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Latest News For You | For Agency Professionals
National Resources for Military Personnel and their Families
Military One Source is a comprehensive resource web site and helpline that provides extensive resource information and publications on family life, deployment, benefits as well as three types of short-term, non-medical counseling services for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families through face to face, telephone and online consultations.
If you would like to contact a Military OneSource consultant for assistance with a particular issue, please use the phone numbers below or go to the Military One Source Web site to access the online tools.
• Stateside: CONUS: 1-800-342-9647
• En español llame al: 1-877-888-0727
• TTY/TDD: 1-800-346-9188
Tax Assistance
Military OneSource is once again offering a free, electronic tax filing service. If you are eligible under the Military OneSource program, you can complete, save, and file your 2011 federal and up to three state returns online free with the H&R Block At Home tool.
To access this free version of H&R Block At Home, you must start your return from the Military OneSource H&R Block At Home link. You must be logged in to access this service. Find out how to start your return. Once you are registered you can e-mail a tax consultant and read tax-related material. You can also speak directly with a tax consultant by calling 1-800-342-9647 (7a.m.-11p.m. EDT).
Army One Source
Similar to Military One Source, Army One Source provides resource information on family readiness, benefit and entitlement programs along with the most current information available to assist you and your family.
National Resource Directory
This directory is a Web-based network of care coordinators, providers and support partners with resources for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, thefamilies of the fallen and those who support them. The directory offers more than 10,000 medical and non-medical services and resources to help service members and veterans achieve personal and professional goals along their journey from recovery through rehabilitation to community reintegration.
MILITARY
Military4Life is a Web site for men and women in uniform and their families. It outlines the latest military discounts, online bargains, and offers and includes a wide assortment of military discounts and other online bargains that you cannot afford to miss.
ARMY
Army Morale, Welfare & Recreation is a comprehensive network of support and leisure services designed to enhance the lives of soldiers (active, Reserve, and Guard), their families, civilian employees, military retirees and other eligible participants.
NAVY
The Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division administers a varied program of recreation, social and community support activities on U.S. Navy facilities worldwide. The programs provide active-duty, reserve and retired Navy personnel and their families with sports and physical fitness activities, child development and youth programs, and a variety of food and beverage services.
Advocacy Services
The Defense Centers of Excellence provides advocacy services to active military, veterans, and families of active military and veterans. Services include advocacy, specialized information and referral, and veterans benefits assistance. Services are targeted to individuals dealing with mental health issues and traumatic brain injuries. The Center, located in Rosslyn, Virginia provides services free of charge and has no geographic restrictions. To learn more call their Service/Intake and Hotline at 866-966-1020.
Employment
The U.S. Department of Labor has devoted a portion of their website to VETS stating that the focused pages "Proudly Serves Veterans & Service Members!" You will find resources and expertise to assist and prepare veterans to obtain meaningful careers, maximize their employment opportunities, and protect their employment rights.
Veteran Central is a new Internet startup powered by a grassroots force from a community of veterans, families, and supporters who support those who have served. You will find listings of jobs and job boards, veteran hiring best practices, and resources for health, benefits, housing, and money management. All content is reviewed by the Veteran Central staff and community members.
Family Assistance for Military Personnel
The VFW National Home for Children serves American servicemen and women by providing help and resources to their families. Located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, but serving the entire country, the VFW National Home for Children has been a safety net for the families of our nation’s veterans and active duty military since 1925.
The National Home’s Military Family Program assists the children, or spouse with children, of active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserves during a period of deployment. If the “family plan” falls through, National Home for Children can provide a temporary safe, secure and loving home to children or spouses with children during deployment on its village like campus of homes. Many other support programs are offered.
To learn more about the Military Family Program or any of the other programs please visit their Web site or call the National Home Helpline at (800) 313-4200.
Mortgage Assistance for Military Personnel
Mortgage payment relief and protection from foreclosure is provided to active military personnel and reservists through the Service-members Civil Relief Act (SCRA). To be eligible for this program you must have had mortgage commitments before enlisting or being called to active duty. Reservists, guardsmen and other eligible service-members should contact their lenders and other creditors and provide documentation that they have been called to active duty and are eligible for certain relief under the SCRA. To learn more about this program you can call 800-CALL-FHA (225-5342). Learn more.
Social Security Benefits Expedited
Military service members receive expedited processing of their disability applications from Social Security. Under an agreement initiated by Social Security, the Department of Defense transmits information that allows Social Security to quickly identify military personnel injured in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The expedited process is available for any military service member who becomes disabled during active duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel also may be able to receive benefits, including dependent children and spouses.
If you, or someone you know, was wounded while on active duty in the military, find out more about what Social Security can do for you by visiting the Web site that was designed specifically for wounded veterans.
Download these Fact Sheets for more information on the subject:
Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors
Expediting Disability Applications for
Wounded Warriors
National Caregiver Support LIne
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has opened a toll-free National Caregiver Support Line. The support line serves as a primary resource/referral center to assist caregivers, veterans and others seeking caregiver information to help in the care of our nation's veterans. Calls to the National Caregiver Support Line are answered by VA employees who are licensed clinical social workers.
The Support Line provides information on VA/ community caregiver support resources and "warm" referral to dedicated Caregiver Support Coordinators located in every VA Medical Center; emotional support for the caregiver is an integral component of this service. The National Caregiver Support Line is also available to respond to inquiries about the caregiver benefits associated with Public Law 111-163, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010.
Open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the National Caregiver Support Line toll-free number is 1-855-260-3274. Learn more.
VeteranCaregiver Fosters Connections
VeteranCaregiver (VCG) has provided strong public and private peer support for Caregivers and for "singleton" Veterans without Caregivers. While VeteranCaregiver is initially an online peer program, what goes on behind the scenes is off-line and personal. VCG has helped resolve hundreds of frustrating situations including emergency funds, crisis assistance, suicide and mental health spirals, and family relationship matters, including children. The VeteranCaregiver website is focused on helping you make connections with others who are similarly situated. Take a tour.
Programs for Veterans who are Homeless or in Danger of Becoming Homeless
The VA has a National Homeless Call Center that is available throughout the year at any time of day or night. The number is 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838). This free service will provide information on VA homeless programs and mental health services in your area and help you get connected to the nearest Homeless Point of Contact at your closest VA facility.
The VA works with local partners to provide a broad array of services, including
- Prevention services so Veterans and their families don't fall into homelessness and those that do are rapidly re-housed
- Access to safe, stable, affordable permanent housing
- Short term housing options for those who need a safe place to stay while a permanent solution is found
- Supportive services so Veterans have help securing housing and have the support they need to stay housed
- Healthcare and dental care programs
- Easy access to mental health, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis treatment services for those who need it
- Vocational training and employment services to get Veterans
back to work
- Benefits and income support for Veterans who have earned them
To learn more about this program visit the Homeless Veterans Website where you will also have access to a confidential chat option or call the hotline at 1-877-424-3838. Download the Helping Homeless Veterans brochure.
Mental Health and Emotional Resources
Military Pathways Provides Anonymous Assessments
This free, online mental health screening tool provides anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessments for family members and service personnel in all branches including the National Guard and Reserve. The self-assessments are a series of questions that, when linked together, help create a picture of how an individual is feeling and whether they could benefit from talking to a health professional.
The primary goals of the program are to reduce stigma, raise awareness about mental health, and connect those in need to available resources. The self-assessments address depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use and bipolar disorder. After an individual completes a self-assessment, s/he is provided with referral information including services provided through the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Learn more.
Vets4Warriors Connects Military Personnel with Someone who has Been There
Call 1-855-VET-TALK (1-855-838-8255) - This 24-hour peer support line is staffed by Veterans of the United States Military who are committed to helping the men and women who are currently serving or have served in the National Guard and Reserve. While their mission is to serve military and Veterans, they are a separate organization outside of the military and apart from the Veterans Administration. Calls are not discussed with the military, the VA, or anyone else. All conversations are completely confidential and, if you choose, you may remain anonymous.
Suicide Prevention and Online Chat Services
The Suicide Prevention campaign of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expanding its outreach to all Veterans by piloting an online, one-to-one “chat service” for Veterans who prefer reaching out for assistance using the Internet.
Called “Veterans Chat,” the new service enables Veterans, their families and friends to go online where they can anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. You can access Veterans Chat through the national suicide prevention Web site. Once on this page which is devoted to veterans, click on the box to the right of the page that says Veterans Chat.
To speak with a counselor call the Hotline number 800-273-TALK.
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential hotline, online chat, and text-messaging service. Veterans and their families and friends are encouraged to call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or text to 838255 to speak with qualified VA professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Visit the Veterans Crisis Line website for information on signs of crisis and a self-check quiz; a resource locator to find support; materials such as posters and flyers to download and distribute and more.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Focuses on Providing Veteran Resources
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.The NAMI website hosts a Veterans Resource Center where visitors will find information about treatment programs for military personnel and their families suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related conditions; bereavement classes; and other support services for children and families of military personnel.
NAMI has partnered wth the VA to bring their Family-to-Family Education Program (FFEP) to veterans' families in an effort to address PTSD and the increased risk of suicide veterans and family members often face. This partnership between NAMI and the Veterans Administration is bringing the free, 12-week course to families of veterans across the country. The three-year agreement was recently renewed because "there was such a positive response to a previous session that families asked for more," according to the VA. Learn more about FFEP.
Resources for Survivors
Survivor Outreach Services is the official Army program designed to provide long term support to surviving families of fallen soldiers. This site provides detailed information on topics most often requested by fellow Survivors including information regarding benefits and entitlements, governmental and non-governmental resources, important legislative news, Survivor Outreach Services support office locations, and more.
Need Help? – Dial 2-1-1
You are encouraged to dial “2-1-1” 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need help in understanding and finding available assistance services. Language translation and TTY services are offered to any caller. You can also search our database for services in your local community or Chat Live with an experienced community resource specialist. 2-1-1 will help identify with you the best local resources to fit your individual needs during times of financial distress or for life’s everyday situations. This service is FREE of charge and is supported by local United Ways of New Jersey and NJ state government.
If you know of additional resources that would be appropriate to include in this section, please let us know by contacting us via e-mail at info@nj211.org.
Sources for this page include:
https://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
http://www.myarmyonesource.com/sitemap.aspx
http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/nrd/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=6006
http://www.military4life.com/mwr/
http://www.armymwr.biz/
http://www.mwr.navy.mil/
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Default.aspx
http://www.vfwnationalhome.org/index1.shtml
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/
http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/index.asp
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Family-to-Family&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=110246
http://vets4warriors.com/
http://www.dol.gov/vets/
http://www.sos.army.mil/Home.aspx
Page last modified 4.1.13
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