The Post-Deployment Health Reassessment Program, mandated by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) in March 2005, is designed to identify and address health concerns, with specific emphasis on mental health, that have emerged over time since deployment. The program is offered to all service members who have returned from operational deployment, including all active duty service members and National Guard and Reserve members, as well as those who have separated or retired since their return from deployment.

The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center recently launched a newly designed Web site, which offers specialized information to service members, their families and health care providers on traumatic brain injury, recovery, care and rehabilitation. 

Working Minds provides tools and networks to workplaces to assist with suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. Working Minds seeks to engage workplace communities with three strategies: establishing a workplace suicide prevention network, providing state-of-the-art training and changing the culture of suicide prevention in the workplace.

Military Community and Family Policy is responsible for programs and policies that establish and support community quality of life programs on military installations for service members and their families worldwide. The office coordinates a broad range of quality of life issues within the Department of Defense, including family support and advocacy programs during mobilization and deployment.

The Warrior Gateway Program has been designed to promote easier reintegration into home communities. It establishes a single capability that serves as a trusted, reliable and free resource for members of the military community to quickly locate service organizations that satisfy their needs, identify academic programs they are interested in and easily find employers seeking their valuable skills, while enabling improvements in the service provider sector through metrics and collaboration. 

The Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is a free U.S. Department of Education program designed to help eligible U.S. military veterans refresh their academic skills so that they can successfully complete the postsecondary school of their choosing. 

The Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program provides assistive technology and services to people with disabilities, federal managers, supervisors and IT professionals. The Computer/Electronics Accommodation Program ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities in the Department of Defense and throughout the federal government by increasing access to information and removing barriers to employment opportunity. 

TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers professional education and online training webinars. “Suicide Prevention: Subintentional Suicide, High-Risk and Indirect Life-Threatening Behaviors. What Military Families, Leadership and Caregiving Professionals Need to Know” was offered in January 2010. Learn about and register for upcoming webinars online. 

Cell Phones for Soldiers aims to provide every U.S. soldier with a way to call home for free. To date, the organization has distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.Through increased fundraising efforts, Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) now provides urgent funding to suicide prevention centers around the nation which are dealing with the enormous hardship wrought by the economic downturn. Many of these centers must cope with a sharp rise in the number of callers in crisis. At the same time, these centers are threatened with significant funding cutbacks. A full article about this effort may be read in the SAMHSA Newsroom. 

A wellness resource for the military community, afterdeployment.org provides information and self-guided solutions for dealing with post-traumatic stress, war memories, conflict at work, depression, anger, sleep problems, alcohol and drug misuse, stress, relationship problems, kids and deployment, spiritual guidance and fitness, living with physical injuries and health and wellness. Programs contain narrator-guided workshops, an e-library, activities and exercises and video stories. 

The GI Film Festival is the first film festival in the nation that exclusively celebrates the successes and sacrifices of the American military through the medium of film. The GI Film Festival presents films from new and established international and domestic filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of the American armed forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty.

Fred Friendly Seminars is showing a multimedia platform, MINDS ON THE EDGE: Facing Mental Illness, to carry the legacy of this distinguished television format into the digital future. This project is using social media, user-generated content and Web-only content extensions to amplify the extraordinary power of a Fred Friendly Seminar as a catalyst for critical thinking. Visit the Fred Friendly Seminars Web site to watch a preview of this show.

Not Alone provides no-cost programs and services to warriors and families impacted by combat stress and PTSD. At Not Alone.com, members can participate in online group sessions, workshops and trainings. Topics of discussion center around the issues service members, veterans and families face every day when dealing with life after war. Not Alone also provides face-to-face counseling, as well as access to a 24-hour crisis line.

The California Department of Veterans Affairs works to serve California's veterans and their families to ensure all former service members achieve the highest quality of life and live with dignity and honor. The department's Operation Welcome Home Campaign is a statewide effort to connect with each and every returning veteran to determine their needs and connect them with services that can help them transition successfully from the battle front to the home front.

USA Cares provides grants to military families and veterans who request their help.In the past six years, USA Cares has received over 20,800 requests for assistance and responded with over $6,500,000 in direct grants of support. The Annual Fund is the core of USA Cares’ fundraising efforts, ensuring a strong financial base for the organization. Apply for a grant from or provide assistance to the Annual Fund at USACares.org. 

Sesame Workshop's Talk, Listen, Connect initiative uses the friendly and familiar Muppet characters to provide resources for military families with young children coping with issues related to deployments, changes from combat-related injuries and the death of a parent. On www.SesameStreetFamilyConnections.org you can find extensive video and print resources on these topics, or use child-friendly tools to create a family network and stay connected.

American Veterans with Brain Injuries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans who have suffered a brain injury while serving our country. Through its online community, American Veterans with Brain injuries provides unique programs, services and resources to address the specific needs of these veterans and their family caregivers.

The Brain Injury Recovery Network is non-profit organization dedicated to helping survivors of brain injuries and other serious injuries, and their families. Its goal is to see that survivors of brain injuries are given every chance possible to recover. It provides practical, actionable advice from people who have suffered through the same experience. The Brain Injury Recovery Network educates, commiserates with and helps buoy the spirits of survivors and families as they deal with the effects of brain injury. It provides information and support for both the crisis and the long-term care phases of recovery, as well as prevention programs.

As one of the priorities of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Combat Operational Stress Control (COSC) ensures that all marines and family members who bear the invisible wounds caused by stress receive the best help possible, and that they are afforded the same respect given to the physically injured. COSC offers informational brochures available for download on combat/operational stress for leaders, marines and their families. 

Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (Cause), a nonprofit organization founded by four West Point graduates and their wives, provides  relaxation and recreation to members of the US Armed Forces recuperating from wounds and injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. All Cause programs—a digital entertainment library, massage and Reiki programs, Sunday brunches and picnics, Fisher House dinners, gift packs, and live broadcasts of sporting events—take place in residential outpatient facilities located on military medical campuses; this deliberate proximity is designed to reduce the isolation and depression that often accompanies severe injury by creating opportunities for wounded military to interact with one another and with volunteers from the wider community. No member of the military should ever go into combat wondering if he/she will be cared for if injured. Cause is dedicated to being “here for those who are there for us.”

Give An Hour is working to create best practices to give to communities to show them how to help service members returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with psychological needs, according to Barbara Van Dahlen, the founder and president of Give An Hour. Read the entire article to learn how gives families a boost.

AUSA's Family Programs Directorate is dedicated to providing Army Families with information and resources to help them manage the challenges of military life and to address Army family concerns through AUSA's legislative efforts and by being active on a number of Department of Defense and Department of the Army councils and working groups.

The Coming Home Project offers training videos on a wide range of topics including “Treating Veterans of War,” “Therapies for War Related Trauma,” and “PTSD and Substance Abuse.” Visit the Coming Home Project to view all videos. 

The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) works hand-in-hand with the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program  and Airman and Family Readiness Centers to ensure airmen receive face-to-face personalized professional support and care from the point of injury to no less than five years after separation or retirement to assist airmen and their families in integrating back into their local communities. AFW2 also connects airmen and their families with the Joint Family Support Assistance Program in each state to coordinate benefits counseling and services provided by DoD, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration, TRICARE and other helping agencies. 

Afterdeployment.org recently published the first issue of its quarterly newsletter. The premier issue contains Web site development updates, facts and figures, topical articles and information on upcoming events. Download the afterdeployment.org newsletter here. 

Soldiers’ Angels is sponsoring Iraq veteran Troy Yocum on his 7,000 mile hike across America as he visits 25 states and 25 major cities to raise awareness and financial support for veterans and military families.  Events associated with the Troy’s hike include motorcycle rallies, conventions, mini marathons, concerts, MLB games, and more.  Visit drumhike.com to see his itinerary

The Brain Trauma Foundation is dedicated to improving the outcome of traumatic brain injury patients worldwide by developing best practices guidelines, conducting clinical research and educating medical professionals and consumers. Our efforts also focus on public education aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the symptoms of a concussion. Our goal is to better educate coaches, nurses, athletes, parents and all citizens about the importance of recognizing concussions and taking the appropriate steps to ensure people receive appropriate care.

Alliant offers four free comprehensive online courses on Combat Operational Stress & PTSD, Concussive Injuries & TBI, Military Culture, and Vets Benefits. Visit the Alliant website to learn more about these courses and CEUs that can help prepare clinicians to work effectively with today's returning vets and their families. 

Operation Never Forgotten is an all-volunteer organization that creates national non-partisan awareness public service announcements using outdoor billboards, airport signs and TV/radio broadcast campaigns for our deployed troops, wounded warriors, fallen heroes and military families. Operation Never Forgotten educates the public and veterans about the invisible wounds of PTSD and TBI, and provides inspirational outdoor billboards for gold star families. Operation Never Forgotten hosts "Operation SAS," a benefit for wounded warriors to experience extreme sports, hunting and fishing in Montana. This benefit introduces wounded warriors from all over the country to a life of excellence, and helps other military support organizations with similar missions.

Joshua's Mission is an organization providing financial, educational, spiritual and morale-boosting support to Marines wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as their families. The organization's mission is to help Marines' family members financially, to defer the cost of transportation, lodging, meals and other expenses involved in travel to the hospital where their loved one is being treated. Joshua's Mission also assists in meeting the spiritual needs of injured Marines and their families.

Blue Star Families provides online and physical chapter-based communities by serving as a bridge between families and support and service organizations that help make military life more sustainable through outreach and involvement with national and local organizations, civilian communities and government entities. 

Army Wife Network is the internet’s leading website for Army wives, by Army wives, providing “Interactive Empowerment” with Army Wife Talk Radio podcast, live chat feature, columns, Loving A Soldier blog, message boards, military shopping links, resource database, and social media galore. Their Field Exercise™ events are a grassroots seminar series for military spouses, with the goal of rejuvenating spouses.

BrainLine features an interview with Jan Brown , a woman who transformed her life after two TBIs and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Ms. Brown is an advocate and champion for wellness and choice around living in recovery. Currently, a consultant coach focusing on addiction and brain injury recovery, Jan also serves as Founding and Executive Director for SpiritWorks Foundation Center for Recovery of the Soul, the Center for Addiction Recovery & Wellness. 

The Military Child Education Coalition works to ensure that quality educational opportunities are available for all military-connected children affected by mobility, family separation and transition. A model of positive leadership and advocacy, the Military Child Education Coalition performs research, develops resources, conducts professional institutes and conferences and publishes resources for all constituencies.

 Home Front Hearts provides support and resources to the families of service members, increasing public awareness of the struggles of military families, and engaging both individuals and businesses in building communities that are responsive to the needs of these families. Visit The Exchange, an online resource that connects military families with individuals or businesses in their community that help them with their special needs. 

The Deployment Health Clinical Center recently completed Deployment Healthcare Track Workshops at the 2009 Force Health Protection Conference. Find information about past workshops, or view a list of upcoming training courses and conferences. 

WarWithin is a comprehensive online database of health providers who are trained in, or have demonstrated an interest in, serving the specific needs of military service members and their families. WarWithin is a product of the Citizen Soldier Support Program, hosted by the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Citizen Soldier Support Program works to connect service members and their families to primary health care and behavioral health providers trained to address issues that affect military members and the people who support our nation's troops before, during and after deployment.

"Triumph" is the Anxiety Disorders Association of America's free, quarterly e-newsletter for people interested in learning about anxiety and related disorders. "Triumph" features articles and research news, resources, relevant events, as well as programs and news of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Anxiety in children and the nature and treatment of panic were just two of the recent topics featured. To register here for this publication. 

The Army National Guard’s 2010 "Ready & Resilient II" campaign embraces the entire family unit and offers information, tools and resources that support and benefit them throughout the cycle of deployment. The Web site provides essential tools and is a central resiliency resource for the Army National Guard. Spa HOOAH, Ready & Resilient II’s Web platform, offers weekly news updates and a virtual health and wellness environment designed to entertain and revitalize all age groups. Check out the educational and training resources, links to existing family and soldier support services and personal real-life stories of readiness and resilience. 

The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital have joined forces to create the Home Base Program, a partnership designed to help veterans with PTSD and TBI and their families. Visit their website to learn more about the promising work that they are doing to help the men and women who have served our country. 

Strong Families Strong Forces aims to develop a family program to support the healthy reintegration of soldiers from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom into their families. The program will be designed for families with children up to five years old and will recognize the particular needs and developmental challenges that arise when parenting young children. The goal of this home-based family program is to mitigate the impact of combat and separation-related stress on the parent-child and family relationships.

The University of Michigan Depression Center is the first comprehensive center dedicated to research, education and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder. The Center’s Welcome Back Veterans program addresses mental health issues facing military service members and their families 

CBR YouthConnect (CBR) is now a TRICARE approved provider and contracted with TriWest as an "In-Network" Provider. "For nearly 50 years, our organization has grown and evolved to meet the needs of society, and to now be able to provide our mental health and educational services to our U.S. military service members and their families makes us very proud", said CBR YouthConnect President Chuck Thompson. This is a great opportunity for any family with eligible youth and in need of residential psychiatric treatment services. Learn more on the CBR website. 

The American Psychological Association is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 150,000 members, the American Psychological Association is the largest association of psychologists worldwide. It seeks to advance psychology as a science, a profession and a means of promoting health, education and human welfare. To achieve this goal, the American Psychological Association disseminates psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions and publications.

Project: Return to Work, a non-profit organization established in 1998, provides personalized vocational rehabilitation and employment services to Americans with disabilities, including recently injured soldiers returning from Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world. Project: Return to Work provides each client with specialized vocational evaluations, career counseling services, job development support, individualized work plans and entry into a nationwide database reaching over 10,000 employers to help individuals transition back into the workforce. Project: Return to Work clients receive continuous support from caring and personable employment counselors.

Music Therapists use music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.  They structure the use of both instrumental and vocal music strategies to facilitate changes that are non-musical in nature.  Music therapists design sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using a variety of techniques and approaches.  Music therapy interventions can be used to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, enhance memory, improve communication, and provide unique opportunities for interaction. Please visit the AMTA website to learn more about their services.

Through a movement called ReMIND.org — The Bob Woodruff Foundation helps educate the public about the needs of service members returning from war and support all injured service members with a special emphasis on the Hidden Injuries of War - Traumatic Brain Injury and Combat Stress. 

ECAD aims to train and place assistance dogs to help people with disabilities gain independence and mobility. With training facilities in Connecticut and New York, ECAD has placed assistance dogs in over a dozen states since 1995. Through Project HEAL, ECAD offers veterans the opportunity to utilize its services and service dog training program to help rebuild and better their lives.

The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Defense Commissary Agency shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices. A core military family support element and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's warriors and their families and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country. 

The Virtual Counseling Center at Arizona State University designs and evaluates standardized tests and evidence-based intervention programs to help students, graduates and veterans develop career plans and life skills. The center also provides links to related materials created by other researchers. To ensure maximum benefit, all resources have a solid scientific basis and are capable of being administered over the Internet.

The Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute is dedicated to the education and certification of fly fishing instructors, guides, medical professionals, educators and other service providers in order to ensure the highest possible quality of service and availability of therapeutic and adaptive fly fishing programs for people with special needs. The institute can deliver its services to willing participants anywhere around the country as long as the site has access to water and fish.

The Folds of Honor Foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service members killed or disabled while serving our great nation.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization, in the world, dedicated to mental health research. NIMH’s mission is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure.  In 2009 NIMH and the U.S. Army partnered to conduct the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service Members (Army STARRS). Army STARRS is the largest study of suicide and mental health among military personnel ever undertaken. Its goal is to identify, as rapidly as possible, risk and protective factors that will help the Army develop effective strategies for mitigating suicide risk among soldiers.

Recently there has been an increased effort to hire returning veterans because of experience in leadership and diversity to respect for procedures. View the “Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Veteran.” 

AW2 Community Support Network Conference Call The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Community Support Network will host a conference call in early May with AW2 leadership and a wounded Soldier. The topic will be the importance of adaptive sports and recreation to the recovery of wounded warriors. For more information or to join the AW2 Community Support Network, contact AW2CommunitySupportNetwork@conus.army.mil or (703) 325-0397.

Installation Management Command provides the Army with the installation capabilities and services to support expeditionary operations in a time of persistent conflict, and to provide a quality of life for soldiers and families commensurate with their service. Because it offers relocation help, soldiers and their families can visit the Installation Management Command’s Relocation Web page for instructions and advice for planning, moving and settling in. 

Pets for Patriots helps veterans, wounded military and service members in transition through companion pet adoption. The charity supports the honorable adoption of adult shelter pets, large dogs and special needs dogs and cats by veterans at any stage of their military careers and from any branch of service. Learn more at their website and become a member Patriot today.

The Generations of Warriors Project works to inform the public about the need to handle the recovery of returning warriors more effectively. Members of the Generations of Warriors Project are bound together with a common bond of compassion for those grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters who have experienced the price of sacrifice yet continue to struggle with readjusting into the society of peace and freedom for which they fought. The Generations of Warriors Project provides information, commentary and resources to help raise awareness of common issues experienced by service members and veterans.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Stories That Heal campaign is for people living with mental health problems, as well as their friends and family. You'll find real-life stories and resources at www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov that help in the recovery process. The Stories That Heal campaign believes that it's time for us to stand up and support our loved ones who struggle with mental health problems, and that, together, the healing will begin.

The Center for Deployment Psychology offers various training courses for active duty, reserve and civilian behavioral health professionals in the classroom and online. Upcoming courses include “Addressing the Psychological Health of Warriors and their Families: PTSD, Depression and TBI” (one-week training program; April 5-9 - Austin, TX) and “Topics in Deployment Psychology” (two-week training program; April 19-30, 2010 and July 26-August 6, 2010. 

DoD's Yellow Ribbon Program recently unveiled the Event Planner tool, an end-to-end event management application. This tool allows service members and families to find and register for local Yellow Ribbon Program events. 

There & Back Again is hosting a Winter Fundraiser 2010 event Supporting Veterans’ Battle with PTSD on February 25 from 6-9 p.m. To join special guests, Boston Bruins Shawn Thorton, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and Massachusetts State Representative Harold Naughton register online at thereandbackagain.eventbrite.com

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States of America is perhaps the most exclusive organization in our country - it is certainly one of the most unique. Its small membership includes individuals of all races, social classes and economic levels. They range in stature from 5'2" to 6'7", range in age from 60 to 100 and live in all areas of our country. Among them are scholars and ordinary people, successful entrepreneurs and struggling laborers, ministers and misfits and the very rich to the very poor.

The American Veteran, a Department of Veterans Affairs monthly video magazine, features the stories of service and sacrifice made by America's men and women in uniform and discusses some of the benefits they have earned. The July issue features stories on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program and Project Odyssey. You can watch this month’s video, or view previous issues, on the VA Web site. 

The Wounded Warrior Resource Call Center is a centralized toll-free phone number that wounded warriors, families and caregivers can call at any time to get help from trained professionals. Call 800-342-9647 or e-mail wwrc@militaryonesource.com, 24 hours a day, with concerns or questions during the recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration stages. 

Robert J. Ursano, MD, director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, will lead an interdisciplinary team of four research institutions to carry out a National Institute of Mental Health study addressing the rising suicide rate among soldiers. The study has been described as "the largest study of suicide and mental health among military personnel ever undertaken, with $50 million in funding from the U.S. Army. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s What a Difference Campaign aims to encourage, educate and inspire people between 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. This initiative is meant to inspire young people to serve as the mental health vanguard, motivating a societal change toward acceptance and decreasing the negative attitudes that surround mental illness.

Freedom Is Not Free is a mission driven organization dedicated to assisting wounded service members and their families and the families of the fatally wounded. We fulfill our mission in the fallowing manner: Freedom Is Not Free makes grants to Purple Heart recipients and their families to meet their immediate financial needs, including but not limited to, the expenses associated with medical care, travel, home modification, and paying bills. We support community projects doe wounded veterans and provide support and healing activities for families of wounded service members, particularly their children.

Singer John Mayer supports American Veterans through a special collaboration with Tickets-for-Charity on his Battle Studies World Tour. Front Row VIP Packages, including front-row seats and an autographed event poster, are now available for all U.S. tour dates on www.ticketsforcharity.com to benefit NCIRE-The Veterans Health Research Institute as well as the Military Outreach Ministry at Camp Pendleton, CA. 

 SOFAR is pleased to announce the launch of three new chapters: SOFARNY, the New York chapter, SOFARMichigan, the Michigan chapter and The Veterans Project of South Florida, a SOFAR affiliate. Visit the SOFAR website to learn more about the great work of each chapter.

The USO celebrated it’s 69th Birthday on February 4th! Visit their On Patrol Blog for exclusive stories and historical photos from various USO. 

The Semper Fi Fund (SFF) provides financial assistance and quality of life solutions to Marines, Sailors and service members who have served in support of Marine forces, when they become injured in post 9-11 combat or training operations; and their families.

NAMI Alabama, the state affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons with a mental illness in Alabama. Through its programs, NAMI Alabama provides information, support and a sense of belonging to persons and veterans with serious mental illness and their families.

CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, is a nonprofit organization founded by parents of children with epilepsy who were frustrated with their inability to protect their children from the devastation of seizures and the side effects of medications. Unwilling to sit back and accept the debilitating effects of epilepsy, these parents joined forces to spearhead the search for a cure. CURE’s mission is to find a cure for epilepsy by raising funds for research and by increasing awareness of the prevalence and devastation of this disease. CURE has also worked to establish post-traumatic epilepsy as a disease that merits and now receives crucial funding support for research.

The SLI was founded to solve the concussion crisis in sports through medical research, treatment, and prevention. In June 2009, they expanded their mission to serve our military veterans. SLI launched a military brain donation registry to help support the future health of our military veterans who have suffered from trauma, including blast injuries. Visit SLI’s website to learn more about participating.