Veteran Reintegration Project

promoting wellness in our returning veterans and their families

People House started a Veteran Re-integration Program in 2007 to help military families struggling with the process of bringing the soldier back into the family after a deployment. This can be very challenging under the best of circumstances and overwhelming when added factors are present like health issues, financial challenges, and the changes people go through during separation.

People House has resources to provide counseling for individuals, couples, children, and whole families on sliding scales that support people without health care insurance and people having financial difficulties. We are getting connected to organizations like the National Guard, County Human Resources throughout the Denver area, and other non-profit organizations that provide services to military and veteran families.

While this process is very slow and few National Guard, Reserves, or Military personal know we are here, we continue to expand our network as a resource to other organizations in a position to refer soldiers, veterans, and family members to us. We have also organized and provided training for care providers related to trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury.

We are offering family workshops later this year to help people relate to returning soldiers in their family, recognize warning signs of problems, and how to get help early or before problems start. We at People House are very concerned by the higher incidence of divorce, domestic problems, homelessness, unemployment and suicide among veteran and military people in our community. We welcome all help in doing something about this situation. Contact Rick Beaver or George Christie at People House (303) 480-5130.

Resources

Training for Veteran, Veteran families, and Care Providers
One Freedom: http://www.onefreedom.org
303-444-1221 or 888-334-VETS (8387)

Military Support
Military One Source: http://www.militaryonesource.com 1-800-342-9647
Joint Family Support Assistance Program http://www.coloradoguard.army.mil/family-jfsap.html

Veteran's Administration (VA) and Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs
Colorado & Wyoming http://www.vba.va.gov/ro/denver
Colorado http://www.dmva.state.co.us/page/home

Veteran Centers
Counseling, Suicide line, and outreach for veterans http://www.vetcenter.va.gov
Colorado http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?dnum=ALL&STATE=CO

Veteran Organizations (Non-Government)
Veterans Helping Veterans NOW http://www.vhvnow.org
List of hundreds of Veteran Organizations and locations http://www.vetsresource.com

Colorado Human Resources by County
http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/dmh/Documents/Disaster_RP_ScialSvc.doc

Article Links

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in U.S. Soldiers Returning from Iraq
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/358/5/453

Combat Duty in Iraq, and Afghanistan, Mental Health Problems, and Barriers to Care
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/351/1/13

Mental Health Problems, Use of Mental Health Services, and Attrition From Military Service After Returning From Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/9/1023

V.A. Disavows Combat Stress Memo
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/washington/16vets.html?ref=us

Closing Arguments in Suit on Veterans' Mental Care
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/us/01vets.html

War Concussions Linked to Stress
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/health/research/30cnd-brain.html

Impact of Illness and Non-Combat Injury During Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16222015&dopt=Abstract

Clinical Criteria for PTSD

There are many possible symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and a diagnosis by a trained clinician is required in order to rule-out other disorders. However, the following possible symptoms are listed as part of the DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD:

For a broader description of the clinical criteria for Posttrauatic Stress Disorder, you can visit the Veterans Affairs PTSD fact sheet page at http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_dsm_iv_tr.html.

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