Dear Doc,
My spouse is a wounded warrior, and we just moved to a new area. I felt very involved in our old community, but don’t have many connections here.
Can you give me tips to find wounded warrior and caregiver support resources in our new area?
Thank you,
Wounded Warrior Spouse
Dear Wounded Warrior Spouse:
Moving is a major part of military life, and it can be tough to start over in a new location. Many wounded warriors, their family members, and caregivers face the same issue. I found just the person to talk about this: Jonathan Morris, the Defense Health Agency’s deputy director of Warrior Care Recovery Coordination Program. Here's his advice:
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"It’s hard to start over after moving to a new area. Wounded warriors, their families, and caregivers are resilient! The military departments and U.S. Special Operations Command RCPs all provide wounded warriors and their families with excellent resources to help build a supportive community in your new location.
Connection Starts Here:
Military services and U.S. SOCOM RCPs are ready to connect you with resources and military communities. These programs provide nonclinical support to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their families, and caregivers through recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Learn more through your service member’s military branch RCP:
How to Get Involved
Wounded warriors and their families can enhance their recovery and connection to their new community through these programs provided by their service or USSOCOM RCP:
- Military Adaptive Sports Program: Discover competitive and reconditioning activities to build physical and cognitive strength while fostering camaraderie. Families are encouraged to participate, fostering shared growth and wellness.
- Education and Employment Initiative: Unlock pathways to professional and educational growth for wounded warriors.
- Operation Warfighter: Offers hands-on experience through federal internships.
- The E2I and OWF programs bridge the gap between military service and civilian life, providing pathways to professional and educational success.
Comprehensive Recovery Support
Recovery Care Coordinators work closely with each wounded warrior, family member, and their recovery team to develop a comprehensive recovery plan. These plans identify goals and resources to achieve them. This includes local support, education, employment, or housing.
Through the CRP, RCCs guide wounded warriors and their caregivers and families toward recovery milestones, from rehabilitation and reintegration to returning to duty or transitioning into civilian life. Service members may self-refer to the program or get a referral from a health care provider, wounded warrior program staff member, or family member.
Caregiver Resources at Your Fingertips
A great tool is the electronic Caregiver Resource Directory, also known as the eCRD. Powered by the National Resource Directory, the eCRD provides caregiver-specific vetted resources offering military caregivers with reliable resources to reduce caregiver stress and provide local, state, and federal support.
The National Resource Directory has thousands of vetted local, state, and federal assistance resources to support the military community with getting assistance with benefits to finding programs that provide free opportunities.
Military OneSource provides 24/7 access to trained consultants offering free, nonmedical counseling for military caregivers and wounded warriors, including support with relocation, connecting with peer-to-peer networks, managing benefits, and health and wellness.
These programs ensure that military caregivers, families, and wounded warriors are supported with tailored resources, fostering resilience and growth during the recovery journey. We hope you can use this information to build connections and feel supported and engaged in your new community.
For additional assistance, please send an email to the Warrior Care staff at osd.warriorcare@mail.mil.
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Wounded Warrior Spouse, it sounds like there are many resources to help get settled into your new community. Take advantage of these programs to start making new connections in your area. Thank you!