Resources
- Homecoming Preparedness
- Veteran Benefits
- Veteran Disability
- Employment
- Career Transition
- Veteran Organizations
- Suicide Prevention
- Bereavement Resources
- Book Store
Homecoming Preparedness
Homecoming for Veterans and their entire families can be both an exciting and stressful experience for all involved. Hopefully, the following tips and insights will answer some of the most common concerns you may be experiencing in order to insure a happy and healthy homecoming for you, your returning Veterans and your family.
The information provided in this guide is continually updated to reflect the real life experiences and wisdom learned from families across the country and from around the world. We believe that what is needed for our homecoming Veterans and for their immediate and extended families is a safety net in addition to and outside of the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. This safety net of families and communities is needed to insure that our returning Veterans don’t fall between the cracks of our society, as have so many Veterans of previous wars.The Spanish Version Of The Homecoming Preparedness Guide was translated and sponsored By BPcubed, Inc. A special thanks to Bobby Pena and Phil Perry for making this possible!
Veteran Benefits
VA Facilities & Locations Directory
VA Benefits and Health Care Information
VA Benefits Application
Forms:
Employment Assistance:
Business Assistance:
Small and Disadvantaged Businesses
Business Development for Veterans & Military Spouses
Other Useful Sites:
Military Benefits
Veteran Disability
This page is under development and will list organizations and resources to assist our disabled Veterans community. Our goal is to direct disabled Veterans and their families to resources and opportunities to help them live more productive and fulfilling lives. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy - http://www.dol.gov/odep/ California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Alliance – http://www.dvbe-california.org/
Employment
Recruit Military – Veteran-owned firm dedicated to helping you achieve your dreams! Recruit Veterans – service-disabled veteran owned and operated staffing and recruiting firm. Orion International is the nation’s largest military recruiting firm, specializing in placing today’s top military leaders, engineers, and technicians into America’s Fortune 500 and beyond. Helmets to Hardhats – Helmets to Hardhats places quality men and women from the Armed Forces into promising building and construction careers. Military Vets Jobs - a veteran owned organization, offers veteran job seekers a community of support and connections to employers seeking qualified, veteran candidates.
Career Transition
Connect Vets - national leader in providing online job search education and career transition resources for transitioning Service Members and Veterans to facilitate Military Talent Acquisition.
Helmets to Hardhats – Helmets to Hardhats places quality men and women from the Armed Forces into promising building and construction careers.
Veteran Organizations
It is important that every Veteran considers belonging to at least one national Veterans organization. This is because these long standing organizations can offer support and assistance. Purple Star Veterans and Families demonstrates our support to them by proactively passing along membership applications to our Veterans and family members.
We encourage veterans and families to find offices and posts close to them and to get to know their post commanders and service officers. This can help family members in preparation for their Veteran’s homecoming. We find very often that many family members do not understand the significant advocacy and support that is available to their Veteran family members through these organizations. Most are also not aware that due to the passing of our senior citizen Veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam, that membership numbers in these organizations are beginning to fall. All organizations are actively working with our current Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who are joining these groups to ensure that the legacy as well as advocacy continues.
Key Veterans Organizations -
The American Legion
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Disabled American Veterans (DAV) American Veterans (AMVETS) Iraq & Afghanistan American Veterans (IAVA) Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) The Royal British Legion The Royal Canadian Legion
Suicide Prevention
Vets Prevail - Build. Engage. Prevail. www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call them at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
National Suicide Prevention Resource Center – Support, guidance, and resources www.sprc.org
Veterans Crisis Line – call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or send a text message to 838255 www.veteranscrisisline.net
VETCenter – Nationwide Network of Support Centers www.vetcenter.va.gov
AfterDeployment.org www.afterdeployment.org/
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder www.ncptsd.org
National Military Families Association - Dedicated to active duty military families and many other national organizations now link and send thousands of visitors a month to the Veterans and Families Foundation website. www.nmfa.org
Wounded Warrior Project - An organization dedicated to the well being and adjustment of wounded warriors in America www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Make the Connection – Shared Experiences and Support for Veterans www.maketheconnection.net
Video Resources
USMC Suicide Prevention with Gary Sinise
Suicide Prevention PSA for Military Families
Bereavement Resources
If you are suffering the loss of a military loved one, or if you know someone who can use our support, please call toll-free hotline now: 1-800-959-TAPS (8277) or visit their website – www.taps.org
PSVF Book Store
Since the first writings on war with the Iliad more that twenty seven centuries ago, authors and scholars have tried to capture their experiences and lessons of healing the physical and psychological wounds of war. Fortunately their stories and trials have been told in the books and programs that are available to us today. There are many books that will be added to this page in the near future, please return on a regular basis to see updates. Please consider using the Amazon link below for all of your book purchases. When you use this Amazon search link, we will receive a 10% fee from Amazon on all purchases. Every dollar you invest in your own personal development creates a needed contribution to building the Veterans and Families Community Support Network.
Combat Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Achilles in Vietnam by Dr. Jonathan Shay Homecoming Preparedness for Veterans and Families Odysseus In America by Dr. Jonathan Shay Courage After Fire Courage after Fire provides information on common reactions that can occur after serving in a war zone as well as specific strategies to address them.T Deployment Preparedness I’m Already Home: Keeping your family close when you’re on TDY Veterans Benefits Veteran’s Survival Guide: How to File & Collect on VA Claims “Claim denied” All too often millions of veterans have received this response to their legitimate claims for Federal benefits. in most cases, writes veterans’ advocate John 0. Roche, the claimant did not understand the procedures needed to meet the myriad requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the appeals process requiring years to resolve disputes, deserving veterans and their dependents are left confused and frustrated by the agency and a system that was created to serve them. The answer is to submit a well-grounded claim initially, which The Veteran’s Survival Guide analyzes in detail, Written in an accessible self-help style, Roche’s book should be required reading for any veteran or veteran’s dependent who wishes to obtain their well-earned benefits and for those officials of veterans service organizations whose job it is to assist veterans with their claims.” Library Journal ISBN 1-57488-415-8, 288 pages, Other Chicken Soup for the Military Wife’s Soul, by Jack Canfield, Mark Hansen, Charles Preston, and Cindy Pederson (Health Communications, 2005). Courage After Fire, by Keith Armstrong, Suzanne Best and Paula Domenici. Offers coping strategies for returning troops and their families, including reconnecting with loved ones. Daddy, Will You Miss Me, by Wendy McCormick. (Aladdin Library. 2002). ISBN: 0689850638 My Father is in the Navy, by Robin McKinley and Martine Gourbault. (Greenwillow. 1992). My Daddy is a Soldier (Sailor, Airmen) My Mommy is …. by Hilbrecht K and Hilbrecht S: http://www.newcanaanpublishing.com 3rd ed 2003 20 Good Things Kids Can Do In Times of War/ 20 Good Things Kids Can Do In Times of Peace by Marsh C: 2003 www.gallopade.com Daddy, You’re My Hero, by Michelle Ferguson-Cohen. (Little Redhaired Girl Publishing 2003). ISBN: 0972926410.[for kids ages 4-8] Mommy, You’re My Hero, by Michelle Ferguson-Cohen. (Little Redhaired Girl Publishing 2003). ISBN: 0972926429.[for kids ages 4-8] My Daddy is a Guardsman, Kirk Hilbrecht and Sharron Hilbrecht. (New Canon Publishing Company Inc. 2002). ISBN: 1889658308. My Daddy is a Soldier, Kirk Hilbrecht and Sharron Hilbrecht. (New Canon Publishing Company Inc. 1996) ISBN: 1889658014. 15 Reasons I Love My DAD: A Fill-in-the-Blank Book, by Samantha Kappler, Cassidy Kappler, and Benjamin Kappler. (SBC Publishing, 2002). ISBN: 0966684311. Down Range to Iraq and Back, by Bridget C. Cantrell and Chuck Dean. Discusses why many veterans suffer from flashbacks, depression and other effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has Experienced Trauma, by Michelle D. Sherman and DeAnne M. Sherman. Taps into teen concerns about parents who have served in combat.[for kids ages 12-18] (available at www.seedsofhopebooks.com) Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife, by Sarah Smiley (Penguin Group, 2005). Help! I’m a Military Spouse: I Want a Life Too! by Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer (Hightower and Scherer, 2005). Helping Children Cope with the Challenges of War and Terrorism. LaGreca A et al [for kids ages 7-12]. Supplement (for using with school classes or groups) Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America’s Military Families, by Ellie Kay. ( Bethany House, Bloomington, MN,2002 www.bethanyhouse.com) Home Fires Burning: Married to the Military for Better or Worse, by Karen Houppert (Random House, 2006). I’m not alone: A teen’s guide to living with a parent who has a mental illness, by Sherman, MD Sherman, DM Edina, MN(2006). Beaver’s Pond Press.: Available at www.seedsofhopebooks.com Married to the Military: A Survival Guide for Military Wives, Girlfriends, and Women in Uniform, by Meredith Leyva (Simon & Schuster, 2003). Military Widow: A Survival Guide, by Joanne M. Steen, MS, NCC & M. Regina Asaro, MS, RN, CT (Naval Institute Press, 2006). Psychiatric Disorders in Current Medical Diagnosis & amp; Treatment 2001,by Stuart J. Eisendrath ,M.D., and Jonathan E. Lichtmacher, M.D. Edited by L.M. Tierney, Jtr., MD, etal., 40th ed. N. New York (Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, 2001) Soldier Mom, by Alice Mead. (Yearling. 2001). ISBN: 0440229006 Surviving Deployment: A Guide for Military Families, by Karen M. Pavlicin. Basic book for dealing with deployment and accompanying stress. The Homefront Club: The Hardheaded Woman’s Guide to Raising a Military Family, by Jacey Eckhart (Naval Institute Press, 2005). The Magic Box: When Parents Can’t Be There to Tuck You in, by Marty Sederman, Seymour Epstein, Ph.D., Karen Stormer Brooks. (Magination Press,2002). ISBN: 1557988064. Today’s Military Wife: Meeting the Challenges of Service Life, by Lydia Sloan Cline (Stackpole, 2003). What’s the Matter with Henry? The True Tale of a Three-Legged Cat,by Cathy Conheim and BJ Gallagher. (Breakthrough Press Third Edition February, 2007) When Duty Calls: A Guide to Equip Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Personnel and Their Loved Ones for Military Separations, by Vandesteeg C: WinePress Publishing Enumclaw, WA 2001 While You Are Away, by E. Spinelli, (Hyperion Books, New York 2004)[Picture book for children whose parents are deployed; for ages 4-8] While They’re at War: The True Stories of American Families on the Homefront, by Kristin Henderson (Houghton Mifflin, 2005). For Schools, Communities, Child and Adolescent Care Workers Stafford EM: Challenging Times: Pediatricians should be prepared to support needs of children in military families AAP NEWS, Vol 22 No 6 April 2022 Stafford EM and Grady BA: Military Family Support Pediatric Annals Vol 32 No 2 pp110-115 (Feb 03) Vandesteeg C: When Duty Calls: A Guide to Equip Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Personnel and Their Loved Ones for Military Separations. WinePress Publishing Enumclaw, WA 2001 Pavlicin KM: Surviving Deployment: A Guide for Military Families Elva Resa Publishing Saint Paul, Minn 2003 Martin JA, Rosen LN, and Sparaceno LR (eds): The Military Family: A Practical Guide for Human Service Providers , Praeger, Westport, Conn. 2000 Henderson, Kristin While They’re at War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront (2006). Collier, Dianne (of Canada) Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America’s Military Families (2002). Martin JA, Rosen LN, and Sparaceno LR (eds): The Military Family: A Practical Guide for Human Service Providers , Praeger, Westport, Conn. 2000 Mass Trauma and Violence: Helping Families and Children Cope, Webb NB (ed): The Guilford Press, New York 2004 Military Family Support, by Stafford EM and Grady BA: Pediatric Annals Vol 32 No 2 pp110-115 (Feb 03) Challenging Times: Pediatricians should be prepared to support needs of children in military families, Stafford EM: AAP NEWS, Vol 22 No 6 April 2022 Treatment of Psychological Trauma in Children of Military Families in Mass Trauma and Violence: Helping Families and Children Cope (Webb NB-ed), by Hardaway T: The Guilford Press, New York, pp259-282 Caring for Kids After Trauma and Death: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, Goodman RF: by The Institute for Trauma and Stress at the NYU Child Study Center, 2002 (can be accessed at www.militarystudent.org) The Social Readjustment Rating Scale by Holmes/Rahe (1967), Modified by Pincus/Adler (2000) Recognizing and Responding to Child and Adolescent Stress: The Critical Role of the Pediatrician. By Stafford EM and Lemmon K: Pediatr Annals. 36: 225-231, 2007 About Reunion. A Scriptographic Product. 1990 Channing L. Bete Co., Inc Heroes at Home-Help and Hope for America’s Military Families by Ellie Kay. 2002. Bethany House, Bloomington, MN, www.bethanyhouse.com The Parent Report Card by Linda Berg-Cross, PhD, in Working Mother, Jan 93
