All of our SOWF families share a major commonality; our spouse has died – our children have lost a parent. During the aftermath of our loved one's death, our families have a multitude of concerns to address. This page offers some of the best recognized resources for our SOWF families to utilize in addressing these concerns. Some organizations serve only the SOF community while others serve all branches of the military.
SOWF Counseling Network
Working together with professional counselors across the country we have created a network of free professional counselors for our SOWF families. Psychologists, social workers, family therapists, mental health counselors and other specialists are available by contacting us. We will coordinate with the professional(s) in your area to get you started on the road to relief and recovery. Dr. LeslieBeth Wish, one of our volunteer coordinators for the SOWF Counseling Network is a noted psychologist, author and social worker whose work with families has been nationally recognized. Dr. Wish offers sound advice about healthy families, parenting, relationships, careers and trauma. To read one of Dr. Wish's insightful and compassionate articles about the stresses of losing a spouse serving in the military please click here:
To search for a licensed Clinical Social Worker in your area, click here:
USSOCOM Care Coalition
In Aug 2005 the USSOCOM Care Coalition was established to track, support, and advocate for special operations casualties from the Global War on Terror. The Care Coalition works with government organizations such as the Department of Defense, military health care (TRICARE), and the Department of Veteran's Affairs to ensure that SOF families are provided services for casualties and family sustenance. When a need is beyond the scope of government services, the Care Coalition looks to non-government organizations with missions/charters that align with the requirements of the casualty or family. http://www.socom.mil/care_coalition/home.htm
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.)
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. is a one of a kind non-profit Veteran Service Organization offering hope, healing, comfort and care to thousands of American armed forces families presently dealing with the death of a loved one. Although TAPS receives no government funding, the Departments of Defense and Veteran Affairs provide families with information about TAPS and other military survivor programs. http://www.taps.org/
Military One Source
All of our SOWF families are eligible for free services from this comprehensive DOD supported organization. Please click on the link to see the wide variety of help available, including counseling, financial planning and other issues important to our families. http://www.militaryonesource.com
The Soldiers Project
The Soldiers Project offers free psychological counseling to SOWF family members and toservice members who have served in OIF/OEF, whether they are active duty or veterans. These services are also available to their loved ones - girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, parents, children and grandchildren. Counseling is available prior to or during deployment, or after return home.There is no charge for any services, there is no red tape, there is no limit to the number of sessions offered, and the Soldiers Project is independent of any government agency.Therapists are all licensed mental health professionals, and most provide the counseling in their own offices. Therapists also attend training sessions so that they have information about Combat Stress and psychological aspects of military deployment for the service member and family. The Soldiers Project in Los Angeles/Orange County is under the auspices of the Trauma Center of the Los Angeles Institute & Society for Psychoanalytic Studies. Additional Soldiers Project groups have formed in Seattle and Chicago, and are forming in San Diego, Indiana and New York City. If you or one of your family members thinks they might benefit from our help, please contact us at 818 761-7438 or info@thesoldiersproject.org.
Military Homefront
Military Homefront is the official Department of Defense web site for reliable Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service providers. Whether you live the military lifestyle or support those who do, you'll find what you need! http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/
Society of Military Widows (SMW)
The Society of Military Widows is a nationwide organization whose purpose is to serve widows of members of all branches of the uniformed services of the United States. The SMW website contains current information on nearly everything you and family members need to know. Survivor benefits, insurance, new or recent policy changes are all addressed within this user-friendly site. www.militarywidows.org
Gold Star Wives of America
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is available to all widows and widowers including those from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. “Gold Star” has been serving war widows and wives from all conflicts and service connected disabilities since 1945. This is an excellent resource with a special offer for those recently widowed during the Afghanistan/Iraq conflicts. www.goldstarwives.org
Hospice Bereavement Help
This website provides useful links for families learning how to survive the loss of a loved one. It also contains a handy locator to assist in finding local hospice bereavement services. http://www.hospicenet.org/html/bereavement.html
Griefnet
This site consists of an internet community of persons dealing with grief. http://griefnet.org/
The DougyCenter
The Dougy Center is a safe place for grieving children, teens, young adults and families. http://www.dougy.org/
Veteran Homestead
This group of faciilities located in central Massachusetts is a non-profit organization designed to provide medical, psychological and spiritual care to veterans diagnosed with a terminal illness, are elderly and/or disabled or otherwise in need. Services are provided without regard to race, religion or sexual orientation. http://www.veteranhomestead.org/
Ride Up to the Challenge
Across the USA, therapeutic horseback riding is beginning to play a key role in the treatment of injured veterans and their families. According to a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Press Release in April 2007, retired Navy Commander Mary Jo Beckman, a NARHA Advanced Instructor, conducted a successful pilot therapeutic riding program for injured veterans from Walter Reed Hospital using Caisson Platoon horses from Arlington Cemetery. http://www.rideuptothechallenge.org/
These books and videos are available to SOWF family members by contacting Carolyn Becker, beckerc@specialops.org or by calling toll free at 877-337-7693.
CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT AND GRIEF
Children's Grief – How to Help the Child Whose Parent Has Died
Patricia L. Papenbrock, R.N. and Robert F. Voss, M.A., Q.M.R.P.
Helping Bereaved Children 2nd Edition
Edited by Nancy Boyd Webb
Helping Teens Cope with Death
The Doughy Center, the National Center for Grieving Children and Families
I Heard Your Daddy Died
Mark Scrivani
It's Okay to Cry – A Parent's Guide to Helping Children through the Losses of Life
H. Norman Wright
Living With Grief – Children, Adolescents and Loss
Edited by Kenneth J. Doka
Picking Up the Pieces: A Child's View of Grief – A Guide for Caring Parents
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers
Earl A. Grollman
The Empty Place – A Child's Guide through Grief
Roberta Temes, Ph.D.
The Hero in My Pocket
Marlene Lee
Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents
Judith Cohen, Anthony P. Mannarino and Esther Deblinger
MOTHER'S BEREAVEMENT AND GRIEF
Being a Widow
Lynn Caine
Good Grief – A Faith Based Guide to Understanding and Healing
Granger E. Westberg
Grief Expressed – When a Mate Dies
Marta Felber
I'm Grieving as Fast as I Can
Linda Feinberg
Life after Loss- A Practical Guide to Renewing Your Life After Experiencing Major Loss
Bob Deits
Living with an Empty Chair – A Guide through Grief
Dr. Roberta Temes
Operation Military Family – Working through Your Grief
Ronald H. Sunderland, Ed.D.
Military Widow – A Survival Guide
Joanne Steen, MS, NCC and M. Regina Asaro, MS, RN, CT
Seven Choices – Finding Daylight after Loss Shatters Your World
Elizabeth Harper Neeld, Ph.D.
Thru a Season of Grief – Devotions for Your Journey from Mourning to Joy
Bill Dunn and Kathy Leonard
To Heal Again – Towards Serenity and the Resolution of Grief
Rusty Berkus
FAMILY SUPPORT AND SELF HELP
Wounded Warriors Guidebook. Click here for a link to Homeland Defense Journal's webpage describing this valuable guide.
Chasing the High – A Firsthand Account of one Teenager's Experience with Substance Abuse
Kyle Keegan with Howard B. Moss, M.D.
Don't Stop at Green Lights – Every Woman's Guide to Taking Charge of Her Life and Fulfilling Her Dreams
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aftermath of our loved one's death, our families have a multitude of concerns to address. This page offers some of the best recognized resources for our SOWF families to utilize in addressing these concerns. Some organizations serve only the SOF community while others serve all branches of the military.