VETERAN RESOURCES
Deciding if a service dog is right for your lifestyle can be a challenging decision. There are so many factors that must be considered that it can get overwhelming. The following resources should be able to help you in the journey as you work with your medical providers and personal support system to make the best choice for you! If you have additional questions or need assistance with service dog-related concerns please email us at info@servicedogs4vets.org and a member of our team will try to assist!
Service Dog Blogs
The following blog posts are from our partner members and you will be directed to their websites to read the entry by clicking the images below.
Learn About Service Dogs
The inclusion of animals in psychological treatment – known as Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) – is a common and widely accepted component of mental healing and therapy. Animals were first incorporated into mental health institution programs during the late eighteenth century to increase socialization among patients (Serpell, 2006). Today, a number of programs in the United States report involving animals in their services in some capacity. One of the most commonly targeted populations for Animal-Assisted Intervention are individuals who have experienced trauma, including those with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; Tedeschi, Fine, & Helgeson, 2010). Despite the ubiquity of positive media in support of these programs, little empirical evidence exists quantifying their effects and supporting their practices. In this brief, we report the state of the scientific literature on Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma, highlight the commonly reported outcomes of this practice, and provide recommendations for future research.
“Animal-Assisted Intervention for Trauma, Including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” By Marguerite E. O’Haire1, Noémie A. Guérin, Alison Claire Kirkham, Courtney L. Daigle
Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review” By: Marguerite E. O’Haire*, Noémie A. Guérin and Alison C. Kirkham
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01121/full
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements:
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: www.VA.gov
- Veterans Crisis Line Chat Line
Provides instant, confidential access to a 24/7 chat with a VA responder. Open to active duty and veterans. - AboutFace
AboutFace provides information on PTSD, treatment options and, testimonials from other veterans and their family members. Veterans can also get advice from VA clinicians who have treated thousands of cases of PTSD. - The PTSD Coach Mobile App
The VA and the Department of Defense have created a free smartphone application that can help veterans identify signs of PTSD, manage symptoms, and connect with resources and help instantly. The PTSD Coach app can be downloaded for free on iTunes and the Android Marketplace. - VA Caregivers Support Services
The Caregivers Support Services provides a number of services designed specifically to support a family caregiver, including a Caregiver Support Line, peer support, and tools to help caregivers manage the responsibilities of day-to-day care of the veteran they love.
Support Networks:
- Talk Now to a Fellow Veteran
For veterans who may be on the verge of a crisis or just want to talk to a fellow veteran about their struggles, there are two resources:Vets4Warriors: 855.838.8255 or go to https://www.vets4warriors.com/connect/
Objective Zero: Download the app and/or go to https://www.objectivezero.org/ - DAV
The DAV is a nonprofit charity providing a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families. Support includes, but is not limited to transportation to medical appointments, benefit claims, retroactive benefits, as well as connecting veterans with meaningful employment. - Hope For The Warriors
Hope For The Warriors provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, and military families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources. - National Resource Directory
The NRD represents one of the largest online collections of government and non-government resources specifically designed for service members, veterans, families, and military caregivers. - Semper Fi Fund
The Semper Fi Fund provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to post-9/11 wounded, critically ill and injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their families, ensuring that they have the resources they need during their recovery and transition back to their communities. - Service Women’s Action Network: SWAN
The Service Women’s Action Network is a member-driven community advocating for the individual and collective needs of servicewomen. - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces.
Miscellaneous Resources:
- Army Review Boards Agency: Discharge Upgrades and PTSD
This guidance applies to veterans whose characterization of discharge was under other than honorable conditions and who assert that they suffered PTSD or related conditions that they believe mitigated the misconduct that led to the discharge. - Mission 22
Mission 22 is united in the war against veteran suicide by offering treatment programs that focus on traumatic brain injury and Post-traumatic Stress. - Service Disabled Veterans Directory
The Service-Disabled Veterans Directory promotes businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. - Team Rubicon
Team Rubicon’s primary mission is to provide disaster relief to those affected by natural disasters, whether domestic or international, by pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders, medical professionals, and technology solutions.
Education & Employment:
- Accredited Schools Online: Higher Education Resources
The Higher Education Resources for Veterans and Their Families provided by Accredited Schools Online lists more than 150 resources for higher education and career training. - Center for Online Education
The U.S. Servicemember’s Guide to Academic Programs and Financial Aid - Military Connection
Military Connection provides information on government and/or federal jobs for veterans, as well as higher education and benefits provided through the GI Bill. - Student Veterans of America
Student Veterans of America provides veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation. - The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues empowers veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact. They deploy veterans on new missions in their communities so that their actions will inspire future generations to serve.