Serving Those Who Served

Practical advice on how best to serve veterans, service members, and their families in your community, including effective ways to develop new outreach partnerships and collaborations. Whether you work in a public library, an academic library, a school library, or any other type of library, you are likely to encounter members of the veteran and military communities. This book is a starting point to help librarians, library administrators, and all library employees understand how veterans, service members, and their families can be different from other patrons, recognize important elements of military and veteran culture, and identify strategies for effectively serving the veteran and military communities. In this book, you find tips to help you determine the size and the needs of the veteran and military communities in your local area. You'll learn about some common information requests and information-seeking behavior of veterans and service members. You'll discover how to take the needs and also the unique strengths of the veteran and military communities into account when developing library outreach efforts, programs, services, and collections. And you'll gain insights to help you harness the knowledge, strengths, and experiences of the veteran and military communities in order to help them fulfill their potential as an asset to the library and to the community.

Practical advice on how best to serve veterans, service members, and their families in your community, including effective ways to develop new outreach partnerships and collaborations. Whether you work in a public library, an academic library, a school library, or any other type of library, you are likely to encounter members of the veteran and military communities. This book is a starting point to help librarians, library administrators, and all library employees understand how veterans, service members, and their families can be different from other patrons, recognize important elements of military and veteran culture, and identify strategies for effectively serving the veteran and military communities. In this book, you find tips to help you determine the size and the needs of the veteran and military communities in your local area. You'll learn about some common information requests and information-seeking behavior of veterans and service members. You'll discover how to take the needs and also the unique strengths of the veteran and military communities into account when developing library outreach efforts, programs, services, and collections. And you'll gain insights to help you harness the knowledge, strengths, and experiences of the veteran and military communities in order to help them fulfill their potential as an asset to the library and to the community.

Philanthropy for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families is a comparatively new and fast-growing branch of American charitable giving. Alas, there is little good information available to help donors act wisely. This book fills that gap. It was created as a how-to manual for philanthropists who want to make a difference with individuals who have served their nation, particularly during the period since the 9/11 attacks. Packed with profiles of the most promising people and groups and strategies, plus essential data, this is a timely new tool for donors. It is the first product of the new veterans program of The Philanthropy Roundtable, which is now available to advise, free of charge, any donors looking to make a difference in this field.

Approximately 4 million U.S. service members took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shortly after troops started returning from their deployments, some active-duty service members and veterans began experiencing mental health problems. Given the stressors associated with war, it is not surprising that some service members developed such mental health conditions as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorder. Subsequent epidemiologic studies conducted on military and veteran populations that served in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq provided scientific evidence that those who fought were in fact being diagnosed with mental illnesses and experiencing mental healthâ€"related outcomesâ€"in particular, suicideâ€"at a higher rate than the general population. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn. It includes an analysis of not only the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.

"Serving Those Who Served" is an invaluable guidebook dedicated to the vast array of benefits and resources available to American veterans and their families. With an emphasis on aiding those who have dedicated themselves to their nation, the book meticulously outlines the programs, services, and benefits designed to assist veterans in their post-military lives. From the basics of understanding veteran status and eligibility to comprehensive breakdowns of medical care, education opportunities, home loan programs, and mental health services, this guide provides all the essential information. The text not only delves into the federal benefits offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs but also highlights state-specific programs and private-sector opportunities that can enhance a veteran's quality of life. For families of veterans, "Serving Those Who Served" sheds light on spousal and dependent benefits, touching on essential topics like survivor benefits, educational assistance, and family counseling services. Additionally, it addresses the unique challenges faced by families during active duty and the transition to civilian life, providing resources and advice to help navigate these periods. In addition to outlining benefits, the guide offers practical advice on navigating the often complex processes of application and claim filing, ensuring that veterans and their families maximize the benefits they have earned. Case studies, real-life testimonies, and expert insights are interwoven throughout the text, offering readers a clear and empathetic understanding of each topic. Complete with a directory of national and state veteran organizations, helplines, and other pertinent resources, "Serving Those Who Served" stands as a beacon for veterans and their loved ones, ensuring they are well-equipped to access the support and recognition they so rightfully deserve.