Veteran Resources

Diverse Veteran Population

SAGEVets

Statewide program for LGBT Elders to assist, support health, wellness and access to the VA and other Veteran Services


Education & Training

PsychArmorInstitute 

By leveraging industry experts and trainers, PsychArmor Institute develops educational content designed to supportthe unique needs associated with military culture. PsychArmor can provide their online training courses at no cost to the learner. We also work with partners to create tailored curriculum pathways for teams, custom training videos and micro-courses.

Mental Health First Aid for Veterans

For some members of the military, the battle does not end when they leave the battlefield. Mental Health First Aid for Military Members, Veterans and their Families teaches people how to notice and respond to signs of mental health and addiction challenges with a specific focus on cultural factors related to military life.


Emergency Assistance

Incarcerated Veterans Program

This resources is for individuals and organizations that work with Veterans who are justice involved and help them re-integrate into the community.

Caregivers’ Resources

AARP veteran-specific guide to help military and veteran caregivers tackle some of the most critical issues they’re facing because of COVID-19.

Building Better Caregivers (BBC)

A free 6-week online workshop developed by Stanford University to support caregivers of Veterans of all eras that are enrolled in VA Healthcare. Caregivers will learn ways to manage stress of caring for others and support of others with lived experience in a safe secure email environment.
If you are an organization interested in referring your caregivers to BBC, click the link for a flyer you can share with your caregivers.


Family

Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors

Provides comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one. This can be Peer support for bereaved survivors, seminars, publications, retreats and assist with benefitsand resources.  Taps also provides free training for anyone dealing with grief and loss.

Caregivers’ Resources

AARP veteran-specific guide to help military and veteran caregivers tackle some of the most critical issues they’re facing because of COVID-19.

Building Better Caregivers (BBC)

A free 6-week online workshop developed by Stanford University to support caregivers of Veterans of all eras that are enrolled in VA Healthcare. Caregivers will learn ways to manage stress of caring for others and support of others with lived experience in a safe secure email environment.

If you are an organization interested in referring your caregivers to BBC, click the link for a flyer you can share with your caregivers.

Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families: Blue Star Families organization provides programs and resources to Blue Star military families, such as financial assistance and resources, discounts and perks, special events, educational materials and careers.


Health, Medical, & Wellness

Gender Differences in the Development of Suicidal Behavior

Health Services Research & Development Veteran Perspectives showcasing suicide prevention intervention from a Veteran’s perspective based on gender.

REACH to Prevent Suicide

Reach is a VA program that has been established to prevent suicide through collaboration, pledge and education.

Veterans Guide

Veterans Guide provides you with the necessary information you need to obtain the maximum benefits when you leave military service.

Homebase Program

Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, provides information, wellness, education and research that impacts Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen.

2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report

The 2019 National Suicide Prevention Annual Report will provide individuals and organizations with information about suicide within the Veteran community and strategies used to prevent suicide and further needs within the community.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Free Mental Health Apps

VA provides a number of free mental health, Apps to help mange stress, PTSD, anger, concussion symptoms, insomnia, promotes self-care, mindfulness, mood, and couples’ healthy relationship.

Veteran Health Administration TRAIN

VHA TRAIN provides health and wellness training targeted for veterans’ health needs. Through this site you can find training to satisfy professional development needs. Training found through a search of the TRAIN.org website is made available as a public service. Web pages, training, and programs from non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-New York

NAMI-NYS is the state organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country. NAMI-NYS provides support to family and friends of individuals with mental illness and persons living with mental illnesses through more than 50 affiliates statewide.

Vet Centers Readjustment Counseling

Readjustment counseling is a wide range of psycho social services offered to eligible Veterans, Service members, and their families in the effort to make a successful transition from military to civilian life.

Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center at NYU Langone Health

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Center at NYU Langone Health provides free and confidential individual and group therapy for veterans and their family members. Call 855-698-4677 for more information. 1 Park Ave, New York NY 10016

Counties Served: All

Mental Health First Aid for Veterans

For some members of the military, the battle doesn’t end when they leave the battlefield. Mental Health First Aid for Military Members, Veterans and their Families teaches people how to notice and respond to signs of mental health and addiction challenges with a specific focus on cultural factors related to military life.

Cohen Veterans’ Network 

Cohen Veterans’ Network offers brief, client-centered therapy for a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems, and children’s behavioral problems. Their high-quality care is centered on therapy options that are the current, best practices available, based on research

Here to Help Military and Families

Here to Help Military and Families is a not-for-profit organization which provides free, confidential psychological counseling for post 9/11 military service members and their families and loved ones. We provide individual, couples and family therapy through a network of licensed professionals. Services are available to active and discharged military from all branches of the Armed Forces, National Guard and Reserves, regardless of discharge status. 1025 Northern Blvd, Suite 301. Roslyn NY 11576

New York Presbyterian Wellness Center

New York Presbyterian Wellness Center: New York-Presbyterian Military Family Wellness Center connects U.S. military service members of any duty status and service era and their families with high quality, evidence-based mental health services. This innovative program, which is available at both New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, helps address the unique health challenges of service members and their loved ones in a confidential and secure environment.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises Inc.

The Access to Home for Heroes (formerly known as Access to Home for Veterans) program provides financial assistance to make dwelling units accessible for low- and moderate-income veterans living with a disability. Examples include wheelchair ramps and lifts, handrails, doorway widening, and roll-in showers.  Contact: Jack Jaworski / jjaworski@familyres.org / 516-350-2092. 191 Bethpage – Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage NY 11804

Counties Served: Nassau, Suffolk

AIM Independent Living Center

Assistance and/or representation in obtaining veteran and civilian benefits, services and programs; guidance related to securing and/or retaining housing/shelter; assistance involving legal issues or drug and alcohol abuse; vocational support, encouragement and accountability; independent living skills training and development; and the navigation of social systems for the purpose of re-integration into the greater community. Female Veterans can also be provided a veteran volunteer peer through the Peer to Peer Mentoring programming. All veteran services are free of charge. Contact: Edward Tierney / etierney@aimcil.com / 607-962-8225. Counties Served: Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler. Referrals from all counties will be provided services.

350 West Church Street Elmira,NY 14901

Start Your Recovery

StartYourRecovery.org provides helpful information for people who are dealing with substance use issues — and their family members, friends, and co-workers, too. We know that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges faced by those who misuse alcohol, prescription or illegal drugs, or other substances, and we aim to break through the clutter to help people at any stage of recovery. The goal is to offer people who are dealing with substance use issues a single source of reputable, objective information about signs, symptoms, conditions, treatment options, and resources — presented in a user-friendly format and in language that’s easy to understand. First we asked: “Why doesn’t someone offer access to these resources in one place?” Then we asked: “Why don’t we?”

Medicare Plans Resource Center

As a Medicare plans resource center (Note: we do not sell or provide healthcare plans), we’ve made it our mission to help aging adults get the most out of Medicare. As I’m sure you already know, Medicare, like all health insurance programs, can be very complicated. How Medicare works in conjunction with the VA military healthcare benefits can be extremely confusing. Our new resource helps veterans understand how Medicare works with VA and TRICARE, should a veteran enroll, how to enroll, and most importantly strategies on how to maximize benefits.


Legal Services

Legal Services NYC

1 West 125th Street, 2nd Floor New York NY 10027

The LSNYC Veterans Justice Project (VJP) provides comprehensive civil legal services to low-income military veterans, service members and their families. The VJP is designed to help veterans achieve greater housing and financial stability and connect veterans with social and mental health services in the City. The VJP works holistically to protect veterans and their family members from homelessness, resolve barriers to employment, preserve economic stability, and remedy many other problems that derail veterans’ successful reintegration into civilian life.

Counties Served: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.

16 W. William Street, Bath NY 14810

Provides possible representation to low-income veterans on issues such as, Veteran Claims, Social Security Claims, Landlord/Tenant Issues, Pro Se Divorces, Foreclosure, Name Changes, Fair Housing, Consumer Debt, and Re-Entry.

Counties Served: Steuben, Allegany

Nassau Suffolk Law Services Committee Inc.

1 Helen Keller Way, 5th Floor, Hempstead NY 11550

Nassau Suffolk Law Services Committee Inc. provides free civil legal services and legal support to community advocates to ensure that low income, disabled, and disadvantaged individuals have equal access to the civil justice system on Long Island. Veteran callers can ask for the

Veterans Rights Project Telephone numbers: (516) 292-8100 (Nassau) and (631) 2322400 (Suffolk)

Counties Served: Nassau, Suffolk

New York Legal Assistance Group

7 Hanover Square, 18th Floor, New York NY 10004  

Free civil legal services for veterans who are patients of the Bronx and Manhattan VA Hospitals. Legal matters include Veterans’ benefits, Social Security benefits, discharge upgrades, housing, family law, advance directives (powers of attorneys, wills), and federal student loan discharges. Specialized legal clinic for women veterans. Level of service ranges from advice and counsel to full representation. Intake Line: 212-659-6199

Counties Served: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond

Prisoners’ Legal Services of NY 

114 Prospect Street, Ithaca NY 14850

Advocacy for incarcerated female veterans around health care, mental health, and prison disciplinary issues.

Counties Served: All

Military Culture

PsychArmor Institute

Provides free online military culture education and resources for those working with military members, Veterans and their family members.

The Warrior Code: 11 Principles to Unleash the Badass Inside of You by Tee Marie Hanible

This book is about the experience of a young woman and her career in the Marines and how the military changed her life and provided her with principles to live by.

Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us by Shauna Springer PH D

This book provides the read an understanding of Military Culture, Veterans’ specific concerns and interventions to help mental health providers work with Veterans Effectively.

Military life Cycle

Veterans History Project (Library of Congress): The Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center collects and preserves the firsthand interviews and narratives of United States military veterans from World War I through the present. In addition to audio- and video-recorded oral history interviews, VHP accepts memoirs and collections of original photographs, letters, diaries, maps and other historical documents from veterans who served in the US armed services from World War I through the present.

Military Organizations

American Legion

American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization provides advocacy, information, resources and mentors youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities. Membership is open to all Veterans and service members and membership fee required.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America provides information, resources and peer support to 9/11 Veterans.

Military Officers Association of America

Military Officers Association provides information, resources and peer support to active duty, former, retired and National Guard and Reserve commissioned and warrant officers and their surviving spouses.

Veteran Affairs

VA Welcome Kit has comprehensive, easy to understand, and step by step resource tools to provide Veterans and their caregivers about VA benefit related questions.

The National Association of American Veterans

The National Association of American Veterans, Inc. (NAAV) was established in 2005 to assist the severely wounded warriors, especially single parent service members, military caregivers, disabled veterans and their families by helping them access their benefits, improving communications and coordination for veterans and collaborating among health agencies, medical professional, organizations, educational organization and the general public.

NYC Veterans Alliance

A nonprofit organization that provides advocacy through member leadership. In addition, the organization is pivotal in helping Vets promote veteran related events, find events to attend and publicize veteran’s film and media projects. Anything from affordable housing to legal help can be found here.

Peer Support

Mission Continues

Mission Continues is a nonprofit organization that empowers veterans facing the challenge of adjusting to life at home to find new missions by giving Veterans volunteer opportunities to continue to give back to their communities.

Recreation, Mobility, & Retreats

Heal Veterans Therapeutic Craft Kits

Veterans can request free craft kits that can be mailed to them.  They can sign up by calling 1-888-567-8387 or they can go to the website. The website shows them all the different types of crafts they can receive.

Continue to Serve

Continue to Serve is a grassroots organization that works in favor of social justice and serves the community by engaging in outreach, forming effective partnerships and using direct action statements and advocacy to hold those in public office accountable.

VetsAid

VetsAid is a non-profit organization and benefit music festival to raise and disperse sorely needed funds to Veterans’ groups across the country that are serving the men and women who served our country with the dignity, compassion and honor they deserve.

OurVeterans.NYC

Calendar and Bulletin Boards for Veteran centered events and jobs search.

Saratoga WarHorse

PO Box 461, Saratoga Springs NY 12866

SWH program – 3-day classes, offered several times each month. The average class size is 5 participants. The program is available to veterans and service members from all branches of the military, regardless of when or for how long they served. The focus of this program is on helping participants get past the physiological symptoms of negative consequences following trauma or Post Traumatic Stress. Saratoga WarHorse does not provide traditional “therapy,” but does offer an undoubtedly therapeutic experience. There is No cost to attend the Saratoga WarHorse program. They will pay 100% of lodging, and meal.

Counties Served: All

Veterans in Media and Entertainment 

Veterans in Media and Entertainment is a nonprofit gateway to being a part of the entertainment industry. From casting to behind the scenes, VME gives veterans a chance to break into the entertainment industry and mitigates the factors of being without “local roots” due to military service, to help vets obtain education and job placement in movies and television.

Team Red, White, and Blue

Team RWB enriches veterans’ lives by connecting them to local, consistent, and inclusive opportunities for veterans and the community to connect through physical and social activity. Volunteers host regular fitness activities, social gatherings, and community service events, Download the app or visit www.teamrwb.org. Chapters in Buffalo, Rochester, Oswego, Syracuse, Ithaca, Fort Drum/Watertown, Albany, West Point, NYC (Manhattan), Bronx, Queens/Brooklyn, Long Island

Service Animals Program

Action Toward Independence

309 E Broadway #A, Monticello NY 12701

Action Toward Independence provides Service dogs and training to Veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI or MST, as well as provide Veteran Peer groups, Anger Management groups. Contact: Crystal Brousseau / cbrousseau@atitoday.org / 845-794-4228

Counties Served: Sullivan, Orange 

Women Veterans

Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving

Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving is a reintegration program for women veterans that utilizes writing and performance to empower experiences and facilitate skills to thrive in daily life. Services include empowerment workshops, public speaking events and empowering stage performances.

Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc.

31 West Main St, Patchogue NY 11772

Supportive Services for veterans and their families. Specifically targeting, women veterans who are homeless or in jeopardy of becoming homeless, can receive case management, legal services, employment assistance, unmet needs fund access.

Contact: Main Line 631-289-2601

Counties Served: Suffolk

Military Women In Power, Ltd

1418 Balcom Avenue, Bronx NY 10461

100% volunteer program, no monetary invested interest in any of the applicants. Troubleshoot their needs, provide immediate and emergency assistance. Advocate on their behalf, provide immediate resources through referrals and/or physically representing them and their families with/to training programs, housing appointments, employment agents, completing VA claims applications, counseling MST (Military Sexual Trauma, C/PTSD (Combat/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Anger Management, Suicide Prevention, Parenting and Marriage counseling.

Counties Served: All five NYC boroughs and online service/s

National Association of Black Military Women

3135 Edson Avenue, Suite One, Bronx NY 10469

Contact: Catherine Laporte / nabmwNortheastRegion@gmail.com / 516-241-1510

The National Association of Black Military (NABMW) is an association of women Veterans who have served or currently are serving in the United States Armed Forces. Founded in 1976, with Chapters in New York City, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Antonio and our newest cluster in the Washington DC, and Maryland area. The organization seeks to tell the story of Black women who have served in our volunteer forces. NABMW programs include: angel connect calls and sisterhood programs centered around ceremonial, historical and mental health.

Counties Served: New York, Kings, Bronx, Richmond, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester

Military Women’s Coalition

Military Women’s Coalition is a national group of formal and informal organizations that work collaboratively to serve and support US active duty, Guard, Reserve, Veteran, and retired servicewomen by uniting and elevating their voices to influence policy and improve their well-being.

Red Feather Ranch

Provides online support groups for women veterans and will be offering retreats and vocational training in sustainable agriculture and food production once it is safe to resume in-person activities. All programs integrate trauma-informed care through evidence-based, experiential, and holistic therapies for a variety of traumas.

How to Smart a Small Business – A Veteran’s SMB Guide With Tools and Financial Resource

The best grants, loans & training resources for veteran entrepreneurs in 2022. As a veteran, many of the skills you learned in the military can be especially helpful in running a business. The wide range of hard and soft skills you acquired through service can be transferred with great success to the private sector. Many veterans are doing just that.

NYS-One-Team-Listserv

In July 2020, NASW-NYS announced the launch of the One Team VMHTI Listserv. One Team is a resource for clinical providers and students to engage with a network of peers to connect, to discuss, share knowledge, information, and professional resources focused on work with military service members, veterans, and their families. This platform provides an opportunity for members to:

Share Information on best practice and relevant issues regarding:

  • Clinical practice with Military/Veterans (and their families)
  • Serve as a source for referrals
  • Increasing cultural competence
  • Share relevant community resources
  • Serve as a conduit to promote communications among practitioners, either actively working with a Military/Veteran population or those who wish to increase their cultural competence with this population and to identify emerging needs with the NASW-NYS Advocacy and Government Relations (AGR) Committee as they identify annual legislative priorities
  • Explore bi-weekly/monthly topics as identified by Listserv Moderator and/or Veteran Advisory Committee Member

One Team Listserv is free and open to anyone that is committed to meeting the needs of our Veterans and military family members.

To join the One Team Listserv, click here to complete the One Team submission form. You will receive an email to the email you submitted confirming that you have been added to the One Team Listserv within 2 business days.

The One Team Listserv is moderated by Alyssa Gibbons, LCSW-R, BCD, LCDR, US Navy Medical Service Corps 2009-2016 and other members of the VMHTI Advisory Committee.

Voices-of-Veterans-VMHTI

The VMHTI introduced Voices of Veterans in 2020  to give social workers and allied mental health professionals in depth opportunity to hear from Veterans about their lived experiences prior to, during, and after their service. These panels include focuses LGBTQIA+, female veteran, & BIPOC experiences, 9/11, moral injury, peer support, the veteran family unit, and more. See below to view the recordings of past panels, and any upcoming events. Viewing the below recordings does not count for CE credit. This is for cultural humility and informational purposes only.

Click here to view the Veteran and Military Service Family Members Panel
Description: This will be an educational lecture and interactive panel; incorporating awareness and understanding of the military family experience. Speaker and panelists will address military culture, family dynamics, deployments (including pre and post), and reintegration, as well as the potential impact of PTSD and TBI on veteran families. Speaker will discuss roles in the family system that shift and change from deployment to returning home, such as co-parenting, communication, and home responsibilities. Workshop will cover healthy coping strategies that might be helpful for military families, as well as resources, such as VA caregiver support program, and others.

Click here to view the Peer Support Panel
Description: Our first panel featured the Joseph P. Dwyer program and included representatives of Joseph P. Dwyer county programs across the State, detailing who they differ and how they all support veterans through a peer support model. We were also joined by Dwyer Program legislative champions, Senators David Carlucci, Susan Serino, and John Brooks.

Click here to view the first panel on the 9/11 experience, and click here to view the second panel
Description: In these panels, we heard from Veterans about their experiences of 9/11. Whether it was the motivation for them to enter service, if they were already deployed, or were already a veterans, these panels discussed the diverse meaning of 9/11 for servicemembers.

Click here to view the Female Veteran Experience Panel
In this panel we heard from female military veterans and service members about their experiences breaking through sigma and overcoming biases in service.

Click here to view the Minority Experiences in the Military panel
In this panel, we focused on what it means to be a minority in the military, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Click here to view the Closer Look at Moral Injury: Existential Challenges Faced by Returning Veterans panel
Service Members and Veterans are faced with biological, social, familial, psychological, and existential challenges when coping with the tension that exists between military and civilian cultures. This workshop will provide an overview of military culture and transitional challenges, as they relate to values and morality. Trends of Moral Injury will be clearly outlined and discussed. Moral Injury touches on one’s spirituality, identity, and ethics, in a way that has large potential to be misunderstood. This workshop will depict the factors that can lead up to a Moral Wound, as well as it’s lasting implications. Presenter will also discuss ways to build meaningful narratives around this societal trend, in order to learn how we can better bridge gaps and create avenues for collective support within our communities. Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

Click here to view the Veterans’ Day Panel: An Exploration of Coming Home
Veterans Day honors all American Veterans — those still with us and those who have passed— while expressing particular gratitude to living Veterans who have served their country during war or in times of peace. Just as the individuals who make up the military and their motivations for serving are diverse, so are their experiences upon returning and integrating into civilian culture. In this panel, we heard from a panel of Veterans about their journey leaving the military, how they are processing the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan, their experiences of anti-military sentiments, and successes and challenges integrating into civilian life.