In response to the needs articulated in this plan, Veterans and Families is building a seamless homecoming support network among veterans (of all eras), families, employers, and service providers, and will provide these stakeholders with the tools they need to re-socialize veterans into relationships, parenting, and employment.  Our action plan includes:

·    Homecoming Community Support Network

1.     Homecoming Support Network:

Research indicates that two-thirds of the nearly 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who will suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are unlikely to seek help.  PTSD can, and often does, affect every aspect of a soldier’s long term homecoming---including physical health, successful personal/family relationships, and successful employment. Often, families struggle to understand the emotional and psychological differences in their returning loved ones, how they can be appropriately supportive, and what local services they can access to help alleviate the range of challenges they will face during readjustment. 

Perhaps the most difficult challenge of all is that many believe that the VA is able to handle the full spectrum of readjustment challenges facing returning veterans and their families by itself.  Unfortunately, the lessons of history and current Veterans data show that the self-reliant culture of the military, and fears of stigmatization or loss of career advancement due to seeking help for mental health concerns serve as a barrier for many who need assistance.  This only underscores the need for ongoing public outreach/education to help dispel the myths surrounding asking for help, and assisting the other day to day readjustment stakeholders (families and employers) understand the warning signs of an impending crisis, where to go for help, and the important role they can play in a successful homecoming.

To this end, VF has created a weekly community forum to help all readjustment stakeholders (Veterans of all Eras, Family Members, Service Providers, Employers, and Community Leaders):

·       better understand the issues that veterans and their family members face,

·       dispel the myths and stigmas surrounding getting help,

·       learn about the other local providers that can provide relevant assistance, and

·       get immediate support from others who have been through, or are going through, the post-war transition from military to civilian life.

VF has already prototyped an effective veteran/family outreach program, and weekly support meeting model in Sacramento.  As this pilot network grows, we are also preparing to launch chapters in other cities across the country.   Here’s how it works:

OUTREACH—FINDING THOSE “AT RISK”

·       VF has launched a community wide PSA Program, and routinely appears on local talk radio and television stations to educate the public on how the challenge of “coming home” affects veterans, their family members, and communities, and encourages audience members to attend VF’s weekly homecoming network meeting.

·       VF conducts outreach to other Veterans Organizations and Service providers to better understand available local services, and utilizes their newsletters and website communications to outreach to veterans and family members.

·       VF connects with local military bases and Family Readiness Groups, and utilizes their internal communications infrastructure to promote our community wide support and information network.

·       VF advertises its meetings through the numerous online support groups for currently deployed soldiers and families.

·       VF Volunteers post meeting flyers at visible public sites throughout our community (grocery stores, community centers, etc.).

·       VF outreaches to local news publications to encourage posting of meeting times and locations to the general public.

            HOMECOMING SUPPORT NETWORK MEETINGS

• 90 minute weekly meetings, featuring 15 minutes for introduction, 15 minutes for presentation from a local service provider, and 60 minutes of group breakout (Veterans Group, Family Members Group, Employers Group) discussions with a licensed counselor who is familiar with the needs of veterans, where needs, issues, and concerns of all homecoming stakeholders are discussed and addressed confidentially.

• Where appropriate, counselor facilitators also identify veterans/family members in need of further assistance with mental health, benefits, or other service needs, and connect that family member directly with the resources that can help.

• Weekly provider/presenters are determined based on requests and an assessment of the information needs of network participants.

• Surveys are completed by participants after each meeting to gain their feedback on program content.

           FUTURE HOMECOMING SUPPORT NETWORK CHAPTERS

Through its initial outreach efforts, Veterans and Families has already recruited active champions in other communities, who are interested in launching additional Veterans and Families Homecoming Support Network Chapters.  We are holding off the development of these chapters until our first network is fully prototyped in Sacramento.  Resources permitting we expect launch of these additional chapters during the 3^rd and 4^th Quarters of 2005.

2.     Homecoming Preparedness Kit:

From the experiences of those attending Veterans and Families Homecoming Support Network meetings, we have identified a significant unmet need for Veterans and their families---a through understanding of the homecoming process—phases, needs, obstacles, warning signs of trouble, resources available to help those affected make it to the other side.

To meet this need, we are developing the Veterans and Families Homecoming Preparedness Kit.  This kit will be produced by Veterans and Families, through collaboration with The National Center for PTSD, VA’s VetCenter Program, and other Veterans Service providers. 

Many of these existing resources and providers have already developed appropriate content related to ensuring a successful homecoming.  What is missing, is a way to organize the most pertinent content of multiple providers into a single kit, and a method of branding/distributing that kit to the full spectrum of stakeholders in the post military separation homecoming process.   As an organization that is solely dedicated to serving this constituency, Veterans and Families is uniquely positioned to be an effective data collection and distribution outlet. 

The Homecoming Preparedness Kit will be marketed and distributed via the veteransandfamilies.org website, local/national public service announcements, and through our various chapter meetings.  Once developed, elements of the version 1.0 kit will also be available for free download from the VeteransandFamilies.org website. 

By allowing veterans and their families to access this kit through an opt-in database on the Veterans and Families website, VF will also begin to construct a database of veterans and family members who can be surveyed as part of the VF Mental Health Advisory Board’s research efforts beginning in 2006.

Components of initial Version 1.0 Kit

·       Homecoming preparedness guide for the Veteran---

o      What to expect, what not to expect. 

o      Needing help is a natural and normal process for those exposed to the horror of war.

o      Signs of a problem and when to go get help.

·       Homecoming preparedness guide for the families and friends

o      What to expect and what not to expect.  Changes are normal.

o      How to appropriately communicate with your loved one.

o      Your role in the readjustment process.

o      Signs of trouble—what to look out for, and how to help.

·       Pre-separation "How To" checklist for Veterans and their families who are preparing to separate into civilian life.  This will be produced in partnership with John D. Roche, author of “The Veterans Survival Guide:  How to File and Collect on VA Claims,” and will specifically address:

o      How to submit claims to the VA and how to deal with the denial of claims.

We have learned that the two primary contributing factors for denial of a claim from the VA are:

1. A lack of understanding on the part of the Veteran as to how to properly file a claim.

2. Lack of evidence and documentation to substantiate their claim.

When legitimate benefit claims are denied, veterans and their families face additional, and unnecessary stress. Veterans and Families believes we can  do a better job of educating veterans and their family members about how to document existing or potential injuries or illnesses prior to separating from the military therefore increasing the likelihood of success when submitting claims.

When the Veteran declares to their family they will not be re-enlisting, this is the time to remind them of this checklist in order to preserve their rights for future entitlements. This documentation is a preventative step towards easing the challenges of post military adjustment and should be initiated whether the Veteran ultimately chooses to file a claim in the future or not.

·       Master list of Veterans related providers

o      Government resources

o      Veterans organizations

o      Non-profit Veterans, family and community organizations.

o      Fraternal and Membership Organizations

Many veterans and their family members are confused as to who does what by way of Veterans services.  Navigating the myriad of providers can be a frustrating process, which adds yet another strain on veterans and families who are already coping with the overwhelming psychological and emotional challenge of readjustment.  The VF Homecoming Preparedness Kit will include a national master list of organizations, services and providers that documents what each provider does, who to contact, and how to contact them.  Our aim is to also create local versions of the Master list for each of America’s major metropolitan communities.  This needed deliverable, will be executed through an major investment in research staff, and leveraging of partnerships with existing national organizations who have already begun developing partial lists of this type:  American Legion, VFW, National Gulf War Resource Center, National Military Families Association, etc.  Once complete, this product will greatly simplify and streamline the search for assistance resources for Veterans and Families in need.

This first version can be accomplished in a reasonably small number of pages as an online PDF document  for those who are Internet savvy and in an 11 x 17 tri-fold mailer for those who don't have access to the Internet.

·       Version 2.0 Homecoming Preparedness Kit:  will include two specially produced DVD’s, one for the Veteran and on for the family members that will introduce and explain the most common issues and challenges of homecoming.  Post Office Productions of Maine would be the entity charged with producing the videos.  They have been selected due to their experience working with the issue of PTSD and homecoming and cost effectiveness, having also produced videos for giftfromwithin.org—an international non-profit serving survivors of trauma and victimization.  Content summaries for the videos to be produced are listed below:

Program 1

“Dealing with Problems: for Returning Veterans”

(30 mins)

Primary Objective and Target Audience:

To provide helpful and useful information as well as instruction and guidance regarding social and psychological problems faced by individual returning military veterans.  The primary audience would be individual military veterans returning from active duty. The secondary audience would be families and extended families of returning veterans, appropriate health care professionals, and appropriate local community organizations.

Program 2

“Dealing with Problems: for Families of Returning Veterans”

(30 mins)

Primary Objective and Audience For the Program

Our primary objective is to provide helpful and useful information as well as instruction and guidance regarding social and psychological problems faced by families of returning military veterans.  The primary audience would be families and extended families of returning veterans. The secondary audience would be appropriate health care professionals and appropriate local community organizations.

3. Mental Health Counseling Network:

VF is forging strategic partnerships with numerous providers to develop a national registry of civilian licensed counselors who volunteer to make free and discounted counseling available to veterans and their families. The civilian counselors outside of the VA are providing a valuable resource by providing immediate, free assistance to families in communities that do not yet have VF Homecoming Support Network Chapters.  These volunteers play a critical role in providing immediate assistance to the veterans and families in need of help who contact us after experiencing difficulty accessing mental health or other family counseling resources through the VA or other providers.   In addition, our strategic partners have agreed to participate actively in each VF Homecoming Support Network Chapter as volunteer facilitators.

CURRENT PARTNERS

Operation Comfort---A national network of 400 volunteer family therapists and social workers who are donating time each month to serve the needs of returning veterans and families.

National Assn. of Poetry Therapists—A national network of 500 Poetry Therapists who have volunteered to make free/low cost workshops available to veterans and families who wish to use literature as a way to overcome personal trauma.

Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists—Coordinated through VF Board Member Dr. Charles Figley, ATSS boasts more than 100 volunteers with expertise in the treatment of PTSD and other combat related mental illnesses.

Veterans and Families Mental Health Advisory Board—10 of the world’s foremost experts in Combat Stress, Family Counseling, and veterans readjustment issues.