Glossary

Military/Veteran Services
Section T

Housing and complete clinical services (including case management; individual and group counseling; substance abuse treatment; medical care; budgeting assistance; job interviewing and placement; anger management, and recreational opportunities) in a therapeutic community setting for 18 months for homeless veterans is available from Volunteers of America Veterans Housing Program. Available in Lansing only. For more information, call (517) 484-4414 ext. 103 or visit: http://www.voami.org/Services/HomelessServices/VeteransPrograms

A 24 hour, 7 days a week Crisis Line is available for compassionate listening, Crisis Intervention, and Appropriate Referral and field coordination with a local chaplain.  Available from the National Guard Bureau Chaplain’s Office (800) 443-2985

Peer support and outreach from trained veterans for Michigan veterans of "Operation Enduring Freedom" and "Operation Iraqi Freedom" (OEF/OIF) is available from the Buddy-to-Buddy Program helping returning OEF/OIF veterans deal with the many challenges they may face when readjusting to civilian life. Services are voluntary, confidential and free. Callers will be matched with a veteran trained to help them find resources for mental heath, substance abuse, financial benefits, education, legal or job issues. Contact (888) 82-BUDDY or go to www.buddytobuddy.org.

Building connections between wounded warriors/establishing a network of peers to provide assistance, friendship, and inspiration is available from the Wounded Warrior Project, wwpservice@woundedwarriorproject.org
 

Emergency communications to deployed service members on behalf of their family available 24/7, 365 days a year military members on a mission, in training or stationed far from home can be connected to home during a crisis. Available from the American Red Cross. Go to www.redcross.org and type in your zip code.

PrePaid Phone Card for deployed U.S. Troops makes it easy for deployed military members to call home and stay in touch with family and friends. The phone cards do not expire and do not add any additional charges or connection fees. To purchase, visit www.aafes.com or call (800) 527-2345. American Red Cross deployed staff distributes calling cards to service members in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Gift certificates purchased by friends, families or groups which allow services members to purchase items at PX and BX facilities around the world. Certificates can be purchased from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and addressed to a specific service member. Or certificates can be purchased and addressed to "any service member" and sent to the Red Cross for distribution. To purchase a gift certificate, log on to www.aafes.com or call (877) 770-4438. The American Red Cross distributes the gift certificates through its Armed Forces Emergency Services staff members who are deployed.
 

Fact sheets on health topics relevant to military life issues for civilian professionals serving the military community, as well as for military men, women and families. Topics include, but are not limited to, Reintegration Fact Sheet for Military Couples, Helping National Guard and Reserve Reenter the Workplace, Helping Children Cope During Deployment, What Military Families Should Know About Depression, Suicide Facts: What Military Families Should Know to Help Loved Ones Who May be at Risk. These “Courage to Care” materials are available at the following website: http://www.usuhs.mil/psy/courage.html

Assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining any and all county, state, and federal benefits to which they are entitled. The local county veteran’s counselor can initiate claims, assist with enrollment in the VA Medical Care System, or coordinate emergency assistance. Available from Macomb County Veteran’s Affairs, (586) 469-5315. www.macombcountymi.gov/departments.htm

24 hour telephone consultation for all active duty, Guard and Reserve regardless of activation status and their families for referrals to such needs as child care, spousal employment, income tax preparation, car repair, plumbing, money management, counseling, or relocation. Available from Military One Source, (800) 342-9647 or www.militaryonesource.com. (Services available in 140 languages).
 

Anonymous, confidential support to soldiers and their family members, especially those returning from deployments for family-related issues. Counselors help families with issues resulting from deployment, reunions, reintegration and other times of change including: marriage and relationship Issues, family issues, stress and anxiety, depression, grief and loss, anger management, parent and child communication. Soldiers and families are entitled to six prepaid, face-to-face counseling sessions. For more information call Military Family Life Consultants at (888) 755-9355. Website: www.arfp.org

Telephone reassurance and support is available from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8255) Press one for the Veteran’s line

Free mental health services to returning military personnel and their families and to parents, siblings, and unmarried partners who are not entitled to receive mental health benefits through the military.  Services include: counseling to individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents, treatment for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, sexual health and intimacy concerns, and loss and grieving.) The military person visits the Give An Hour web site and clicks on "For Visitors" to get information on what to expect and how to choose a provider. She clicks on "Provider Search" to find someone offering individual counseling services near her former active-duty station. The military person obtains the counselor’s contact information from the list of providers and calls him to set up an appointment. After the appointment, the military person volunteers an hour of their time at a community site listed on the GAH website. Available from Give an Hour : http://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx?mode=user

v    
Information on PTSD is available on the VA website: http://www.ptsd.va.gov

Information on PTSD is available is available from the National Center for PTSD website: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov

Evidence-based treatments for PTSD (Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy) is available at all VA Medical Centers. For a list of VA Medical Center, go to: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?State=MI&dnum=ALL
 

Financial planning services for military families are available from the American Red Cross, operating an office at Selfridge Air National Guard base

Guidance and help to navigate government benefits available to military personnel and their families. Available from the Wounded Warrior Project, wwpservice@woundedwarriorproject.org

Legal planning for service members to prepare them for mobilization and deployment (Wills, Powers of Attorney, Soldiers and Sailors' Civil Relief Act, and Re­employment Rights) is available from the Michigan National Guard JAG Office, (517) 481-8100.

Limited legal assistance to national Guard soldiers and airmen in accordance with applicable Army/Army National Guard or Air Force/Air National Guard Regulations. Traditional Michigan National Guard members (part time soldiers) should contact their major command JAG officer or legal office to determine what kind of assistance is needed. JAGs cannot appear in civilian criminal or civil court on behalf of a service member on a non-military issue or action. They cannot draft real estate documents or divorce or separation agreements. They may answer general legal questions or render general advice. Available from the Michigan National Guard JAG Office, (517) 481-8100.

Free legal assistance to low income Michigan veterans who need help with their Federal veteran’s Disability and Pension Benefits Claim. A thirty one (31) foot van (Mobile Law Office) allows the pro bone attorney and students to make house calls. Available from the Detroit Mercy School of Law Project SALUTE, (313) 596-0262. Website; www.law.udmercy.edu

Pro bono lawyers are provided (within six months) to those military personnel of E5 rank or below who are deploying, deployed or have returned from deployment.  Family law and creditor/debtor issues are most the common cases, however, the volunteer attorneys can assist in other legal areas. Available from Cooley Law School’s Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral Program. For more information, contact Heather Spielmaker, Director of the Center for Ethics, Service, and Professionalism at Cooley Law School by phone (517) 371-5140, ext. 4112 or e-mail spielmah@cooley.edu.

Online personal finance and consumer protection information and resources is available from The Better Business Bureau - Military Line which offers a variety of free services and consumer education to the military via local BBB outreach as well as on the Web. http://www.bbb.org/us/Military/

Residential child care for long- and short-term residency to children of active-duty military service personnel who are not able to provide adequate care for their children when the approved deployment family plan (a family plan determines who will take care of their children during deployment) fails. Available from the VFW National Home located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, (800) 424-8360 or visit:
http://www.vfwnationalhome.org/about us/index.shtml

A website of grants for veterans, military science students, or Dependents is available at: http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3veteran.htm

A free semester of classes at Western Michigan University for service members following their discharge or leave from active duty. A veteran who is eligible for VA benefits should apply within six months of his/her deployment and must begin taking classes within the six month period. Available from Western Michigan University - Veteran’s Department, (269) 387-4115

Undergraduate tuition grant of up to $2,800 for the eligible children (older than 16 and less than 26 years old) of certain deceased military personnel or totally and permanently disabled veterans is available from the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority*. Application forms can be downloaded at www.michigan.gov/osc.

Payments for post-secondary education in Michigan for children of a disabled or deceased veteran or missing in action is available from the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund - Tuition Grant program. Information and application forms are available at the Macomb Veteran’s Affairs office Macomb County Veteran’s Services, (586) 469- 5315. www.macombcountymi.gov/departments.htm or visit: http://www.va.gov

Scholarships to Macomb Community College (MCC) for U.S. Armed Forces veterans from the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, their spouses, and children is available from the James and Dorothy Stanton Foundation. For more information, call the MCC Financial Aid office, (586) 445-7228.

A nursing home for eligible Michigan veterans and/or parents, widows, widowers, former spouses and spouses of eligible veterans and who were unable to care for themselves is available at:

Information on burial benefit, headstones and markers, Presidential Memorial Certificates, cemeteries, nationwide grave site locator, burial flags, burial allowance, eligibility for benefits and women and minority veterans is available at: http://www.cem.va.gov

Reimbursement of foundation costs to put a Veterans Administration marker on the graves of honorably discharged, war-time veterans is available from the Wayne County Soldiers and Sailors Relief Service Group, (313) 224-8163. For more information, visit: www.michigan.gov/dmva

Burial in a VA national cemetery is available for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents at no cost to the family and includes the grave site, grave liner, opening and closing of the grave, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care as part of a national shrine. For veterans, benefits also include a burial flag (with case for active

Shielding a mourning family of a fallen military member and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors (accomplished through strictly legal and non-violent means). Available from Patriot Guard Riders* http://www.patriotguard.org The Michigan State Captain contact is Sam Cottle, hgpreacherman@gmail.com

Retirement living, with access to continuing health care, for military officers (and their spouses) who served honorably (no qualified widow or widower is ever turned away due to inability to pay.) is available at Air Force Village 1 in San Antonio, Texas, (800) 762-1122. www.airforcevillages.com

Recreational (skiing, snow boarding, snowshoeing, wilderness walk, etc ) and cultural (art, drama, music, etc) experiences for wounded warriors with cognitive or physical disabilities. Available from Challenge Aspen* - Military Opportunities, Colorado. For more information, call TTY: (970) 923-0578 or www.challengeaspen.org/index.cfm

Scuba diving for injured servicemen and women at fort Campbell in Kentucky. Available from Underwater Warriors*. For more information, call (931) 431-5700 or visit: www.underwaterwarriors.org/Home.asp

A week of free lodging at a vacation home donated by a homeowner is available to Purple Heart Medal recipients from the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns is available from Vacations for Veterans*, (800) 831 8803 or visit:
www.vacationsforveterans.org

Dog tags to send to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan so they can send them to their kids back home, something the kids can hang on to until Dad or Mom gets back home. Available from Kid’s Charities of Antelope County*. To order, visit: http://www.dogtagsforkids.com/request.php

Emotional and psychological support for the children and spouses of deployed military through transitional and support objects. Family packages are sent containing teddy bears, blankets, a patriotic quilt, soothing and relaxing music CD, writing journals, and a magnetic card holder that holds essential contact information. Available from Little Patriots*, Call Toll Free: (877) 448-3573 (877-GIVE-LPE) or visit: http://www.littlepatriotsembraced.org/index.htm

Enrichment activities and tutoring to children of deployed National Guard and Reserve personnel as well as to children of severely injured service members.  Available from Our Military Kids: http://www.ourmilitarykids.org/

Recognition of U.S. Army Veterans and the parents, spouses and employers of U.S. Army Soldiers. Active Duty Soldiers can honor their parents and spouse. Guard and Reserve Soldiers can honor their parents, spouse and employer. The program also recognizes those special supporters who have significantly contributed to supporting U.S. Army soldiers and the Army’s Mission. Anyone (military or civilian) can honor a U.S. Army Veteran or an Army Supporter. Available from the U.S. Army (703) 325-3880 or visit: http://www.freedomteamsalute.com/Default.aspx

E-mail messages of appreciation to U.S. soldiers are available to people throughout the county to write a personalized message on colorful postcards that have been drawn by kids. The postcards are printed and mailed to deployed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Available from the Xerox Corporation. For more information visit: www.letssaythanks.com.

One-on-one e-mail support to a member of the military. Service Members register for support and are matched with civilians who have registered to send and show their support to our troops. Available from eMail Our Military* (eMOM), http://www.emailourmilitary.com

Information on community caregiver support resources and referrals for caregivers of veterans is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. and Saturday from 10:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Available from the National Caregiver Support Line (855) 260-3274 or visit their website at www.caregiver.va.gov