No matter where we are in life, we can always use a little help. The following inks are sites included in “I’m Already Home…Again” that many families have found interesting and informative. I continue to look for additional sites I can provide reciprocal links to, so if you have a favorite, please email me with the URL and a short description. You’ll find links under the following subcategories:

• Of General Interest
• Official Military Websites
• Military Relief Societies
• Resources for Reunion and Reintegration
• Resources for Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Personal Recommendations

Of General Interest:

www.nmfa.org
National Family Military Association, Inc.
Email: families@nmfa.org
The only private national organization designed to identify and resolve issues of concern for military families. Serves all uniformed services.

www.redcross.org
American Red Cross

www.redcross.org/services/afes/
American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services

www.operationuplink.org
Donate a calling card through Operation Uplink.

http://www.OperationDearAbby.net
Email greetings through Operation Dear Abby.

http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam/html
Sign a virtual thank you card to military members.

www.calguard.ca.gov
Great site for the California National Guard. Lots of information and resources in a navigable site. Get to know these folks!

www.treatsfortroops.com
Also home of Foster-A-Soldier™ Program. Send a gift of your choice from the Treats For Troops Gift Shop. Your gift will be packed and shipped according to all USPS and military regulations. Very easy and fun to do.

http://deploymenthealthlibrary.fhp.osd.mil/home.jsp
This library provides service members, families, veterans and healthcare providers an easy way to quickly find deployment health and family readiness information. Site includes fact sheets, guides, products, and links to organizations and resources devoted to your health and welfare.

http://www.cinchouse.com
A nonprofit organization and the Internet’s largest community of military wives and women in uniform. Also the home of a wonderful book, “Married to the Military” by Meredith Leyva.

http://www.heartsacrossthemiles.org
An all volunteer, nonprofit organization that ensures U.S. troops are not forgotten by providing letters of support, calling cards, and care packages. Also provides support to the families left behind.

www.babybites.info  The book, "Baby Bites - Transforming a picky eater into a Healthy eater" is a must for parents of any problem eater...the skinny fussy eater as well as the chubby fast food-lover child. Joann takes a radical departure from other books on the topic as she tackles the picky eater dilemma from the child's perspective, no matter what age. With all the challenges you're dealing with, wouldn't it be great if one wasn't a picky eater?

Official Military Websites:

www.army.mil
Army

www.army.mil/usar
Army Reserve

www.af.mil
Air Force

www.afrc.af.mil
Air Force Reserve

www.usmc.mil
Marine Corps

www.marforres.usmc.mil
Marine Force Reserve

www.arng.army.mil
Army National Guard

www.ang.af.mil
Air Force National Guard

www.navy.mil
Navy

www.navalreserve.com
Naval Reserve Force

www.uscg.mil
Coast Guard

www.uscg.mil/hq/reserve/reshmpg.html
Coast Guard Reserve

www.va.gov
Veterans Affairs

Military Relief Societies:

www.HealingSacredHearts.org: The Healing Sacred Hearts Program will focus on healing our Armed Forces and Families as one unit coming back from War. It will provide grief counseling, couples enrichment, healing groups among the Service Men/women, children/youth therapy groups, along with other services. Learn more about their fundraiser too.

http://www.aerhq.org
Army Emergency Relief

http://www.nmcrs.org
Navy/Marine

http://www.afas.org
Air Force Aid Society

http://www.specialops.org/contribute.html
Special Operations Warrior Foundation

http://www.taps.org
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

http://www.ustreas.gov
Purchase a Patriot Bond

http://www.sgtmoms.com
Sgt. Mom’s is “Military Life explained by a Military Wife!”
It is not an official DoD site or related to any official organization. It’s a fun site filled with relevant information and links presented in a clear, navigable way.

http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil
DeploymentLINK is maintained by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Medical readiness and deployments. It links to National Guard and Reserve web sites.

http://www.read2kids.org/uniting.htm
The Family Literacy Foundation provides a program for military families to help keep parents and children connected during deployment through reading aloud on videotapes.

http://www.abanet.org/family/military/checklist.pdf
A volunteer lawyers group has prepared an excellent Family Member Pre-Deployment Checklist. It is designed for all families and includes record-keeping questions related to medical care, finances, etc.

http://www.armycommunityservice.org/home.asp
Army Community Service provides real-life solutions for successful Army living.

http://www.defenselink.mil/ra/familyreadiness.html
Resources such as the Family Readiness Tool Kit and Guide to Reserve Family Member Benefits Handbook in PDF format are available on this site.

http://www.DivorceNet.com
Military divorce, family law, and counseling. Source of articles and information.

http://www.4MilitaryFamilies.com
Support groups, discounts, travel, housing, and deployment information.

http://www.mfri.purdue.edu
Military Family Institute is a DoD sponsored research center with a focus on families.

http://www.dfas.mil/money/garnish/supp-qa.htm
Defense Finance and Accounting Service answers some FAQ’s about child support issues.

http://www.Groww.com
GROWW is an independent haven for the bereaved developed by the bereaved. Message boards and resource listings.

http://Militarywivesandmoms.org/godblessusa.html
A site designed for those who have husbands, sons, or daughters proudly serving our country in the armed forces.

http://www.Military.com
Connecting you to the benefits of service. It’s an amazing site filled with information pertaining to all branches of services. It’s always kept current.

http://www.bluestarmothers.org
Designed for mothers who have, or have had children serving in the military. Good information easily arranged.

http://www.thestandinthegapproject.org
Providing financial assistance and outsourcing to help Colorado families and Colorado troops.

http://www.geocities.com/mydaddyfightsforfreedom
Gives children a realistic outlook about their parents’ deployment and tools to help deal with their feelings.

http://www.trianglearc.org/afes/treasuresfortroops.htm
A year-round program to brighten the day for deployed men and women by providing a gift from home for a $20 donation specifically to the Treasures for Troops.

http//:www.commissaries.com/certificheck/index.htm
The Gift of Groceries program helps meet the needs of Guard and Reserve families.

http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm
“Gifts from the Homefront” certificates from the Army Air Force Exchange System. Send these to a love one associated with the military. They are redeemable worldwide by authorized patrons of the PX/BX.

http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html
Sign a virtual thank you card.

www.freedomteamsalute.army.mil
Nominate a military support person (spouse, employer, etc.) for recognition and award for all they do! Great idea.

http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
Through sponsorships, military family children can receive SAT/ACT Standard Power Prep programs at no charge.

http://www.tribaptist.org
Click on "Military Support Group" on home page to see how one church community is providing an effective family support program. Contact information available on the site.

Additional sources for Reunion and Reintegration:

www.channing-bete.com
You’ll find information to order the booklet “Reintegration: Beyond Reunion – A guide for service members and their families.” Or call 1-800-628-7733 and ask for item number PS92753.

www.militaryonesource.com
A 24-hour, 7 day-a-week counseling service available to anyone who has been deployed or affected by a loved one’s deployment. There are many other opportunities available on the site, too. You can also call toll-free 1-800-342-9647.

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/MCFTB/return.asp
Return and Reunion guide, information, and brief. Operation Iraqi Freedom Warrior Transition

http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/MentalHealthWarMilitaryFamilies.cfm
The National Mental Health Association: Coping with War-related Stress: Information for Military families and communities

http://www.deploymentguide.com
Deployment Guide 2003 includes Readjusting after a Deployment

http://www.ncptsd.org/
The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Iraq War Clinician’s Guide

www.usuhs.mil
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress as an ongoing source of information and support

http://www.nmha.org/reunions/index.cfm
Article titled Operation Healthy Reunions. It’s a well written, informative and upbeat article that covers many areas of reunions.

Resources for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom:

http://www.vba.va.gov/
Veterans benefits information

http://www.va.gov/gulfwar/
Information for Iraqi Freedom Veterans

http://www.va.gov/environagents/
Afghanistan service information

http://www.ncptsd.org/topics/war/html
PTSD and Iraq veterans

http://www.va.gov/elig/
VA health care enrollment information

http://www.vethealth.cio.med.va.gov/Pubs/Index.htm
Brochures and publications including a summary of VA benefits for National Guard and Reserve Personnel, and healthcare and assistance for U.S. Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom

http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/
Online benefits applications

http://www.va.gov/wvhp/
http://www.va.gov/womenvet/
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Topics/Women/
Women veterans health and benefits information

Volunteer opportunities:

Are you finding yourself a little lonely with some extra time on your hands? Consider volunteering for a worthwhile organization based on your interests. Here are a few sites to start with:

http://www.adoptaclassroom.org
Connects the community and the classroom. Contribute to the education of young people.

http://www.beadsforlife.com
Make bead key chains and necklaces that call attention to early detection of breast cancer.

http://www.Chemocaps.com
This site is for knitters. Donate your time by knitting caps for cancer patients. Comfort their heads and their souls.

http://www.h4ha.org/snuggles
Hugs for Homeless Animals is a site designed to wrap animals with love by sewing or knitting warm blankets for them.

http://www.Projectlinus.org/index.html
Provides love, security, warmth, and comfort to children who are seriously ill or traumatized, through gifts of new/homemade washable blankets.

http://www.wtv-one.com/kjsb/bataan.html
The Ships Project Supports American troops at sea and on the ground in Operation Enduring Freedom. Crochet, knit or quilt.

Personal Recommendations

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	Elaine G. Dumler Frankly Speaking... 6460 W. 98th Court Westminster, CO  80021	303-430-0592 - phone 303-430-7679 - fax	email: Elaine@ElaineDumler.com website: www.ElaineDumler.com
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