Supporting Veterans Year-Round: Resources and Organizations Making a Difference

Due to their commitment towards their country, veterans experience a lot of challenges in and outside the combat zone. Nevertheless, adjusting to civilian life is a challenge some veterans face issues to do with mental health, employment, health care, Housing, and social readjustment. However, what should be best done to honor their service it is least acceptable to give it a single day and end there. Several nonprofits constantly ensure that they support vets and their families throughout the year offering them help as they transition to post-service life. This article focuses on what these critical resources are and the organisations that work towards improving the years of veterans year in, and year out.

Health Care Resources for Veterans

Health issues are a vital concern and more precisely health care accessibility to provide equality to the consortium of related disabilities which are a result of the injuries in war for those whom we commonly refer to as ‘Veterans’. VA offers a comprehensive healthcare system, however, few other organizations intervene to address missing links of service provision as well as the fight for veterans health care.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

As a part of the VA, VHA is the largest integrated system of care in the United States of America for veterans. Our primary care services for the veterans and the secondary care for other illnesses which include; PTSD, TBI, substance use disorders, and Mental health services.  It is understood that the VHA has had positive progress in the improvement of care delivery; nonetheless, patients still experience long waiting periods and bureaucracy.

Several commendations for resolving the issues in the provision of VHA healthcare have been made. Despite these improvements, patients endure long waiting periods and bureaucratic procedures. Telehealth and local healthcare providers should address these problems despite attempts at making them more accessible.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

DAV is a 501c service organisation that assists disabled veterans and aids them in deciding on what benefits entitle them to the VA. Veterans of the organization are provided free claims services for disability, transportation to and from VA medical centres, and local, state, and national representation. The mobile service program in DAV is quite effective for warriors who are unable to visit healthcare centres due to their residing in isolated areas.

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)

WWP was established to assist veterans with traumatic brain injuries or other catastrophic injuries, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder, and offers an inclusive range of services to help with different physical and psychological traumas. The Warrior Care Network helps veterans find therapists and treatment for PTSD, while the physical health of veterans is restored through care such as adaptive sports and wellness events. The services provided by WWP are aimed at restoring personal independence and meaningful activity in the life of every veteran who suffered from trauma.

Mental Health Support

Exploring mental disorders, especially PTSD, one can find out that this problem affects many veterans. It is established that post-trauma symptoms persist many years after military veterans have left the military service. Fortunately, there are several support organizations which deal with veterans’ mental health.

 

 

Veterans Crisis Line

This is a free, confidential, and available 24/7 Hotline for any of the veterans or their families. Every individual who is employed with the Veterans Crisis Line is an efficient, empathizing counsellor who is in a perfect place to comprehend the issues of the veterans or assist any person who needs their services at that specific time. They can call the line, text message, or engage in an online chat making it easy for veterans who may not feel like discussing things over the phone.

Headstrong Project

Headstrong offers free and anonymous teletherapy to veterans of September 11, 2001, or after. They work with the best clinicians and treatment centres for the delivery of specialized treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, and other mental health problems. The identified evidence-based practice utilized at Headstrong relies on the creation of a comfortable and non-stigmatizing space where veterans can find the help they require, meeting them without the financial demands of common mental health care.

Give an Hour

This organisation helps veterans and their families to find suitable licensed mental health care providers who offer free services. Because Give an Hour is completely free, it is especially helpful for SIVs who may lack access to care or insurance to pay for it. The organization also aims at demystifying the entire mental healthcare experience by offering information on mental health issues among veterans.

Employment and Education Information

There is a critical need for ease of transitions back to civilian workplaces and education among veterans who desire an opportunity to reinvent themselves. There are many public organizations that are committed to the proper employment of veterans, providing them with satisfying jobs, skills, or further education.

Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes is a Branch of the United States Chamber of Commerce, that provides hiring tools and hiring events, these specific hiring events are hiring fairs, job fairs, workshops, and instruction for job searching and transition.  For the veteran resume writing services, mock interviews, and networking are offered to the veteran synonyms are also provided for the veteran in other to make a way to have the right career that would be best suited for him/her more especially after leaving the military.

Student Veterans of America (SVA)

An organization that helps veterans students accomplish their education objectives, is widely known as Student Veterans of America. With chapters on over twenty college campuses currently, SVA provides these boys and girls with a recognisable society which aids them in integrating into their new college life after having been in the military. As well as providing education support to veterans, SVA advocates for policies related to veterans, educational benefits, and the ability of veterans to take advantage of the GI Bill and other educational provisions.

 

 

Onward to Opportunity (O2O)

O2O is an employment training program developed by the IVMH at Syracuse University that provides veterans with the right skills needed to acquire a job in high-demand markets. O2OI offer certification courses in areas such as technology and IT, how to manage a project, IT Security and other fields whereby O2OI helps the veterans get new jobs, and developmental and career support to ensure the veterans are capable of excelling in the new O2OI positions.

Housing and Financial Assistance

It is quite common that veterans have housing insecurity, or even less, financial instability, and or homelessness. Many organizations exist to guarantee that veterans are neither homeless nor struggling to feed themselves and their families.

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV)

As the leading organization that works on the issue of the housing of veterans, NCHV’s mission is to ensure that as many veterans as possible are not without a home and have jobs. They join efforts with local shelters, such as animal shelters government agencies, and VA centres to assist veterans to secure appropriate homes and access the necessary resources to become independent again. NCHV also works for the policies that focus on the factors that lead the veteran to homelessness: mental illnesses and alcohol/drug dependency.

Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront offers direct financial help, temporary housing, as well as homes to the disabled and struggling servicemen and their families. Through Critical Financial Assistance, they assist veterans in catering for important basic needs such as fees, electricity bills and food among others in hard times. Operation Homefront themselves have services that help the veterans get prepared for financial stability.

Homes for Our Troops (HFOT)

HFOT constructs and delivers rendered purposely built homes to the severely disabled veterans of operations that occurred after September 11. These homes are purpose-built to support the special needs of veterans with disabilities to assist them in regaining independence and good-quality lifestyles. The provision of this accommodation by HFOT also helps the vets to be provided with a safe and affordable home in which they can regain their dignity after they serve the country.

Community and Social Support

Integration back into society can be a lonely process at best for the veteran who took time adapting to the self-sufficiency of the military fraternity. Most organizations embrace social relations among veterans to ensure they can relate to one another.

 

 

Team Rubicon

It is an organization that involves veterans in disaster operations, proving their productivity and allowing them to be useful to society. Volunteer programs in this organization allow veterans to use leadership, problem-solving as well as team-building skills to help disaster-struck regions. Team Rubicon makes it easier for veterans to maintain their sense of purpose while also coming to the assistance of other people with their needs.

The Mission Continues

This charity organisation assists veterans to serve society in other capacities by coordinating community service. Now, veterans can participate in service platoons which also engage in services like reforming schools, parks, and even communities. Like many ex-soldiers, The Mission Continues provides a sense of purpose and inclusion to these veterans, which makes them active stakeholders in the community.

Pat Tillman Foundation

The Pat Tillman Foundation offers scholarship programs as well as support to the service members enrolling on colleges to mark their academic and career excellence. The foundation builds a community of “Tillman Scholars,” to veterans seeking leadership and service to communities. It is a comprehensive program that assists the veterans in learning about the available opportunities as well as empowers them to muster the strength and follow through on those opportunities.

Conclusion

Veterans of the military normally do not leave military challenges when they leave the service. Although this Veterans Day allow for the honoring of their service it is also important to support organizations that are helping our veterans with their health care, mental healthcare, job training, housing and community integration. Such organizations however due to their commitment and NGOs ensure that the veterans are provided with necessary items in the year.