For Military Families and Veterans

Military Families and Veterans Summary

Veteran and Military Family Mental Health Care and Support at Home Base

Home Base is a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program dedicated to providing mental health services and support for Veterans of all eras, Service Members and their families through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research—all at NO COST.

Home Base clinicians are part of Massachusetts General Hospital. They are civilian caregivers, but they are experienced in caring for Veterans and families. They understand the Military culture and the unique needs of Veterans and Military Families.

During these times, Home Base has developed new solutions to adapt to this rapidly changing operating environment so that we can continue delivering critical care and support to our community. The number one priority at Home Base has always been to deliver the best care possible for the health and well-being of our warriors and their families.

Home Base’s outpatient mental health operations are available through virtual telephone and video visits through July 5, 2020, for both current and new patients.

Home Base virtual offerings include:

• ★ CLINICAL CARE VIA TELEHEALTH
  Home Base’s Outpatient Clinic Mental Health services will be available for Veterans, Service Members and Military Family Members through telehealth face-to-face video visits and telephone consultation for those who live in Massachusetts. For Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, and Military Families interested in learning more about Home Base or establishing care, please call 617-724-5202 or visit www.homebase.org/connect2care to schedule an appointment.
• ★ NEW: OPERATION HEALTH@HOME: ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR MIND, BODY AND SOUL 
  Home Base launched Operation Health@Home, an online platform that will bring you essential coaching strategies in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and mental health. New curated content by Home Base’s experts will be posted daily on our digital hub and on social media. Follow us at @homebaseprogram – and join us as we build our community with #HBHealthAtHome.
• ★ WARRIOR HEALTH & FITNESS
  Home Base’s Warrior Health & Fitness Program is available for current and alumni participants through virtual means. Our staff look forward to expanding this program to onboard new and interested Veterans to the program in the near future. If you are interested in learning more about our Warrior Health & Fitness Program and live in Massachusetts or Southwest Florida, please email Warrior Health & Fitness Program Director Ryan Vanderweit here.

During these extraordinary times, it is important that we all work together to support each other. At Home Base, we take this responsibility to heart, and are grateful to be able to stand with you to continue providing much-needed mental health services to our Veterans and Military Families.

Below is a set of additional expert-recommended resources for Military Families preparing for family disruptions and challenges.

For questions regarding the services currently available at Home Base, email homebaseprogram@partners.org or visit www.homebase.org/connect2care. 

For all other resource requests, reach out to Home Base’s Resource Specialist, Lindsey Renner, at lgrenner@mgh.harvard.edu. 

Follow Home Base on social media for up-to-date information on new and developing programs. Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

In this guide:

• COVID-19 Information
• Mental Health
• Substance Use and Recovery
• Educational Resources for Kids
• Financial Assistance and Practical Resources

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COVID-19 Information

World Health Organization 
The most up to date information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with plenty of advice and tips to protect you and your family

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Up-to-date advice on how to navigate the VA during the coronavirus outbreak

Tricare
Get answers on how Tricare is still serving their clients, including changes to Telehealth and how to get your prescriptions delivered to your front door

Coronavirus.gov
Established by the CDC, FEMA and the White House, this site provides answers to frequently asked questions and the most up-to-date guidance for the United States

Medicare
Assistance with transitioning to Telehealth, coping with stress and other ways Medicare is helping Veterans

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Mental Health

Home Base Program
Our staff is working remotely to serve you and provide continued care to our Veterans and their families. Home Base’s Connect to Care form submissions and voicemail will be checked daily. If you would like to connect with a member of our Veteran Outreach or Family Support Team:

• Visit: www.homebase.org/connect2care
• Call: Home Base at 617-724-5202

Give an Hour
Since 2005, Give an Hour® has focused on providing free mental health care to active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members, veterans and their families

Military OneSource Non-Medical Counseling for Youth
School closures and the general uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 have affected families everywhere. Children and teenagers who feel isolated from friends and activities may experience a particularly hard time.

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1)
Call, Text, Chat online – This free support is confidential, available 24/7 and serves Veterans, all Service Members and their family members and friends

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Substance Abuse and Recovery

myRecovery
Online AA Meetings and a 24/7 meeting room

SMART Recovery Self-Management & Recovery Training
Online resources to managing your recovery at home

Starlight Program for Military Personnel
A residential program for Military Personnel with a treatment team including licensed physicians, therapists, case managers, licensed psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, art therapists and registered dietitians

Narcotics Anonymous Virtual Meetings

Soberistas (Women Only) 
Provides a women-only international online recovery community

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Educational Resources for Kids

Freckle
Generates an ELA and Math Curriculum for children at no cost

Military Child Education Coalition
MCEC goes beyond just educational resources and looks at supporting families with initiatives in resilience and managing stressful times

80+ Free Science Activities You Can Do at Home
Stuck at home for the next few weeks with nothing to do? Here are over 80 free science ideas, including seven games you can play over and over, to get you through—no strings attached!

Storyline Online
Your kids' favorite books, read by famous celebrities like Oprah, Al Gore, Rami Malek, Kevin Costner and more

Scholastic
Scholastic is providing a free daily curriculum for kids Pre-K – 9th Grade

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Financial Assistance

Military OneSource
Military OneSource is dedicated to providing timely resources, information and answers to address the impact of COVID-19 on our military community. They provide resources to Service Members in need and also have an endless supply of tips and tricks for navigating all sorts of issues facing military families

Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project is providing COVID-19 grant relief funds to registered warriors in need due to employment losses to assist with household needs

USA.Gov
USA.Gov provides a variety of COVID-19 response resources for Military Families including help for small businesses, disaster relief assistance and unemployment assistance

Army Emergency Relief
Active Duty & Retired Soldiers can apply for assistance for disaster relief, food, vehicle costs and much more

Navy-Marine Corps Relief
NMCRS provides emergency funds to Sailors, Marines and their families in need and even offer long-term financial planning services

Air Force Aid Society
The official charity of the U.S. Air Force, supporting Airmen with assistance like basic living expenses, vehicle repairs and during disasters

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Program
The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Program has adapted their disaster relief program to provide increased funding for lost wages, child care, quarantine costs, school meals, etc. due to the current situation. They are providing free online tutoring, educating equipment for college students and expanding financial assistance for medical and funeral costs.

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Housing

USA Cares
The Housing Assistance program aims to prevent foreclosures and evictions for post-9/11 veterans and their families

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
The Rapid Response and Referral Program is available for immediate support. If you need someone to talk to any time—day or night—IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force is standing by. QRF can help by providing peer support 24/7 and providing connections to quality resources for housing and homelessness.

HUD.Gov
A resource for navigating HUD services during the COVID-19 Response

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Food Assistance

USA.Gov D-SNAP
The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is also known as food stamps for disaster situations. D-SNAP provides one month’s worth of benefits on a debit-type card that you can use at most grocery stores.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. USDA provides 100% American-grown USDA Foods and administrative funds to states to operate TEFAP

Project Bread
In addition to efforts supporting the school meal service in conjunction with the Department of Education, Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline is actively assisting people who need help getting food and plans have been implemented to ensure continuity of operations despite the closure of the Department of Transitional Assistance and any periods of quarantine

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Utilities

US Wireless Carriers Pledge to Suspend Cancellations
For the next 60 days, the FCC calls on telecom companies to maintain service and waive late fees for any residential and small business customers who can’t pay their bills due to the pandemic. It also calls on those companies to open their WiFi hot-spots. Approximately 70 companies have agreed to honor the pledge. The list includes all four of the big wireless carriers—AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon (Engadget’s parent company)—as well as internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and Google Fiber.

National Grid
National Grid is temporarily suspending collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any financial hardship the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our customers. These policies are effective immediately and will be in place through the end of April. Please note that regular billing will continue for all customers.

Eversource Energy
Eversource is pledging to lessen the financial hardships on customers affected by work disruptions. In a statement, Eversource spokesman Reid Lamberty said the company is “voluntarily suspending residential customer disconnections indefinitely and continue(s) working with business customers who contact us about possible adjustments to their monthly bill."