War Trauma Resources for Military, Veterans & Families [Updated 10.1.12] Compiled and maintained 1 by Dr. Ray Monsour Scurfield, Professor Emeritus of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi – Gulf Coast, Long Beach, MS ([email protected]); and in private practice with Advanced Psychotherapy, 1403 43rd Ave, Gulfport, MS 39501. 228.897-7730. This is a listing and description of 500+ resources—though not an endorsement unless so specified. The most recent updated listing is on my university web-site home page. http://www.usm.edu/social-work/dr- raymond-scurfield-home-page. All of the web sites were re-verified as active March 2-13, 2012. The descriptive narratives: o are selected from the Websites of each resource unless otherwise specified o the length of each narrative is not necessarily related to the total services provided by the resource or to how effective the resource is. [This list is not “vetted” or otherwise screened for quality.] Additions/updates are welcome: If a listed resource is no longer active or the resource information is changed, please send me that information so that I can incorporate it into the next update of this listing. I apologize for any inaccuracies, incomplete or missing resource information. Please remember that this is a one-person labor of love. In compiling this listing, as a Vietnam vet I have been just amazed at how many wonderful and active community folks are out there who not only really care but also are doing something as well on behalf of our Service members, veterans and their families!! Pax Mentis (“peace of mind” – unit motto of the 98th Medical Detachment (KO) psychiatric Team, attached to the 8th Field Hospital, Nha Trang, Vietnam. I was the Social Work and Administrative Officer, 1968-69. Dr. Ray Scurfield PS: My University of Southern Mississippi home page includes: 20+ full-text article/handouts available free to the public on war, natural disasters & posttraumatic stress, such as “Beyond Walter Reed”; “War Trauma Warning Signs, Triggers & Survival Modes”; “Dramatic Differences in Deaths at Virginia Tech & Iraq”; “The Nexus Between Iraq and Katrina.” information on my Vietnam Trilogy of war books, all published by Algora Publishing, N.Y and available on-line through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.: o A Vietnam Trilogy. Veterans & Post Traumatic Stress, 1968, 1989 & 2000 (2004) o Healing Journeys: Study Abroad With Vietnam Veterans (2006) o War Trauma: Lessons Unlearned From Vietnam to Iraq (2006). two additional books (Sep’t and Nov, 2012) with Routledge Publishing (Taylor & Francis, New York): o War Trauma & Its Wake. Expanding the Circle of Healing (R.M. Scurfield & K.T. Platoni, Eds.) o Healing War Trauma. A Handbook of Creative Approaches (R.M. Scurfield & K.T. Platoni, Eds.) 1 @ Raymond M Scurfield 2008. This started out as a one-page listing of resource suggestions for distribution at presentations. Proper attribution is appreciated to this listing. [I initially located about 60 of the resources through the excellent website, TroopSupport.Com, elaborated on those short accompanying descriptions and added many more.] 1 LOCATING A GOOD RESOURCE: My experience is that the best way to locate a good resource to help with military or post-military related issues: get a recommendation from someone you trust---such as from a: fellow or sister Service member/veteran military family member chaplain, clergy or other religious/spiritual advisor/confidant counselor or therapist. For example: see Give An Hour web site for available free counseling County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO). Free sources of referral information and advocacy in the VA process. [“CVSO’s are accredited by the VA to assist Veterans and are very knowledgeable in the local community re Veteran benefits. See the national Association of County Veteran Service Officers website, as well as other state associations such as CACVSO (California).’] This information provided by Chris Bingham at [email protected]. Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as The American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled Veterans of America, Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans of America, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Association, Iraq War Veterans Organization, National Veterans Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America et al. [To see if an organization is officially registered and recognized by the VA, see: http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp TRUST ISSUES: It should be noted that a number of active duty personnel have difficulty feeling comfortable going to a military resource for mental health concerns because of worry about stigma, the impact on their careers such as reduced security clearance, trust issues with the military system, etc. Similar trust issues characterize a number of veterans and their families in dealing with the Veterans Administration (VA) or other governmental agencies. Hence, a broad range of military, veteran’s affairs, other public and private non-profit resources (secular and religious, politically neutral or not, etc.) all are included in this listing in that all are important elements of a comprehensive array of resources that might be accessed. _________________________________________________________________________________________ The War Trauma Resources listing is divided into the following sections: I. Active Duty Military Reserve and Guard . .page 3 II. Other DOD and Governmental Resources . page 13 III. The VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) . page 19 IV. State Departments of Veterans Affairs . page 23 V. County Veterans Service Officers . page 24 VI. Surfing the Web: Other Information & Resources (mostly non-governmental) (450+ listings) . page 25 VII. Videos (non-governmental) related to military deployment, readjustment, veterans, families and communities. page 114 VIII. Canadian Military/Veterans Resources . page 124 _________________________________________________________________________________________ 2 I. Active Duty Military, Reserve & Guard Resources include: * After Deployment (www.afterdeployment.org) [Afterdeployment is a self-help tool website with “self- checks . guides to assist you in understanding your concerns . Many people in the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration helped build afterdeployment. You can “meet” the contributors by clicking on “credits” at the bottom of every screen.” This is a Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, initiated site open to individuals and providers.] *Airman and Family Readiness Flights (AFRF) (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123027436 ). (Formerly known as Air Force Family Support Centers Family Readiness Programs (See also Army, Marine Corps and Navy, and Military Ombudsman Programs) *Air Force Advocacy Program (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/afreg/p/afi40301.htm). [“Contains news relating to Air Force families and family programs, the FAPNet directories, commonly asked questions and other related links.”] *Air Force Chaplain Service (www.usafhc.af.mil). Provides specific resources for chaplaincy care related to deployment for military members and families. *Air Force Crossroads (www.afcrossroads.com) [“The official community web site of the U.S. Air Force. Online community network offering a range of information and services such as a communications center for posting information and contacting people around the world, a deployment guide and parenting resources.”] *Air Force Suicide Prevention Program (http:afspp.afms.mil/) Provides information and tools to the Air Force community in efforts to help reduce Air Force suicides. *Army Community Services (https://www.acsstaff.org/skins/ACS/default_secure.aspx?AllowSSL=true) See also, for example: Family Readiness Groups for support and information at the local base. See also: http://www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-hotline. RAINN = Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network and National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. Also: http:www.RAINN.org/get- help/national-sexual assault-hotline. *Army Reserve Employment Partnership (https://www.employerpartnership.org/). [Employment Partnership of the Armed Forces – Partnering with over 1000 employers at the national, regional, and local levels, the Employment Partnerships of the Armed Forces provides a direct link to jobs for Service Members and their families.] *Army Reserve Family Programs (http://myarmyreserve.dodlive.mil/category/family-programs/)[Home page of My Army Reserve. Home of the Warrior Citizen. See “Soldier and Family Resources.”] * Army Reserve Recovery Care Coordinators (http://www.usar.army.mil/arweb/soldiers/Pages/RecoveryCare.aspx). [To coordinate, care for geographically dispersed Army Reserve Soldiers, IRR Soldiers, Army Reserve Veterans and Retirees and their families that are wounded, injured or ill. Recovery Care Coordinators have been assigned to Army Reserves Regional Support Commands. Their job is to assist in the healing process by providing non-medical services that include helping to access medical treatment at civilian, military treatment facilities, or VA medical centers. They can also assist in locating transition and readjustment resources and filing for VA benefits.] 3 *Army Reserve Strong Bonds. http://www.strongbonds.org/skins/strongbonds/home.aspx [Strong Bonds – events sponsored by the Army Chaplains that support Commanders by strengthening individual Soldiers and Family members readiness through relationship education (i.e., Single Soldiers, Couples and Family Retreats.] *Army Strong Community