Veterans Advocacy Tool Box
Veterans Affairs Veterans Support Agencies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Centers - Vet Centers across the country provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to combat Veterans and their families.
Military Records Request - Request a copy of your DD-214 and all military records
Disability Benefits Application - Veterans who have disabilities, medical conditions, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service—no matter when or where they served—may be eligible to receive tax-free monthly benefits.
Vocational Rehabilitation - You may receive Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.
VA Forms - Locate all VA forms when directed to complete another one.
Suicide Prevention tools
VA Community Providor Tool Kit - An outstanding resource for everyone to take a look at
VA Veteran Suicide Prevention Outreach tool kit. - Veterans, family members, and care providers can initiate a free and confidential conversation with an experienced and caring VA responder by calling the Veterans Crisis Line. If you are concerned about the safety and well-being of a Veteran, call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1. Chat online atVeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat to get support anonymously. A text message can also be sent to838255 to connect to a VA responder. These resources can be used even if a Veteran is not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.
how to contact elected officials
Elected members of Local state and federal offices
House of Representatives: - Locate your Federal congressman
United States Senate: - Locate your Federal Senator
Local and State Elected Officials - Locate your State Senators and Representatives, Governor, Mayor etc.
Additional Services and Agencies by Subject
A collection of resources from multiple veterans service agencies
Disability Services
Back To Life Campaign (Doctors helping veterans with chronic pain)
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Work Vessels for Veterans - John Niekrash - john@workvesselsforvets.com - Matches donations of vessels, vehicles, equipment, tools and electronics to veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan as they start a business or pursue career education.
Education
Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans - Michael Zacchea - Michael.Zacchea@business.uconn.edu - The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country.
Vocational Rehabilitation - You may receive Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.
Employment
Get Skills To Work (help matching military skills with thousands of jobs)
Job Hero (resources to help Veterans)
Financial Support
Mission Vets (provides academic scholarships for veterans to learn skills needed in the oil & gas industry)
National Veterans Service Foundation - Eunice Ramirez - Eunice_Ramirez@blumenthal.senate.gov - Sometimes provides financial support to veterans in need.
ReserveAid (Financial help for deployed Reservists/National Guard)
USA Cares (Offers job and financial help)
Brain injuries and post concussive events
Chambers for Hope (HBOT network for Veterans)
Hampton Roads Hyperbaric (In Virginia, free HBOT)
Hyperbaric Medical Solutions (In Woodbury & Medford, NY, free HBOT)
Rocky Mountain Hyperbaric Association (Free HBOT for Veterans in Denver with housing)
TreatNOW (A coalition of HBOT providers and a call center to find HBOT for veterans)
Health/Wellness/PTS
About Face (National Center for PTSD)
Healing Warrior Hearts (Milwaukee, WI, for PTSD retreats)
Honoring the Path of the Warrior (mindfulness training)
Mind-Fitness Training (For PTS)
NAMI – National Alliance of Mental Illness
One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding
Saratoga Warhorse (equine program for veterans with PTSD)
Semper Fidelis Health and Wellness
STRONG STAR (San Antonio) (Help for PTSD and TBI)
Trauma and Resiliency, Inc. – “Warrior Camp”
Veterans Airlift Command (Helping veterans with travel need due to illness)
Housing & Human Services
Warrior Plantation works with veterans that need help with VA applications, SSDI applications, locating legal assistance, securing employment, and housing assistance for homeless veterans.
Purple Heart Homes - John Gallina - jgallina@purplehearthomesusa.org - Veteran Home Renovation. Purple Heart Homes is partnering with participating credit unions to identify older Veterans who need a ramp, grab bars, railings, a clean yard or a fresh coat of paint on the inside or outside of their homes. Credit unions will raise the funds needed to complete the projects on Veterans’ homes.
Tunnel 2 Towers - John Hodge - john.hodge@tunnel2towers.org - The mission of our Foundation is to honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. We also honor our military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country.
Home Depot Foundation - Community Impact Grants - Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to assist veterans with needed home improvements.
CT Military Support Program - 866-251-2913 - Housing
New Street Shelter (CT) - Mike Finn - 203-796-1661 - Homeless shelter.
Family Program Office (CT) - 800-858-2677 - lerita.m.odonnell.ctr@mail.mil - Veterans one stop shop for referrals to other service providers.
Legal Help
The Veterans’ Legacy Foundation
Uniformed Services Justice & Advocacy
OutServe (For LGBT Service members and Veterans)
Meditation/Yoga/Other Alt
Bootstrap USA (Free online yoga by a veteran free for veterans)
Honoring the Path of the Warrior
The Patriot Project (Chiropratic care free for Veterans)
Military Networks
After Deployment (A variety of resources for Veterans)
Armed Forces Foundation (Help with all needs for active duty and veterans)
Defense Centers for Excellence
Unite Us (An online web community like Facebook, but for veterans.)
Veterans Helping Veterans of America
Outdoor and Outdoor Service Organizations
New England Adventures - Camping and outdoor activities for New England Veterans
Military Outdoors (Sierra Club)
Free Courses for Veterans and Service Members (Outward Bound)
River Warriors | Fully-Hosted Rafting Trips for Military Veterans (OARS)
Veteran's Benefits (NOLS)
America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (free for disabled veterans)
http://www.vetexpeditions.com/
Service Animals
Substance Abuse
Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Support
Defense Centers for Excellence
Support for Survivors
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Transitional Services