AW2 Community Support Network
Services for Families, Children, and Caregivers
Each organization listed in the AW2 Community Support Network offers services that are either covered by insurance or free to AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families. AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families are encouraged to contact these organizations directly for more information about the services they offer.
Retired CPL Alan Babin, seated, with his family.
Federal Organizations
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) 
A Department of Defense initiative, DCoE leads a collaborative network to promote the resilience, recovery, and reintegration of warriors and their Families who face psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues. DCoE works with other parts of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and with a national network of military and civilian agencies, community leaders, advocacy groups, clinical experts, and academic institutions to establish best practices and standards for treatment.
Real Warriors Campaign
The Real Warriors Campaign, a Department of Defense initiative, combats the stigma associated with seeking psychological health care and encourages servicemembers and their Families to use these resources. The campaign features stories of real servicemembers who have sought treatment and are continuing to maintain successful military or civilian careers. It educates servicemembers and Families about the range of resources and support available for psychological health concerns and TBIs.
External Organizations
Air Warrior Courage Foundation
The Air Warrior Courage Foundation sponsors three primary programs: Wounded Warrior Support, IRS-529 scholarship savings accounts for children of aviators killed in performance of aircrew duties, and a Therapeutic Riding program for military children. The Air Warrior Courage program attempts to meet or assist in any valid need that is not provided for by the government, including co-pays. They assist active duty, retired, and former military personnel and their Families.
America's Adopt A Soldier
America's Adopt A Soldier works to make a difference in the lives of Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families. Local chapters hosting packing events, raise funds for postage and event support, and pack, and ship packages. They sponsor local and national events that focus on Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families, such as workshops for post-traumatic stress disorder and the Wounded Warrior Path To Strength, a four-day course with corporate sponsors providing healing, knowledge, and social capital.
American Veterans (AMVETS)
AMVETS, one of the nation's largest Veterans' organizations, is proud to support AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families by offering services such as advocacy in the Department of Veterans Affairs claims process and financial assistance during recovery. AMVETS' 180,000 members at more than 1,300 posts from coast-to-coast stand ready to support wounded warriors.
Armed Forces Foundation
The Armed Forces Foundation is dedicated to providing comfort and solace to members of the United States Armed Forces community by providing financial support, career counseling services, homeowners' education, recreational therapy programs, and funding awareness projects.
Blue Star Riders
Blue Star Riders is a non-profit organization of riders and non-riders who support America's troops and Veterans and honor wounded warriors and fallen heroes. Their activities include visiting hospitals and outreach centers, attending funerals for fallen heroes, spreading the word of the fallen, and Wounded Warrior Torch. They bring awareness to America's fallen and wounded warriors by attending Veterans' events like Cripple Creek, Rolling Thunder, and special memorial services for Families.
Brain Injury Association of Florida
The Brain Injury Association of Florida is a Family and community support program located throughout Florida, providing personalized support to Families and individuals with TBI. This support includes: education on community resources, linkage to community resources, assistance identifying and accessing support services and providing technical assistance to service providers to better understand the needs of the individual with TBI in their program.
Brain Injury Association of New Jersey
The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support and information to individuals and Families affected by brain injury. Programs and services include: materials about brain injury, a helpline that directs callers to the support and services they need, support groups throughout the state, a peer-to-peer mentor support program, educational sessions (such as Brain Injury Basics), and an annual statewide conference.
Bring Everyone In The Zone, Inc.
Our mission is to provide education and support to service personnel and their Families who are experiencing the devastating effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. To train facilitators in recognizing cases that require additional services including medical referral and providing them with needed resources. We fulfill our mission through our P-C-S programs: Preparing, Caring, and Sharing. We Prepare volunteers through our professional basic intermediate facilitator training programs and have trained over three hundred facilitators since our first training in August 2008. We Care by connecting our customers to a myriad of community resources and connections that assist Veterans and leverage these resources. Since May 2009, we have collaborated to leverage funds to assist with basic needs including rent/mortgage, utilities, care repair, food, and case management services. Financial assistance is provided on a case by case (donation by donation) basis. We share through Peer support that is provided by our volunteers on a one to one or a group basis currently have over sixty groups meeting throughout the state. Our first weekly group began in August of 2008.
Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc.
The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc., provides financial and educational assistance to surviving and severely wounded servicemembers and their Families with children at home under age 18, who have been affected by the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. Their college grants program provides scholarships for single wounded servicemembers as well. They also provide immediate emergency funding that provides assistance to Families at risk of foreclosure or loss of housing.
Combat Wounded Veterans of South Mississippi
Combat Wounded Veterans of South Mississippi is a non-profit organization that provides support to our local wounded warriors of all services to include, financial resources, assistance with VA benefits, employment, and spiritual. We collaborate with other local organizations to facilitate the needs of our Mississippi Wounded Warriors.
Comfort for America's Uniformed Services (CAUSE)
CAUSE organizes recreation and entertainment programs for wounded warriors recuperating at military medical facilities from injuries received in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other military conflicts.
Family Service Association
Family Service Association provides support services to wounded warriors and Family members whose loved ones have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Services available include: home-based, Family strengthening and spiritual support services, individual and Family counseling, parenting education, and child care subsidy assistance. These services are available to all Family members impacted by injury or deployment.
Family Services of Greater Houston
Family Services of Greater Houston provides free services to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans and their Families. Services include: coaching on how to stretch finances, parenting education, and individual, couples, and Family counseling.
Fisher House Foundation
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of 43 comfort homes on the grounds of major military and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. The foundation donates the homes to the military and VA. The Foundation supports Families of patients receiving care at the nearby medical center and ensures that Families of service men and women wounded or injured in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operating Iraqi Freedom do not pay for their stay.
Freedom Is Not Free
Freedom Is Not Free provides quality of life enhancements and financial assistance to wounded servicemembers and their Families. Freedom Is Not Free also provides children of military Families "experiences of a lifetime" though participation in annual camps.
The G.I. Go Fund
The G.I. Go Fund focuses on assisting Veterans as they transition from military to civilian life. The G.I. Go Fund offers assistance on securing employment, enrolling in Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, education advancement, and other programs. The G.I. Go Fund also offers a Transition Center in Newark, New Jersey.
HAVE-Alaska
HAVE-Alaska is an Alaska-based organization dedicated to promoting the physical and psychological rehabilitation of American Veterans injured in service to our country through outdoor activities and travel. Our mission is to fund and facilitate activities in Alaska for American Veterans, their spouses, and dependents. We provide activities such as fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, hunting, kayaking, flight seeing, snowmobile tours, gold panning, bicycling, cruise vacations, cultural tours, wildlife viewing, National Park tours, dog mushing, skiing, etc.
Heartbeat Serving Wounded Warriors
Heartbeat Serving Wounded Warriors recognizes that the road to recovery is a long and difficult one for the wounded warrior Family and offers emergency assistance for those who qualify. Heartbeat also offers morale programs, including adopting wounded warrior Families for Christmas, new therapeutic programs, such as Back in the Saddle Warriors and Scuba Warriors, and Assignment, Recovery & Comfort kits for newly wounded personnel.
Heroes on the Water
Heroes on the Water serves all military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or disabled, physically or mentally, while serving on active duty, in the Reserves, or National Guard. The program's primary goal is to assist injured servicemembers with their physical and mental recovery by introducing them to the therapeutic qualities of fishing from kayaks. The program allows participants to decompress from the stresses associated with combat and the physical rigors of rehabilitation.
Heroes to Hometowns
Heroes to Hometowns is designed to welcome home servicemembers who are severely injured. In facilitating a positive transition home, Heroes to Hometowns inspires community pride and establishes a support network for servicemembers and their Families so they can live productive lives. Heroes to Hometowns also offers national assistance.
Higher Ground
Higher Ground is a sports rehabilitation program based in Sun Valley, Idaho, and La Jolla, California, serving individuals with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, polytrauma, and other injuries. The program offers ten week-long sports camps: snow sports, water sports, ocean sports, and fly fishing. Camps are free for wounded warriors and spouses, and child care is provided. Group sizes are small to encourage friendships and individual instruction.
The Home Base Program
The Home Base Program is a partnership between the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital. It is dedicated to improving the lives of Veterans deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom who live with deployment-related stress and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). It provides clinical care, support for Families, and educational materials. The Home Base Program also works with researchers seeking medical breakthroughs for TBIs and stress-related disorders.
Home Front Hearts
Home Front Hearts serves the Families that serve our country by providing support and resources to the Families of servicemembers, increasing public awareness of the struggles and sacrifices of military Families, and engaging both individuals and businesses in building communities that are responsive to the needs of military Families.
Hope Coming Ministries
Hope Coming Ministries specializes in counseling services to military personnel and their Families. Their counselors recognize that military life is uniquely different from all other occupations and have experience working with individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and combat stress. Each individual or couple is provided a safe and confidential environment to talk through and sort out any issue that is causing a problem.
HOPE for HEROES, Samaritan Counseling Center of Austin, Texas
HOPE for HEROES provides confidential counseling at no charge for military personnel and their Family members who have counseling needs as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan. Individuals that qualify for services include military who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan through any branch of service, including Veterans, and their Family members (spouses, children, parents, and siblings).
Hope For The Warriors
Hope For The Warriors works to enhance the quality of life for servicemembers and their Families nationwide who have been affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Their programs offer a full cycle of support, starting with Immediate Needs financial assistance, and continuing through A Warrior's Wish, Warrior's Hope & Morale, Above & Beyond professional development, spouse/caregiver scholarships, Team Hope For The Warriors, and other programs.
Lakeshore Foundation: Lima Foxtrot Program
Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama, is dedicated to serving individuals with physically disabling conditions through physical activity, sports, and recreation. They have the experience and expertise to help severely injured servicemembers regain active and independent lives and are pleased to offer the Lima Foxtrot programs. Lima Foxtrot is a comprehensive program of fitness, recreation, sport, and transition support for severely injured military personnel throughout the nation.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska's At Ease Program
Lutheran Family Services' At Ease program provides trauma treatment and therapeutic support for active military, Veterans and loved ones living in Nebraska. At Ease counselors are specifically trained in treatment practices known to be effective in addressing PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. At Ease provides individual Family and group counseling options, and no individual is turned away due to inability to pay.
Marriage Management (MMC)
The Marriage Management's mission is to strengthen marriages by providing programs that help prevent divorce caused by the unique stresses of combat and deployments, especially for the Wounded. They provide programs and workshops that provide military members and spouse's new tools to deal with relationships, different communication styles, emotional triggers and destructive behaviors. Each couple develops conflict resolution and coping skills as well as ideas for strengthening their marriage and staying in love. They have programs scheduled for BAMC and WRAMC. Their workshops are usually free.
Meet Yourself Yoga Therapy
Meet Yourself Yoga Therapy (MTYT) provides one-on-one and couples yoga therapy, as well group classes. MTYT currently offers classes and private sessions at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. Benefits from this body-oriented therapy that includes self-inquiry include: increased sense of calm and joy, engagement in life, ability to sleep better and manage moods more easily. In addition, intrusive thoughts and avoidance of situations are lessened. Interpersonal relationships are improved as self-awareness increases. No knowledge of yoga needed, nor flexibility in the body.
Military to Medicine / Operation Life Transformed
Operation Life Transformed works in partnership with Inova's Military to Medicine Institute. These programs are designed specifically to deliver online training opportunities to military spouses and caregivers to wounded warriors and Veterans.
Monmouth University School of Social Work: The Coming Home Project
The Monmouth University School of Social Work is cognizant of their duty to serve vulnerable populations such as persons who have experienced combat either directly or indirectly. The Coming Home Project at Monmouth has two goals: 1) to educate and prepare new Masters of Social Work graduates to work specifically with Veterans and their Families, and 2) to educate and prepare existing social service providers and agencies to be better equipped to work with returning Veterans and their Families.
NAMI Greater Milwaukee
NAMI Greater Milwaukee is part of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the largest grassroots organization dedicated to support, education and advocacy for individuals living with mental illness and their Families. NAMI Greater Milwaukee offers support groups and classes for both consumers and their Families, and also trains police and other first responders in how to effectively intervene when someone is having a mental health crisis.
National Association for Black Veterans – Washington State Command Council
The Washington State Command Council of the National Association for Black Veterans, Inc., (NABVETS) provides strategic advocacy on behalf of its membership and personal advocacy on behalf of Veterans seeking assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs claims.
Northern Pines Mental Health Center
The Northern Pines Veterans Program connects veterans, service members and their families with the services, education, support and assistance needed to stabilize their home life before, during and after deployment (regardless of era served).
Operation First Response, Inc.
Operation First Response (OFR) supports America's wounded warriors and their Families with personal and financial needs. Services are provided from the onset of injury, through recovery, and along the warrior's journey from military life into the civilian world. Financial aid varies as each case is based on individual needs ranging from rent, utilities, vehicle payments, groceries, clothing, and travel expenses.
Operation Homefront of Texas
Operation Homefront of Texas provides emergency and morale assistance for troops, their Families, and wounded warriors. They also assist when servicemembers transition from the military to the Department of Veterans Affairs system.
Operation Oasis Healing Through Love
Operation Oasis was created to care for the unmet needs of Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families after witnessing the challenges facing wounded warriors returning to the United States for medical care. Operation Oasis provides free therapeutic treatments to wounded Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families at the Fort Sam Houston Fisher House and Mediterranean Day Spa.
Operation Pinecone
Operation Pinecone is an all-volunteer organization that brings comfort items and additional support to wounded servicemembers, Families, and loved ones located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Medical Center, as well as the medical centers' supportive housing facilities such as the Fisher Houses and the Mologne House Hotel.
Operation Second Chance
Operation Second Chance provides a wide range of services to wounded servicemembers and their Families from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to facilitate their transition back to civilian life. These services include personal visits to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, financial assistance, monthly retreats, and assistance in the modification of housing for disabled Veterans.
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island is a non-profit organization that helps homeless and disabled Veterans. They provide social services, counseling, and other services. The organization's goal is to enable each Veteran to achieve self-worth and independence.
Operation Ward 57
Operation Ward 57 supports wounded warriors, their Families and medical staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by providing items that assists in recovery, maintenance and morale of the hospital environment and through advocacy, education, and promotion of their circumstance.
Our Forgotten Warriors
Our Forgotten Warriors provides short-term structured housing for active duty servicemembers and Veterans who recently sustained emotional and cognitive injuries in the line of duty. The staff helps warriors increase their level of independent functioning. The staff affirms warriors as the heroes they are and increase the warriors' determination to overcome obstacles and challenge others to follow their example.
Our Military Kids
Our Military Kids supports the children of severely injured military personnel through grants for sports, fine arts, or academic enrichment programs. Such activities help nurture and sustain the children during a parent's lengthy recovery and/or rehabilitation. Grant applications can be found at the website above.
P2V (PETS2VETS)
With the support of P2V's participating shelters and partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital (America's largest veterinary hospital; 780 locations nationwide), P2V is able to provide the following for active duty military and veterans, their families and next of kin. Adoption of a loving companion animal without paying an adoption fee. Free P2V Start-Up Kit (Leash, collar, food-water bowls and crate) valued between $60 and $130. (Also available is discounted rates for cost-effective pet health care through Banfield if desired.)
Professionals Assisting Military Friends and Family
Professionals Assisting Military Families and Friends (P.A.M.F.F.) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing individualized and compassionate services to every military Family with a loved one who is on active duty or a Veteran. P.A.M.F.F. is a specialized counseling, outreach, and referral service committed to assisting military Families cope with concerns, worries, and everyday life. We serve Families in both Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida.
Redistribution Center, Inc.
The Redistribution Center, Inc., provides emergency services which includes a months' worth of food for Families that are in need. TBI/PTSD Soldiers, Veterans and others can be referred for assistance with new household items, furniture and clothing and can request other items that might be needed.
Samaritan Counseling Center of West Texas
Samaritan Counseling Center offers a full package of free counseling to Iraq and Afghanistan war Veterans and their Families, including counseling for marriage and Family problems, anxiety, depression, grief, post traumatic stress, and career counseling. Their licensed, experienced therapists are trained in individual, marital, and Family counseling, crisis intervention, play and art therapy, addictions, eating and cutting disorders, pain management, and diagnosis of attention problems.
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Street's Talk, Listen, Connect project provides support and offers resources to military Families with young children who are experiencing the effects of deployment, multiple deployments, or a parent returning home with injuries. Visit the links above to request free materials.
The Sesame Street Family Connections website is a free, bilingual, child-centered space where Families can interact when distance makes everyday communication difficult.
Shepherd Center/SHARE Initiative
The Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta, GA, that specializes in medical treatment for people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, chronic pain, and other neuromuscular injuries or illnesses. The SHARE Initiative, a military outreach effort, provides interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment services for active duty servicemembers and Veterans who have experienced these injuries in conflict or stateside.
Southwest Veterans' Business Resource Center
The Southwest Veterans' Business Resource Center, Inc. (SWVBRC) works with local communities to serve Veterans and active duty servicemembers from all military components, and with exception, spouses through outreach and education programs. SWVBRC believes welcoming home our men and women doesn't end after the crowd disperses, it MUST continue for life. SWVBRC also believes Veterans have served America, now America will serve them with programs that work so they reintegrate into society.
Still Serving Veterans
Still Serving Veterans (SSV) is a clearinghouse that optimizes care for wounded warriors and their Families, focused on workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, job placement, Veterans Affairs benefits, and counseling/support services. Since 2007, SSV has helped over 1,200 Veterans reintegrate into new careers and communities. SSV has been declared a "Center of Excellence" by the national Veteran's Coalition Innovation Center and received the national Spirit of Hope Award.
Stress Less Heal More
Stress Less Heal More is a program dedicated to helping wounded warriors reduce stress in their lives so they can focus on healing. We can help you and your caregivers by negotiating your expenses, finding free and/or negotiated rates for alternative healing and finding additional types of support for those who don't have sufficient emotional support in their lives. If you have other needs let us know and we'll see how we can help. We have the ability to help five wounded warriors a month, but are working toward additional resources to help more warriors each month.
Swords to Plowshares
Swords to Plowshares provides a full continuum of care to low-income and homeless Veterans without discriminating on length of service, branch of service or military discharge status. Swords to Plowshares helps Veterans and their Families in the following areas: Frontline Drop-In Center for mental health services, supportive housing, employment support, legal services, and more.
Veterans' Families United Foundation
Veterans Families United (VFU) is dedicated to empowering Veterans and their Families. They provide detailed information on their website about readjustment, invisible wounds, and links to resources that can help. Subjects include readjustment problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, reasons Veterans avoid assistance, and healing resources. Financial assistance is not available, though email and phone inquiries will receive response within 24 hours.
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program serves Veterans of any era who are Virginia residents, members of the Virginia National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service, and the Family members of those Veterans and service members. It provides a network of community-based services designed to help Veterans and their Families overcome the challenge of stress-related issues and traumatic brain injuries.
The Warrior Gateway
The Warrior Gateway helps Veterans, servicemembers, guardsmen, reservists, Families and caregivers find the services they seek. These services include counseling, youth services, financial services, and health topics. The site is interactive with over 30,000 public, nonprofit, and for-profit programs. Service providers can share updates and other information via their online profiles. Users can add and rate the providers, plus leave feedback about their experiences on helping others, and building on the military tradition of "taking care of each other."
Worklife Institute
The Worklife Institute in Houston, Texas, provides Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom servicemembers and their Families a place to work, relax, meet, hold interviews, and use confidential services free of charge. Services include career, transition, and education counseling, resume and interview skills counseling, Family and personal transition counseling, parenting classes, legal and financial consultations, work orientation and resources, and other workshops.