National Organizations

The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) is regarded as the primary subject matter experts on traumatic brain injury (TBI) for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). DVBIC serves active duty military, their beneficiaries, and veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) through state-of-the-art clinical care, innovative clinical research initiatives, and educational programs. DVBIC fulfills this mission through ongoing collaboration with military, VA and civilian health partners, local communities, families and individuals with TBI.

Disabled American Veterans employs a large team of National Service Officers to assist with filing benefits claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Defense, and other agencies, free of charge. These benefits include health care, insurance, housing, education, employment and other benefits normally provided to veterans and their families. DAV also extends into the community, in the form of seminars, transitional services for homeless veterans, and disaster relief grants for veterans affected by disasters (such as September 11, 2001). The Web site provides links to information about these services and reports specifically pertaining to veterans with disabilities.

Formed in 1973, the American Military Retirees Association (AMRA) is an advocacy group, encouraging veterans to unite and urge government officials to pass legislation related to the sustained protection of military veterans. Another facet of its mission is to protect the rights and benefits of military veterans. The Web site contains current press releases, bulletins, and other important resources for veterans affairs.

The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration founded a national suicide prevention hotline to ensure veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. To operate the Veterans Hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call the Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press "1" to be routed to the Veterans Hotline.

Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) mission is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

The Military Spouse Resource Center is designed to assist the spouses of U.S. military personnel. This Web site is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Labor. Its mission is to provide easy access to information, resources and opportunities related to education, training, and employment for Military spouses. Military spouses can access these services through this Web site and the U.S. Department of Labor's local One-Stop Career Centers.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) was founded in 2004 by current Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff and his fellow Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. IAVA works to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families by connecting and empowering veterans in their local communities and online, by advocating for veterans rights, and by giving civilians concrete actions they can take to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans.

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) works to solve the challenge of helping schools and military installations deliver accurate, timely information to meet transitioning parent and student needs, and in the development and education of children from military families. MCEC's role is to help families, schools, and communities be better prepared to support children during these frequent moves and difficult—and sometimes traumatic—times in the life of military families.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides ongoing emotional help, hope, and healing to people grieving the death of a loved one in military service to America, regardless of relationship to the deceased, geography, or circumstance of the death. TAPS meets its mission by providing peer-based support, crisis care, casualty casework assistance, and grief and trauma resources. Also included is an events calendar, links to other helpful resources, local support groups and information on benefits.

The mission of the National Center for PTSD is to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other stress-related disorders.

VA Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military-related issues. These services are provided at no cost to the veteran or family. The Vet Centers are staffed by small multi-disciplinary teams of dedicated providers, many of whom are combat veterans themselves. This section of the Department of Veteran's Affairs website has direct links to all the VA Vet Centers in New York State.

This section is the Mental Health Home of the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site and a link to the Veterans Suicide Hotline: 1 800 273-TALK. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides psychiatric and mental health services through VA medical centers, and outpatient clinics.

This section of the Department of Veterans Affairs website lists and provides links to all of the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits, and National Cemetery Administration centers in New York State. Also included are links to community-based outpatient clinics, Vet Centers, Veterans Integrated Service Network, and regional offices.

A comprehensive list of links to the network of VA health care facilities in downstate New York including VA medical centers, community outpatient clinics, and vet centers.

A comprehensive list of links to the network of VA health care facilities in upstate New York including VA medical centers, community outpatient clinics, and vet centers.

The VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment section of the Department of Veterans Affairs website serves as the central location for recently discharged service members, veterans, and health care providers serving veterans to get information on all aspects of VA health care eligibility and enrollment. The VA maintains an enrollment system to manage the provision of quality hospital and outpatient medical care and treatment to all enrolled veterans. A priority system ensures that veterans with service-connected disabilities and those below the low-income threshold are able to be enrolled in VA’s health care system.

A broad overview of various issues related to veterans health care eligibility and enrollment are included in this section of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. New regulations, summaries of VA benefits, and VA forms are included in this site.

To address the health care needs of veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs created the Veterans Health Administration Home website. The site includes links to help veterans find a VA facility near them, refill prescriptions online, find information on Federal benefits for veterans and their dependents, as well as social media links. The site also has a variety of links to clinical health programs and initiatives such as Mental Health, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV/AIDS and the Gulf War illnesses.

The Federal Department of Veterans Affairs has created a new section on its website specifically for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Returning Service Members. The site provides information for recently discharged service members, National Guard and Reserve, on how to access benefits and programs, family support and other helpful reintegration resources. The section also includes answers to frequently asked questions, an interactive blog, and social networking features.