Sponsor Presentation Summer 2011

www.bondsofcourage.org

561 Springfield Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 908-273-4122 [email protected] www.bondsofcourage.orgt

Bonds of Courage supports post-9/11 troops, veterans, and their families to build morale and to meet urgent needs involving jobs, health, families and finances.

Supporting Post-9/11 Troops, Veterans andTheir Families

June 23, 2011Presented by: Board of Directors & Christine Truhe, PsyD, Founder & President

www.bondsofcourage.org2

History• Founded in 2004 by military mom and psychologist,

Dr. Christine Truhe, who saw a need to build and maintain a hometown connection with troops.

• Started as a grassroots community group to provide personal care supplies, food items and mementos from home to serve as a morale booster for troops serving overseas.

• In 7 years, maintained connections with 150 troops.• Troops are from 10 NJ towns and 23 states.• About 23,000 troops, serving with Bonds of Courage

troops, have received packages.• Approximately 2000 volunteers and donors are

engaged.• Outreach to 20,000 homes has led to a greater

appreciation of the military service to our country.


Alarming Statistics• 22% of veterans are unemployed. (Bureau of Labor

Statistics, 2011).

• 22% have symptoms of post-traumatic stress. (Seat et al, 2009).

• 400,000 experience homelessness during a given year, 131,000 are homeless on any given night. (Veterans Administration)

• Long and repeated deployments put families in crisis, e.g. the annual divorce rate among female Marines is 9.2%, 3 times the national average. (Rand Corporation, 2009) Divorce rate of Army has surpassed the national average, 3.5%, where previously it was lower (Jelinek, 2008).


Bridging the Gap for ServicesIn 2010, the Bonds of Courage Board of Directors made the strategic decision to expand its mission to provide services in these four pillars:

•Jobs•Health•Families•Finances

On-going programs since 2004:

• Outreach - building bonds through on-going contact• Provisioning - sending items


Jobs: Career Counseling & SearchCurrently:Personalized career counseling to troops in the Bonds of Courage network includes:• Personal consultation with comprehensive online assessment, if needed.• Assistance with labor market research.• Resume writing and interview support.• Building networks to help identify job opportunities• Key initiative: Jobs for Veterans

Additional services we would like to offer:• Group sessions, in person and online, facilitated by experts• Soliciting and posting jobs on Bonds of Courage website.• Developing and posting descriptions of veterans available for employment to generate interest from potential employers.• Career fair.


Health: Screening and ReferralCurrently:• Intake Assessment self-report is the first step to determine each client’s overall issues on 5 domains-behavioral, physical, social, legal, career/academic. • Information used to prioritize services based on individual’s needs. • Bonds of Courage staff ensures that he/she obtains the needed services to address issues of concern. • Key initiative: Post 9/11 Veterans Council

Additional services we would like to offer:• Completing comprehensive intake assessment to determine preliminary diagnoses. • Building robust network of providers to take referrals from Bonds of Courage.• Expanding Bonds of Courage Vets Council, a mutual support group that assists in identifying key issues troops and veterans are facing when they return home.


Families: Support & InformationCurrently:Get to know family members of “our” troops.Provide referrals to support services and support groups.Key initiative: Military Mom’s Group.

– Small group (up to 8 people.) – Each session facilitated by credentialed behavioral

health professionals. – Demand for additional Military Moms groups:

• Seeking additional resources to expand this important service.

• Exploring ways to extend the reach of this concept.


Our Troops

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Each of these troops in uniform are now veterans.They are working diligently to create good lives for themselves and their families. Each of them are being helped by Bonds of

Courage.


Families: Support & Information (continued)

Additional services we would like to offer:•Virtual support groups and online webinars for parents and spouses of troops:

– Military Spouse Group for spouses of deployed troops, active duty troops, and National Guard/Reserve troops.

– Veteran Parents' Group for parents of young children (share parenting tips and skills, etc.)

• Outreach program for NJ National Guard families of veterans to address concerns through mutual support groups and/or parenting sessions.


Finances: Financial Foundations Guidance

Currently:• Provide general financial information to troops through website and newsletters.

– Articles written by volunteer CPA

Expanded services will include: • Providing individual coaching and workshops to clients through pro-bono network of qualified volunteers.• Development of a simple financial guide for troops and veterans.


Families, Friends, Brothers – in- Arms Building Bonds

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Military Mom’s Group

2LT Kyle Lee’s BDE lost 2 men 6.16.11. Mom center left. SGT Melcon, 2

men killed, 5 injured incl self, retd to fight, 6.11. Mom missing from pic left.

LCPL Jason Jacobs –depl. 12.10 Afg, Mom (ctr) Twin brother SGT Justin Jacobs, retd from Iraq 5.09


We need your support!Consider how you will move this important mission forward.

Financial support

Board membership

Volunteers

Donated goods

Pro-bono services

Information about job opportunities