So as I keep searching for the ever elusive resources for PTSD, I did come across a few that I have added to my blog resource tabs (located on top in case you missed them). First off, as many have you wondered....I finally broke down and got a Facebook page for Living with PTSD and TBI. Not that I didn't already have enough to do right? Haha! Never really thought much about it, but seems like the peer pressure thing to follow along with these days especially with emails asking "Hey do you have a FB page?". You can find me under Living With PTSD and TBI, just like the ol' blog here.
There are several resources I mentioned in an earlier post but you will see some new ones added such as Horses for Heroes, Team River Runner, and Healing Waters. These are programs that are not affiliated with the VA BUT are referred from the VA if your caseworker knows about them. From what I have seen, there are quite a few states who have these programs, you will just have to research your area. I also added some others, so feel free to wade through them.
I am adding on Chase Bank as they now have a ChaseMilitary.com program since so many of us have them as our mortgage lender. We were given this resource through another organization and was quite surprised to see the programs they had to offer. Just a tidbit here:
Military Modification ProgramI have been talking to them and from what I was told, once you get in this program.....they can either lower your percentage rate, defer payments, remove all late fees, lower your monthly payment based on your income and affordability, no eviction or foreclosures and much much more depending on situations etc. Now we are NOT active personnel and just Reservists, but that didn't matter to them as long as my husband served after 9-11 and well, he is a disabled veteran according to the VA. I was surprised at how nice they were and willing to work with whatever YOU are able to do; not what the bank wants you to do. Kind of nice to know that they have changed their evil ways and are starting to appreciate the military! You will need to call and get to the military services department but here is the number: Chase Military Services at 1-877-469-0110 (Overseas: 1-318-340-3308, TDD: 1-800-582-0542) Be prepared to have your DD-214 or copy of orders if you have them...hey, there are a lot of people out there who say they are military when they aren't!
Beginning 4/1/11, Chase will introduce an enhanced modification program for all members of the military who have served on active duty as far back as 9/11/01. The program will be offered to those who are delinquent or having trouble making their mortgage payments. Subject to the required regulatory and investor approvals, the program will go beyond the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) requirements. In addition, in cases when we modify any Chase-owned or Chase-serviced primary residential mortgage, if there is a second mortgage on the same property that is also owned by Chase, we will modify the interest rate on the second to 1%.
Home Ownership Assistance
- Chase will not foreclose on any currently deployed active military personnel. This change goes beyond current SCRA requirements, which protects military borrowers against foreclosure only if they took out their loans prior to going on active duty.
- Chase believes we now have the systems and controls in place to avoid wrongful foreclosure proceedings on any military covered by SCRA. In cases where we have mistakenly foreclosed on military borrowers who should have been covered by SCRA, in addition to rescinding the sale, we will forgive all their remaining mortgage debt. Going forward, if we ever have a wrongful foreclosure sale on an SCRA covered customer, we will forgive all of their remaining mortgage debt, as well.
- Chase will donate 1,000 homes to military and veterans over the next five years through our non-profit partners.
- By the end of 2011, Chase will open five new Chase Homeownership Centers in cities near the following large military bases
- Ft. Hood (Killeen), Texas
- Naval Station Norfolk (Norfolk), Virginia
- Ft. Bragg/Pope Air Force Base (Fayetteville), North Carolina
- Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville), North Carolina
- Ft. Campbell (Clarksville, TN), Kentucky
- In 2011, Chase will host 10 borrower outreach events near large military bases.
- Chase will staff all of its Homeownership Centers with employees specifically trained in SCRA, military issues and Chase special military programs.
**Uncle Sam's Mistress is not getting paid for an endorsement from JP Morgan Chase, they just impressed the hell out of me enough to get on my blog!**
A few new others were some retreats I thought were interesting such as the Warrior Beach Retreat and the Angel Fire, NM PTSD retreat for couples as listed here.
"The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire (NWVHC) will conduct ten (10) retreats at Angel Fire in 2011 for Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. These retreats are funded by a grant from the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
Also, since there seems to be an influx of new ones to the blog, I am going to restate the information regarding the Wounded Warrior Wives and Wounded Warrior Project. Ok...to be honest with you. I wasn't too keen on the Wounded Warrior Project until oh, just last week. I had a hard time getting signed up and well, a few years ago they weren't really taking on PTSD and TBI Vets like they do now. I have to admit, that when they get you...they really go all out trying to help you. I bet I must have talked to seven different people all assigned to help me meet the areas of need I was desperate for. Now for Wounded Warrior Wives? I really don't know what I would do without them. The ladies that run it, want to be there...they want to help and well, they were my life vest thrown to me in my drowning period. That's all that needs to be said about that! You can find WWW's on Facebook as well, so no excuses! Don't wait, sign up and remember with WWP you can register yourself as a spouse! This way you can get notified of any retreats that come up through them.
On to USA Cares, which is a non-profit organization that was born in 2003. Now I got this tidbit of information from the VA hospital where my husband is attending the PTSD Rehab program. Many have applied and received help through their Warrior Treatment Today program. Here is a piece of what they can help with and worth mentioning because if like us, we kept waiting til we could afford to go. Of course always make sure you have a back up plan!
For others, there seems to be a lapse on the information regarding the Vet Center . I have had a lot of emails questioning my earlier post comments about it. Not sure why you haven't heard it, but do check it out! Anywhere there is a VA, there should be a Vet Center near by. What I really like about this particular program is that they are staffed by "been there done that" men and women and who are all Veterans themselves. My husband's therapist has been deployed three times, has PTSD and well, about the only one my husband trusts enough to really talk to. Now our Vet Center isn't equipped to handle spouses/couples but they are working on it...however, many others do have such resources if not more. They don't have rubber hoses or padded rooms, don't just look at you and hand you 50 scripts for medicine and you don't have to be in the VA system in order to utilize them. Now they will eventually help you get there, but I think its all based on what you are comfortable with and on your own pace. I think after my husband's "bottom falling out", I called my friend for sanity purposes, and then the Vet Center counselor. I promise it's not scary at all and most veterans would rather talk to someone who knows the real deal, not what they read in textbooks.
"The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire (NWVHC) will conduct ten (10) retreats at Angel Fire in 2011 for Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. These retreats are funded by a grant from the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
These are seven (7) day retreats for couples (spouces/partners/care
supporters) and
includes 58 hours of Individual, Group, and Couples counseling and training in traditional and non traditional treatment modalities. Certified therapist experienced in working with Veterans with PTSD are available 24 hours a day. Couples will be assigned a therapist and will attend Individual and Group therapy as part of each plenary session and traditional "team building" activities. Non traditional treatment modalities include Guided Imagery, Tapas Acupuncture Treatment, Emotional Freedom Technique, and Neuro-Linguistic Programing. Acupuncture, Yoga, Breathe Work, Massage, and Reiki are included in the schedule. Native American Ceremonies and Equine Assisted Therapy are an integral part of each retreat.
Retreats are scheduled for 2-9 April, 16-23 April, 7-14 May, 21-28 May,
4-11 June, 18-25
June, 9-16 July, 13-20 August, 10-17 September, and 23-30 September.
Couples will be
housed at the Angel Fire Resort Hotel and all meals will be provided either at the Hotel or at activity sites. Housing and meals are provided at no cost to participants.
Attached is an application form for one of the retreats. I am available by phone or e-mail to provide additional information or answer questions you may have. I would request that you distribute these forms to those in your area diagnosed with PTSD or TBI that you feel could benefit from one of our retreats. Please have them return the forms to me and I will work with the individuals to determine which of the retreats would best fit their schedule. I will then provide them with conformation of which retreat to attend.
We have conducted two of these retreats in 2009/2010 and the positive results from participants has been phenomenal. In fact participants from both retreats have attended reunions and formed their own retreat support groups.
Contact:
Hoot Gibson
(575)595-5330 (c)
Also, since there seems to be an influx of new ones to the blog, I am going to restate the information regarding the Wounded Warrior Wives and Wounded Warrior Project. Ok...to be honest with you. I wasn't too keen on the Wounded Warrior Project until oh, just last week. I had a hard time getting signed up and well, a few years ago they weren't really taking on PTSD and TBI Vets like they do now. I have to admit, that when they get you...they really go all out trying to help you. I bet I must have talked to seven different people all assigned to help me meet the areas of need I was desperate for. Now for Wounded Warrior Wives? I really don't know what I would do without them. The ladies that run it, want to be there...they want to help and well, they were my life vest thrown to me in my drowning period. That's all that needs to be said about that! You can find WWW's on Facebook as well, so no excuses! Don't wait, sign up and remember with WWP you can register yourself as a spouse! This way you can get notified of any retreats that come up through them.
On to USA Cares, which is a non-profit organization that was born in 2003. Now I got this tidbit of information from the VA hospital where my husband is attending the PTSD Rehab program. Many have applied and received help through their Warrior Treatment Today program. Here is a piece of what they can help with and worth mentioning because if like us, we kept waiting til we could afford to go. Of course always make sure you have a back up plan!
Warrior Treatment Today
Removing Barriers to Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
Warrior Treatment Today helps bridge the gap between personal financial demands and the need to receive treatment. Specifically, our program seeks to remove the financial barrier that exists for many service members who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), but cannot afford to leave their employment for treatment.
Warrior Treatment today pays essential household bills while the service member/veteran is attending residential treatment:
- A Rand study suggests over 300,000 suffer from PTSD/TBI
- National Guard and Reserve members are particularly vulnerable
Allowing the service member or veteran to attend treatment by removing financial barriers is the goal of Warrior Treatment today.
- Rent
- Mortgage
- Utilities
- Car payment
For others, there seems to be a lapse on the information regarding the Vet Center . I have had a lot of emails questioning my earlier post comments about it. Not sure why you haven't heard it, but do check it out! Anywhere there is a VA, there should be a Vet Center near by. What I really like about this particular program is that they are staffed by "been there done that" men and women and who are all Veterans themselves. My husband's therapist has been deployed three times, has PTSD and well, about the only one my husband trusts enough to really talk to. Now our Vet Center isn't equipped to handle spouses/couples but they are working on it...however, many others do have such resources if not more. They don't have rubber hoses or padded rooms, don't just look at you and hand you 50 scripts for medicine and you don't have to be in the VA system in order to utilize them. Now they will eventually help you get there, but I think its all based on what you are comfortable with and on your own pace. I think after my husband's "bottom falling out", I called my friend for sanity purposes, and then the Vet Center counselor. I promise it's not scary at all and most veterans would rather talk to someone who knows the real deal, not what they read in textbooks.
Hope this helps some of you in your search. If I come across anything else, will keep adding!
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