Military Veterans
The CARES UP funds are used to increase participation in a national program called ONWARD Ops which serves to assist Transitioning Service Members and Veterans (TSM/Vs) as they shift from military to civilian life, by connecting them with a local volunteer peer sponsor. The program focuses on the first year of post-military life, a timeframe often referred to as the “deadly gap” due to the high rates of homelessness, criminal justice involvement, alcohol and substance use, unemployment, and suicide. Using peer-reviewed, evidence-based best practices, ONWARD Ops Sponsors are trained and certified to build relationships and resiliency.
In the Onward Ops program, the information and resources needed to plan a successful transition are available on a single, secure platform. Rather than focusing exclusively on one sector such as employment, the program assesses service member needs across multiple domains from employment and educational goals to family and social needs, creating a personal transition plan for each enrollee, informed by best practices across the Veteran support space and validated by Veterans who themselves have successfully made the return to civilian life.
What you can do:
• If you are in a leadership position at an agency that supports Veterans transition from military service to civilian life, implement the strategies and best practices that CARES UP offers. Contact CARESUP@omh.ny.gov for assistance.
• If you are a Veteran, share this website with the Veteran organization that you’re involved with. It’s important to spread the word about CARES UP and how it can help build wellness and resiliency.
• Complete free trainings and learn from the resources that CARES UP offers.
Examples:
References:
The Difficult Transition from Military to Civilian Life
Pease JL, Billera M, Gerard G. Military culture and the transition to civilian life: suicide risk and other considerations. Soc Work. 2016;61(1):83-86. doi:10.1093/sw/swv050PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
Castro CA, Kintzle S. Suicides in the military: the post-modern combat veteran and the Hemingway effect. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014;16(8):460. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0460-1