Military Families

by Eu R. Choo, M.A., Doctoral Student, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, USMC ; and Marianne Cook, LICSW, Clinician, Harvard University Mental Health Service

U.S. service members and their families face unique life challenges. Whether it involves conflicts between military duties and family responsibilities, frequent relocations among duty stations, separation during deployments, or the injury or even death of loved ones, military families face major emotional and psychological stress. A number of service members develop conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is also a significant level of suicide and relationship violence in military families. The mental health field and the military are paying increasing attention to these problems.

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Resource Organizations » Military Families

10 listing(s), including 1 offering support groups

In Massachusetts

Bedford VA Medical Center - Crescent House

www.bedford.va.gov/Mentalhealth/cresc.asp
Psychology Service 116 B3
200 Springs Road
Bedford, MA  01730
781-687-3021
The Crescent Building Transitional Residence Program (CWT/TR), located in Lowell, MA, is a unique rehabilitation program which is designed to intervene in the cycle of homelessness and institutionalization by providing an environment in which veterans can acquire skills and supports needed to function productively and independently in competitive employment and community based housing.

National Center for PTSD

www.ptsd.va.gov
150 South Huntington Street
Jamaica Plain, MA  02130
857-364-5419
The National Center for PTSD is dedicated to excellence in research and education on the prevention, understanding, and treatment of PTSD. Its purpose is to improve the well-being and understanding of veterans and others suffering from PTSD. The website includes the definition of PTSD, fact sheets on topics related to PTSD, and information of finding professional help.

National Center for PTSD

www.ptsd.va.gov/about/divisions/womens-health-sciences-division.asp
Women's Health Sciences Division 166B-3
150 South Huntington Street
Jamaica Plain, MA  02130
857-364-4145
The Women's Health Sciences Division located in Boston, MA, focuses on the special issues of women and PTSD, and especially on effective treatments. The Division has pioneered research on the psychological impact of military service on women veterans. Such initiatives include development of psychological assessment techniques, the impact of sexual assault and military sexual trauma, and on the effect of PTSD on women's health and medical problems. There is also a major focus on treatment dissemination and training.

Statewide Advocacy for Veteran's Empowerment (SAVE)

www.mass.gov/?pageID=veteranssubtopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Returning+Veterans&L2=SAVE+Team&sid=Eveterans
600 Washington St., Suite 1100
Boston, MA  02111
888-844-2838
The SAVE program's primary mission is prevention of suicide and mental health distress through the identification of issues facing veterans when they return from service and proactively providing them with access to benefits and services that may address these issues and result in positive transitions back to civilian life.

Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists (SOFAR)

www.sofarusa.org
Offers support group(s)
1619 Mass Ave, #25
Cambridge, MA  02238
617-266-2611
SOFAR:Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists is a pro bono, mental health project that provides free psychological support, psychotherapy, psychoeducation and prevention services to extended family of reserve and national guard deployed during the Global War on Terrorism from time of alert through the period of reunion and reintegration.

The Home Base Program

www.homebaseprogram.org/
101 Merrimac Street, Suite 250
Boston, MA  02114
617-643-7708
The Home Base Program is a partnership between the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital. We are dedicated to improving the lives of veterans who deployed in support of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and live with deployment- or combat-related stress and/or traumatic brain injury. We provide clinical care to veterans as well as support for their families. The Home Base Program also offers educational courses and materials for health care providers and the public. We're also bringing together world-class researchers seeking medical breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury and stress-related disorders.

Outside Massachusetts

Afterdeployment.org

www.afterdeployment.org/
Outreach Center: 866-966-1020
Afterdeployment.org is a wellness resource for the military community. Our mission is to help service members, their families, and veterans overcome common adjustment problems following a deployment. The resources and exercises on afterdeployment.org address post-deployment challenges, including: post-traumatic stress and triggers; conflict at work; re-connecting with family and friends; depression; anger; sleep problems; substance abuse; stress management; kids and deployment; spiritual guidance; living with physical injuries; health and wellness; and much more. The developers have strived to build a media-rich, fully interactive Web site. There are assessments, testimonials, forums, blogs, and workshops.

Military Homefront

www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
Washington, DC  20001
MilitaryHOMEFRONT is the Department of Defense website for official Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) program information, policy, and guidance designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers.

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

www.ncdsv.org
4612 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78756
512-407-9020
The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence provides training and consultation, influences policy, and promotes collaboration with the goal of ending domestic and sexual violence. The website provides links to extensive resources related to relationship violence within specific communities. There is a special section on the organization's efforts to stop relationship violence in military families: www.ncdsv.org/ncd_militaryresponse.html.

National Military Family Association (NMFA)

www.nmfa.org
2500 North Van Dorn St, Suite 102
Alexandria, VA  22302
800-260-0218
703-931-6632
The National Military Family Association (NMFA) is an organization dedicated to serving military families. The NMFA educates military families concerning their rights, benefits and services available to them such as Operation Purple®, a program that was created to support children of deployed service members.

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Additional Sources of Information

Disclaimer: Material on the Project INTERFACE web site is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. Project INTERFACE urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.