List of Sources to Help Veterans
Karen Evans has compiled a list of useful sources to aid Veterans.
General resources
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs - http://www.va.gov. An excellent starting point for services available for active duty and retired military. Access: http://www.va.gov.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs: Center for Women Veterans - http://www.va.gov/womenvet. A Fact Sheet provides data on the mission of the organization, legislation, activities, and obtaining assistance.
Women Veterans Health Care - http://www.womenshealth.va.gov. Videos and More Resources (sexual military trauma, homelessness, and crisis line) add to the extensive information available on this site.
Veterans History Project - http://www.archives.gov. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the record keeper for the United States. The Veterans Day events site provides a link to a display of posters for SPARS and WAVES, a glimpse into the past on women who served in the military.
Brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Defense Centers of Excellence: For Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury - http://dcoe.health.mil The Health Professionals section includes TBI information, psychological health resources, treatment options, and tips for civilian health care professionals. Telephone (24/7), e-mail, and live chat assistance is available for those in crisis.
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) - http://www.dvbic.org A wide variety of resources are included in the Educational Materials section. Among the other resources are Fact Sheets, Signs and Symptoms, Taking Care of Yourself While Caring For Others, Addressing Family Needs, and Talking With Children about TBI.
Make the Connection: Shared Experiences and Support for Veterans - http://maketheconnection.net Stories of Connection (retirement and aging, family and relationships), Signs and Symptoms (nightmares, substance abuse), Conditions (PTSD, depression), and Resources and Support (treatment and recovery, self-help) are also available.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs: National Center for PTSD - http://www.ptsd.va.gov Site provides information on PTSD for the public (family, friends, veterans) and professionals (researchers, providers).
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Coming Home: Adjustments for Military Families - http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/coming_home_adjustments_for_military_families. Provides information on helping families adjust to life after deployment. Sections include the returning family member, the adult that stayed home, children, and the family unit.
Commander Navy Installation Center: Fleet and Family Support Program. http://www.cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/WhoWeAre/index.htm. Provides deployment readiness, personal finances, transition and relocation assistance, new parent support, life skills (anger and conflict management, new spouse orientation, suicide prevention, and stress management).
National Military Family Association: Deployment - http://www.militaryfamily.org/get-info/deployment Links including preparing and managing for a successful deployment, legal and financial issues, talking with kids, child care, and coping with emergencies.
Education
VA: Welcome to the G.I. Bill - http://gibill.va.gov The site provides information resources available through the G.I. Bill, applying for benefits, the Post G.I. Bill and other programs, benefit and education resources, counseling for vocational and educational issues,
Real Warriors: Five Resources for Returning to School - http://www.realwarriors.net/veterans/treatment/studentveterans.php Provides five steps for those considering higher education.
United States Department of Education: Military Families and Veterans - http://www.ed.gov/veterans-and-military-families The Resources section contains a multitude of links for users. Information is available on Readmission Requirements for Service Members, school liaison programs with the Army, Marines, and Navy, and Support for Military Families.
Employment
U.S. Department of Labor: Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) - http://www.dol.gov/vets Information is provided on grants for job training, hiring fairs, grants for homeless vets, and a compensation and benefits handbook for ill, wounded, and injured service members.
U.S. Small Business Administration: Office of Veterans Business Development - http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2985 The SBA provides information on starting a business, competing for grants, and hiring employees.
Turbo Tap. Org: Employment Assistance. http://www.turbotap.org/register.tpp A Career Decision Toolkit incorporates components involved in developing a career, including Career Exploration, Financial Planning, Job Search, Effective Resumes and Cover Letters, and Interviewing Skills.
Substance abuse and suicide
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Veterans and Military Resource Center. http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Veterans_Resources&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=53242&lstid=877 Specific sections are available for families, women, active duty, and those from culturally diverse populations.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Veterans and Suicide - http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Find_Support/Veterans_Resources/Veterans_and_Suicide/Veterans_and_Suicide.htm. Programs for wounded and real warriors, returning veterans, and the vet2vet crisis line. Branch specific resources on suicide are also available.
Veterans Crisis Line - http://veteranscrisisline.net. Provide contact information for PTSD, TBI, military sexual trauma, and family and relationship issues. This site provides numerous ways for someone to connect with professional responders for help with a variety of issues.
From Evans, Karen. (September 2012) Serving those who served us: Resources for active duty soldiers and veterans. College & Research Libraries News vol. 73 no. 8 470-480 Retrieved from http://crln.acrl.org/content/73/8/470.full
