Services to Armed Forces
Important Update
- Emergency Call Number Change
Beginning –
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. EDT,
military families will have easier access to emergency
communications services through the use of one (1) national
telephone number.
All military
members and their families can call
877-272-7337
(U.S. Toll Free)
for direct
contact with an American Red Cross trained Services to Armed
Forces caseworker to initiate an emergency communication message.
Having the
following information available will expedite the processing of an
emergency
communication message:
Service
Member Information: Name: Last, Middle, First; Branch of
Service; Rank; Duty Status; Social Security Number; and Birth
Date.
Service
Member Contact Location: Street Address; City, State,
Zip; and Military Phone
Family
Contact Information: Full Name; Street Address; City,
State, Zip; Country; Email; Phone and Alternate Phone.
____________________________________________________________
The American Red Cross Services to
Armed Forces helps military members and their families cope with
separation and other special needs related to service in the armed
forces. Click on the following links for program
descriptions.
Emergency Communications -
We are here to help you...
Stay in touch with loved ones
through our Red Cross worldwide emergency communications network
that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We can help
you or your family send emergency messages regarding the death, or
serious illness of a family member, the birth of a child or other
family emergencies.
Get verification of emergency
leave - The Red Cross can provide you and your
commander with fast, reliable information to help make decisions
regarding emergency leaves, deferments, compassionate
reassignments and dependency charges.
|
If you are in need of
emergency assistance - |
|
Call the National (toll free)
number 1-877-272-7337 |
|
to reach a trained
Services to Armed Forces caseworker
|
Get To
Know Us Before You Need Us
Is an informational program. for those
persons who have enlisted in the Armed Services and their
families.
When a person enlists in the Armed
Forces, they have the option of completing an identification card
that requests their local American Red Cross chapter to contact
their family with the services we offer when emergencies occur.
Our chapter sends out an average of 20
Introductory letters which include emergency contact telephone
numbers, and an introductory brochure that includes armed services
emergency programs.
Red
Cross continues Legacy of Troop, Family Support
By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2011 – The face
of the American Red Cross’ wartime mission could be conveyed
through countless images of volunteers greeting wounded warriors
on flightlines, offering comfort to troops serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan and providing much-needed support to family members
back home.
But while these images offer a
snapshot of the organization’s focus on individuals, the numbers
impart the true magnitude of the Red Cross’ wartime support.
Read More...
Military Homefront
Military Homefront is
the Department of Defense website for official Military Community
and Family Policy (MC&FP) program informtaion, policy and guidance
designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service
providers. Whether you live the military lifestyle or
support those who do, you'll find what you need.
Military OneSource
Education, relocation, parenting, stress - you name it - Military
OneSource is here to help you with just about any need. Available
by phone or online, our free service is provided by the Department
of Defense for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve service members and
their families. The service is completely private and
confidential, with few exceptions. Visit their website at
http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/About.aspx
Military Handbooks
There are a total of eight (8)
handbooks available, all of which contain helpful information for
the military community. The Handbook titles include:
"after the Military", Military Children's Scholarship Handbook",
"Getting Uncle Sam to Pay for Your College Degree", "Guard &
Reserve Handbook", "Base Installation Directory", "Benefits
for Veterans and Dependents", "Veterans Healthcare Benefits",
"U.S. Military Retired Handbook", etc.
You can these handbooks at
www.militaryhandbooks.com
Deployment Health & Family Readiness Library
This library provides Service members,
families, leaders, Health Care providers, and veterans an easy way
to find deployment health and family readiness information. Within
this library you'll find access to fact sheets, guides, and other
products on a wide variety of topics published by the services and
organizations that serve you. You'll also find additional web
links to other organizations and resources devoted to the health
and well-being of the Service member and their family. Visit their
website at
http://deploymenthealthlibrary.fhp.osd.mil/
Online Tutoring
for US Military Families
WASHINGTON, Jan.
26, 2010 - The Defense Department has launched a free, online
tutoring service for servicemembers and their families.
The site –
http://www.tutor.com/military
-- offers round-the-clock professional tutors who can
assist with homework, studying, test preparation, resume writing
and more.
"Providing 24/7
academic and career support for military families during a time
when so many parents have a deployed spouse has been an important
and well-received benefit for Marine Corps and Army families,"
said Tommy T. Thomas, deputy undersecretary of defense for
military community and family policy.
"We are pleased
to expand this program to all U.S. military families and provide
peace of mind that their children are never alone when it comes to
learning – there is always a certified, professional tutor
available to help," he said.
Active-duty
service members, National Guard and reserve personnel on active
duty in a deployed status, Defense Department civilians in a
deployed status and their dependents are eligible to participate,
officials said. Along with test preparation, the site is open to
students of any age – from kindergartners to high school seniors –
for one-on-one help in math, science, social studies and English.
Tutor.com's network includes more than 1,800 professional tutors
and career specialists who have delivered more than 5 million
one-on-one tutoring sessions since 2001, officials said. Each
tutor is certified through the site, and all sessions are recorded
for quality control.
Student Veterans of America
Student Veterans of America (SVA) is a
coalition of student veterans' organizations on college campuses
across the United States, and is one of the most rapidly growing
grassroots veterans organizations in the US today. Visit
their website at
http://www.studentveterans.org/
or check out the
program brochure.
Geisinger
Health System - Reaching Rural Veterans
Geisinger Health System is offering a
new program called Reaching Rural Veterans Initiative.
They are educating primary care physicians about the needs of
veterans and their family members.
For more information about the
program, and the services available to veterans and families
living in the Susquehanna Valley call 570-214-4529 or visit
www.geisinger.org/veterans
Guide to VA Mental
Health Services
I
n
2008, VA introduced a new mental health handbook that provides
guidelines for VA hospitals and clinics across the US. The new
handbook specifies exactly what mental health
services VA hospitals and clinics are required to offer to
Veterans and their families. The requirements differ depending on
the size and type of VA hospital or clinic but apply across the
entire VA system.
This
brochure is a shorter, simplified version of the handbook intended
for the general public. If you are a Veteran, Veteran family
member, member of a Veterans Service Organization, or member of
another group interested in VA mental health care you can use this
handbook to learn what mental health services your local or
regional VA health care facility has pledged to provide to
Veterans.
Guide
VA Family Caregiver Program
The
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published the interim
final rule for implementing the Family Caregiver Program of the
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 2010. This new
rule will provide additional support to eligible post-9/11
Veterans who choose to receive their care in a home setting from a
primary Family Caregiver.
Starting May 9 Veterans
may download a copy of the Family Caregiver program application
(VA CG 10-10) at
www.caregiver.va.gov. The application lets the Veteran to
designate a primary Family Caregiver and secondary Family
Caregivers if needed. Caregiver Support Coordinators are stationed
at every
VA medical center and via phone at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) to
assist Veterans and their Family Caregivers with the application
process.
A factsheet about the
VA Caregiver Support Program
can be viewed by clicking the title link.
For more information
for caregivers visit
https://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/family_and_caregiver_support/caregiver_support.
Emergency Financial Assistance for PA Vets
State funded
emergency financial assistance program for PA veterans that offers
financial
aid in an emergency and on a temporary basis (not to exceed three
months in a 12-month period) to veterans and their beneficiaries
who reside in Pennsylvania for the necessities of life (food,
dairy, shelter, fuel and clothing).
PA
Veterans Emergency Assistance
National Call
Center for Homeless Veterans
Homeless Veteran in need of help?
Call 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838)
The Department of Veterans Affairs'
(VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for
homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The
hotline is intended to assist homeless Veterans and their
families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local
partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the
community. To be connected with a trained VA staff member call 1-877-4AID
VET (877-424-3838).
-
Call for yourself or someone else
-
Free and confidential
-
Trained VA counselors to assist
-
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week
-
We have information about VA
homeless programs and mental health services in your area that
can help you.
What will happen when I call?
-
You will be connected to a trained
VA staff member.
-
Hotline staff will conduct a brief
screen to assess your needs.
-
Homeless Veterans will be
connected with the Homeless Point of Contact at the nearest VA
facility.
-
Family members and non-VA
providers calling on behalf of a homeless Veteran will be
provided with information regarding the homeless programs and
services available.
-
Contact information will be
requested so staff may follow-up.
National VA Homeless Resource Guide MS
Word / PDF
PA National Guard (PANG) Newsletter (Summer Camp Info)
In this month's newsletter you will
find the announcements/flyers for this summer's camps being held
in partnership with Operation: Military Kids. We also have a day
camp, volunteer workshop, and more planned for the next few
months. Please look through the entire newsletter to find an event
taking place near you.
PANG April Newsletter
__________________________________________________
|
If you are in need of
emergency assistance - |
|
Call the National (toll free)
number 1-877-272-7337 |
|
to reach a trained
Services to Armed Forces caseworker
|
