 10-17-11)
New guide for providing women veterans experiencing homelessness with trauma-informed care - The U.S. Department of Labor released a new online publication, Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers. This guide explains the unique experiences and needs of women veterans, and provides organizational self-assessment tools to aid service providers, such as social workers and community service organizations, that assist this population. The guide is the result of nationwide listening sessions with women veterans and services providers about the challenges of homelessness, helping women veterans find jobs and successfully reintegrate into civilian life, and development of quality resources for community-based organizations that serve women veterans. Press Release; Full Report (Added 8-6-11)
August is "Adjusting to Change" Month - Download the monthly content focus from Military OneSource focusing on change in the military family. (Added 8-1-11)
With You All the Way Deployment Kit: by Trevor Romain for children ages 5 and up. This kit, created by the Trevor Romain Company, supports families with school-age children who have a deployed parent. It contains the following, all housed in a "Cuzzie Cargo Case" for safekeeping: The With You All the Way! Dealing with Deployment DVD, A Writing Journal with prompts, calendar, map, and activities, The With You All the Way caregiver booklet, A set of 10 postcards featuring original art work by Trevor Romain, and Cuzzie, a fuzzy bear friend. This item has a limit of 1 per address. (Added 7-27-11)
July 3 & 4, 2011: Free Admission for Military Personnel at Michigan's Adventure - Michigan's Adventure will be celebrating Tribute to the Armed Forces on July 3-4, 2011 by offering military personnel of the Armed Forces, National Guard and Reserve a free admission. In addition, military personnel may purchase up to six additional tickets for family members at $20 each. (Added 6-28-11)
Consumer Guide on Housing and Mortgages for Veterans and Active Military - Covers what VA loans are, its benefits, how to apply for one, special protections against foreclosure, etc. (Added 6-22-11)
Health Observance: PTSD Awareness Day - June 27, 2011 is PTSD Awareness Day and for the entire month of June, the Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD is working to increase post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness by providing resources to help promote the understanding of dealing with trauma and PTSD. (Added 6-17-11)
This month Military OneSource (MOS) is focusing on Summer Vacation and Travel Planning. From single service members to families, MOS has resources to get your summer plans underway. Remember Father’s Day is also in June, so check out our resources for the fathers in your life as well. (Added 6-3-11)
Finding Common Ground: A Toolkit for Communities Supporting Military Families (Added 5-31-11)
Facts for Families: Coming Home: Adjustments for Military Families - Military families look forward to being together af ter a long deployment with many mixed emotions. Each family member will have different expectations. Every family situation is different. (Added 5-9-11)
Communication - Open communication between parents and school personnel is vital in developing an appropriate program for a child. This guide by STOMP will help you learn more about effective communication. (Added 5-9-11)
Health Benefits - This booklet contains information on The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and TRICARE. (Added 5-9-11)
Talking About Deployment: Five Tips for Communicating with Military Children about Transitions - Tips for talking openly about the subject of deployment with children. (Added 4-29-11)
Tips for Helping Children Reconnect Post-Deployment -
Review of how children may react post-deployment and tips for helping them reconnect with family members. (Added 4-29-11)
Your Soldier, Your Army: A Parents' Guide (Added 4-27-11)
Deployment not only affects our military service members individually, but also has a significant effect on their families, especially the children. From toddlers to teenagers, children may face difficult separations, strong emotions, and note parental changes once the deployed family member returns. In support of the DCoE mission to identify and promote effective instructional material for wounded warriors, families, and health care providers, we developed the Children of Military Service Members Resource Guide – an online resource to assist families and health care providers address the mental and emotional health needs of military children. The guide is now available and debuts in advance of the DCoE April 2011 Monthly Webinar entitled Supporting Military Children in School Settings. For more information or to register for the Webinar, contact DCoE.MonthlyWebinar@tma.osd.mil. (Added 4-27-11)
April Update from Military OneSource: As spring approaches, it is time once again to celebrate the month of the Military Child and Child Abuse Prevention month. This month we celebrate our youngest heroes, our military children who proudly support their military family member through deployments, training, moves, and changes. Though they have no say in their ever-changing world they are brave, proud, and strong, an inspiration to us all. Military OneSource has tools, resources, and even fun for our Military kids and their parents. Please click here to access this month's resources. You may also want to check out information on Paying for Childcare, Financial Aid, and Scholarships, or talk with a Financial Planner on the best 529 plan to help you save for your child’s education. We hope this pre-packaged list of materials and services will help you refer service members and families to Military OneSource through your own newsletters, on your Web sites, and at your events. For more information on our calendar as well as past and future themes, please visit the Service Provider Home Page. Taxes are also due in April! Military OneSource provides free access to a customized version of the basic H&R Block at Home® electronic tax- filing product. This customized product allows for free federal filing and free state filing (up to three states). In addition, free telephonic tax consultations are available to help with tax- related issues. Please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the program and filing your 2010 taxes. [Added 4-7-11]
ARMY STARRS Preliminary Data Reveal Some Potential Predictive Factors for Suicide -
Early examination of data from the U.S. Army's Total Army Injury and Health Outcomes Database has revealed potential predictors of risk for suicide among soldiers. Preliminary results were provided by researchers leading the ongoing Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members (Army STARRS). Army STARRS, a partnership between the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the U.S. Army, is the largest study of mental health risk and resilience ever conducted among military personnel. (Added 4-2-11)
VA Launches New PSA on Suicide Prevention for Veterans; Confidential Crisis Line Provides 24/7 Access to Help - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reaching out to veterans in crisis and their families in a new public service announcement to raise awareness about suicide prevention resources, such as the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The new television spot encourages veterans in crisis to call the crisis hotline number and then push 1 on their telephone keypad to reach a trained VA mental health professional who can assist the veteran 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Added 4-2-11)
VA Reaching Out to Veterans on Campus Through VETSUCCESS; New Agreements Recently Reached to Ease Transition from Active-Duty Military - The VA is making a concerted effort this spring to reach out to student veterans at eight VetSuccess on Campus sites to make them aware that VA counselors are standing by to help ease their transition from active-duty military to college life. Under the VetSuccess on Campus program, a full-time, experienced vocational rehabilitation counselor and a part-time Vet Center outreach coordinator are assigned at each campus to provide VA benefits outreach, support, and assistance to ensure veterans’ health, educational, and benefit needs are met. (Added 4-2-11)
New PSA FROM Defense Centers of Excellence - In this public service announcement, Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) James Hancock, shares his experience as a shock trauma platoon doctor and a person who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) when the armored vehicle he was in hit an improvised explosive device. Hancock discusses the importance of getting checked out if you have sustained a brain injury, whether in a blast, a car, or fall. (Added 4-2-11)
Two New Video Features -
Real Warriors (http://www.realwarriors.net/multimedia/profiles/pcs.php) highlights service members who had the strength to reach out for support and continue to thrive in military and civilian careers. Real Warriors and Resilience (http://www.realwarriors.net/multimedia/profiles/resilience.php) features service members, their commanders, and their families discussing the importance of reaching out for support to build resilience. (Added 4-2-11)
The White House Blog: Strengthening Our Commitment to Military Families
Tutor.com is FREE for U.S. Military Families
Military families can get help from a professional tutor anytime you need it, for FREE. Tutors are online 24/7 and eligible military families in the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force can take advantage of this military family program to get help with more than 16 subjects. Download the brochure at http://www.tutor.com/downloads/Tutor.com_military_families_brochure.pdf. This program is provided by the Department of Defense. Go to www.tutor.com/military/get-access to see a complete list of who is eligible to access the program.
The Department of Defense (DoD) Special Needs Parent Toolkit
This toolkit has comprehensive information and tools that are geared towards helping military families with special needs children navigate the maze of medical and special education services, community support and benefits and entitlements. The Toolkit is broken down into six colorful modules that can be easily downloaded and printed. We have included important facts, records, tools and sample letters. Whether you need to learn about early intervention services or want to learn how to be a more effective advocate for your child, you will find the information you are searching for here! You can access it online. Go to http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/ and click on "Troops and Families" then "Special Needs" then "EFMP Toolbox" then "Department of Defense Special Needs Parent Toolkit".
Special Care Organizational Record (SCOR) for Children with Special Health Care Needs
This records organizer was designed as an organizing tool for parents with children with special health care needs. It is intended to help track and organize a child's information to make it easier for someone else to care for the child in the parent's absence. You can access it online. Go to http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/ and click on "Troops and Families" then "Special Needs" then "EFMP Toolbox" then " Special Care Organizational Record (SCOR) for Children with Special Health Care Needs".
STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents)
STOMP is a federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center established to assist military families who have children with special education or health needs. STOMP assists families by providing information and training about Laws, regulations and resources for military families of children with disabilities, by connecting families to other families, by assisting parents and professionals in developing their own community parent education/support group, and by providing a voice to raise awareness of issues faced by military families of children with disabilities. The staff of the STOMP Project are parents of children who have disabilities and have experience in raising their children in military communities and traveling with their spouses to different locations. Learn more or request help by visiting http://www.stompproject.org/.
Military OneSource
Education, relocation, parenting, stress, etc., Military OneSource helps with just about any need. Available by phone or online, this free service is provided by the Department of Defense for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families. Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status) and their families. It is a virtual extension of installation services. Visit Military OneSource today at http://www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-9647.
