Gold StarFamily SupportCenterFort Hood,Texas

The Gold Star Family Sup-port Center at Fort I loocl,Texas opened its doors inApril of 2006.

Co-located with SOS Sup-port Coordinators, FinancialCounselors, and Family LifeCoaches are representativesfrom Tragedy AssistanceProgram for Survivors(TAPS). TAPS is a non-profit 501 (c)3 veteran's ser-vice organization created in1994 to provide support toanyone who died in militaryservice to America regardlessof branch of service.

Survivor Outreach ServicesSOS Information:

SOS Office Location:Building #10045Fort Hood, Texas

Battalion Avenue across fromthe 4th ID Headquarters

Mailing Address:Army Community Services—SOS

Building 121761st Tank BattalionFort Hood, TX 76544

Phone: 254-288-3655Fax: 254-288-6728

Office Hours: 7:30am-4:30pmMonday thru Friday

Find us on the internet at:

www.hoodmwr.com/acs/sos.html

SOS

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SurvivorOutreach

ServicesFort Hood, Texas

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Our Purpose: SurvivorOutreach Services (SOS) is anArmy Community Servicesprogram designed to provide

short term and long term supportto the Survivors of Soldiers whodie while on active duty.

Our Vision: Compassionate

and determined outreach to Survi-vors.

Our Goal: To be intentional

yet noninvasive in extending thehand of support to the survivors of

I fallen Soldiers at theirpoint of need withmeaningful programsand caring counsel re-sulting in SurvivorFamilies knowing that

others are concerned for their wellbeing during their journey throughgrief.

What We Do...• Facilitate support groups where

Families and individuals canshare feelings, burdens, thoughts,resources, and information in asafe and understanding, setting.

• Maintain personal contact with SurvivorFamilies with phone calls, cards, and mailings.

• Offer on site professional financial counselingto assist Families in adjusting to their uniquemonetary circumstance following the loss of aloved one.

• Provide care for Survi-vor Families beyondwhat Casualty Officersand Unit Care Teamscan offer.

• Act as the Survivor Family's voice when nec-essary

• Act as liaison between the Survivor Familyand their Soldier's unit: communication, con-tact, and information for special memorials orevents.

• Partner with military and other agencies andorganizations to provide resources and pro-grams such as grief camps for children, adultretreats and other special events and bereave-ment materials.

• Help to train Family Readiness Groups,Care Teams, Casualty Assistance Officers, andArmy Leadership about SOS and bereavementissues.

Why SOS?...Because Survivor Families have complex griefissues. Among them are:

• Having a loved one die a violent death, fre-

quently after a long separation.

• Often not being able to view thebody of their loved one.

• Feelings of abandonment by theirmilitary Family as they transition- losing not just their loved one,but their way of life.

• Stressful news coverage and pub-lic opinion judgments of whattheir loved one died for - regard-less of their Ip e r s o n a l )views.

• Having tomake major'decisions in ithe midst oftheir mostd i f f i c u l t 1

stages of grief (IE. Where to burytheir loved one, where to movewhen they leave the military envi-ronment, how to address theneeds of children to includeschools, counseling issues, etc.).

• Having to make major financialdecisions with lifelong impact.

• Survivor Families often want tomaintain a connection to the mili-tary - to the place, people, andorganization where their lovedone served.