Web Links: Families

Below are links to resources that may be helpful to families dealing with trauma or PTSD. A number of these resources are specific to families of Veterans and military personnel.

General Public Resource Links

• Family Caregiver Alliance*
  Family Caregiver Alliance addresses the needs of families caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions. FCA offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers.
  
• NAMI Family-to-Family*
  The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses.
  
• Resource List for Families (PDF)*
  From the Support and Family Education (SAFE) program at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  
• Sesame Street Parents*
  Advice by Sesameworkshop.org about how to talk with children about tragedy and when to seek professional help.

Veteran and Military Families

• VA Caregiver Support
  The VA Caregiver Support Line 1-855-260-3274 provides services and support to family members who are taking care of a Veteran.
• Coaching into Care
  This VA program works with family members who become aware of their Veteran's post-deployment difficulties--and supports their efforts to find help for the Veteran. Contact them at 1-888-823-7458 or CoachingIntoCare@va.gov.
• Department of Defense Deployment Health Family Readiness Library
  This library provides service members, families, and healthcare providers a quick and easy way to find deployment health and family readiness information.
• DoD Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
  Call 1-866-966-1020 or email resources@dcoeoutreach.org. Provides authoritative information and resources 24/7 to Service Members, Veterans, and families, and those who support them.
• Family Matters and Family Readiness Groups (FRGs)*
  The Army's Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) are made up of officers, enlisted soldiers, civilians, and family members who volunteer to provide support to troops and their families throughout the deployment cycle.
• FOCUS Project (Families Overcoming Under Stress)*
  A program for military families that is currently being used in ten Naval and Marine sites.
• Give an Hour*
  A nonprofit group providing free mental health services to US military personnel and families affected by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Military Family Assistance Centers*
  This resource finder will help all military family members find help at a Family Assistance Center near you. Although funded by the National Guard Bureau, these centers provide help for the Joint Services. Get tips, tools, and training on family issues.
• MilitaryHOMEFRONT
  The official DoD site for reliable quality of life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers. Includes links to all Active Duty Family Program Support centers on military installations.
• National Resource Directory
  The NRD links to over 10,000 services and resources that support recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, and those who support them.
• Sesame Street's Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes*
  A bilingual educational outreach initiative designed to be shared by military families and their young children.
• SOFAR (Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists)*
  SOFAR provides free counseling and support to the families of deployed Reserve and National Guard troops. 1-888-278-0041.
• Veterans and Families Coming Home*
  Provides information for families, employers, and communities to help support homecoming Veterans in their transition from military to civilian life. Resources, readings, and information on preparing for homecoming.