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 at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat to get support anonymously. A text message can also be sent to 838255 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

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Disabled American Veterans

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.

Employment

Vocational Rehabilitation - VA VR&E You may receive Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.

Veterans Employment and Training Services - US Dept of Labor

Get Skills To Work (help matching military skills with thousands of jobs)

Hire Heroes

Job Hero (resources to help Veterans)

Financial Support

Boot Campaign

Robin Hood Foundation

Soldier, Sailor, Marine Fund

USA Cares (Offers job and financial help)

Brain injuries and post concussive events

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

Camp Hope - PTSD Foundation of America

About Face - National Center for PTSD

Healing Warrior Hearts (Milwaukee, WI, for PTSD retreats)

Honoring the Path of the Warrior (mindfulness training)

Horses for Heroes

Lone Survivor Foundation

Mind-Fitness Training (For PTS)

NAMI – National Alliance of Mental Illness

Real Warriors

Saratoga Warhorse (equine program for veterans with PTSD)

STRONG STAR (San Antonio) (Help for PTSD and TBI)

Task Force Waterfowl

The Soldiers Project

Trauma and Resiliency, Inc. – “Warrior Camp”

Veterans Airlift Command (Helping veterans with travel need due to illness)

Housing & Human Services

Fisher House

Home for Our Troops

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.

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.