Dr. Ursula Bowling: Resources for Supporting Veterans and Their Families

Dr. Ursula Bowling: Resources for Veterans and Their Families

The website for "Operation Enduring Families," is now up and running. You may go to the following web address to gain additional information regarding this excellent program.

http://w3.ouhsc.edu/oef/

As Dr. Bowling mentioned during her presentation, she will provide a copy of her program "Operation Enduring Families," to all of you who are interested in reviewing and hopefully implementing it. The manual lays out a step-by-step process for implementing the program at your site, including letters of invitations, announcements, etc., which can be personalized to each site. You may receive your copy by e-mailing Dr. Bowling at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Ursula-Bowling@ouhsc.edu

Resources for Veterans and Their Families
Compiled by Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D. (Revised March 2008)

BOOKS

For Veterans / Soldiers (and Adult family members)

Back from the Front: Combat Trauma, Love, and the Family. (2007). A. Matsakis.

Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Returning Soldiers and Their Families (2006).
Keith Armstrong, Suzanne Best, Paula Domenici

Down Range: To Iraq and Back (2005). Bridget Cantrell, Ph.D., Chuck Dean.

While They're at War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront (2006).
Kristin Henderson

Trust After Trauma: A Guide to Relationships for Survivors and Those Who Love Them. (1998)
Aphrodite Matsakis

For Kids

Daddy, You're My Hero! // Mommy, You're My Hero! (2005). [for kids ages 4-8]
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen

A Very Long Time (2005). [for kids ages 4-8; picture book for children whose parent is deployed].
Geri Timperley, Nikki Arro

Uncle Sam’s Kids: When Duty Calls. (2003). [for kids ages 5-11]
Angela Sportelli-Rehak

Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who has Experienced Trauma. (2005)
[for kids ages 12-18] . Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D., DeAnne M. Sherman.
(available at http://www.seedsofhopebooks.com/)

WEBSITES

National Military Family Association / Operation Purple Camp. http://www.nmfa.org/

Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647). http://www.militaryonesource.com/

Military HOMEFRONT (Official DoD site). http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/

Benefits Facts Sheets, US Department of Veterans Affairs: www.vba.va.gov/benefit_facts/index.htm

Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists: http://www.sofarusa.org/

Salute Our Services A Thousand Thanks to Military Kids Program (sends free personalized card to military child): http://www.saluteourservices.org/skins/sos/display.aspx?mode=user&ModuleId=8cde2e88-3052-448c-893d-d0b4b14b31c4&action=display_page&ObjectID=f2cbe28f-381c-475a-a2aa-175371eed89d

Emotional Health:

National Center for PTSD. http://www.ncptsd.org/

National Mental Health Association. www.nmha.org/reunions

Operation Enduring Families: A 5 session psychoeducational program for veterans who have recently returned from a combat theater and their families. Email Ursula-Bowling@ouhsc.edu for a free copy.


S.A.F.E. Program, Support And Family Education: Mental Health Facts for Families. An 18-session curriculum for people who care about someone who has a mental illness / PTSD.
http://w3.ouhsc.edu/Safeprogram/

Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (DOD sponsored mental health / alcohol screening and referral program offered to families and service members affected by deployment) https://webmail.ouhsc.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://tr.subscribermail.com/cc.cfm?sendto=www%25!

Deployment:

Surviving Deployment: Resources for Military Families. http://www.survivingdeployment.com/

Deployment Guide For Families of Deploying Soldiers. Separation and Reunion Handbook
http://www.hooah4health.com/deployment/familymatters/reunion.htm

DOD Deployment Health Clinical Center -- A Soldier and Family Guide to Redeploying.
chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/deployment/FamilyReunionTrifold19Dec03.pdf

Welcome Home: How to make a difference in the lives of returning war zone veterans (includes Dr. James Munroe’s “Eight Battlefield Skills that Make Life in the Civilian World Challenging”). Washington Family Policy Council. www.fpc.wa.gov/Welcome%20Home.pdf

Issues about Children/Youth

Operation Child Care (for National Guard and Reservists).
http://www.childcareaware.org/en/operationchildcare/

National Guard Family Program / Guard Family Youth Website
http://www.guardfamily.org/ // www.guardfamilyyouth.org

DOD’s Military Student Program: The Military Child in Transition and Deployment
http://www.militarystudent.dod.mil/

VIDEOS

Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment. Sesame Street DVD.
Available for free through Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647) OR www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc

When Parents Are Deployed (with Cuba Gooding, Jr). Sesame Street video. Available to view at:
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/wpad/

Youth Coping With Military Deployment: "Promoting Resilience in Your Family" and “Mr. Poe and Friends.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Video from Operation Purple summer camp with interviews by kids. Available: http://www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/ysp-resources.htm

Getting Home: All the Way Home
Free downloadable DVD created by TriWest (TRICARE Contractor) for soldiers & their families. www.triwest.com/triwest/default.html?/triwest/unauth/newContent/newBehavioralHealth/videostream.asp