| Services and Testimony |
The Patrick McCaffrey Foundation, named after Sergeant Patrick R. McCaffrey, the first California National Guard, since WWII, (from the 579th Engineer Battalion from Petaluma), to lose his life in Iraq on June 22, 2004, is committed to bringing healing and hospice, as well as career counseling and training, to veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its founding member and President, Nadia McCaffrey, mother of Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey, wants to carry on the work her son would have pursued had his life not been curtailed so prematurely. Patrick, who did not expect to be deployed to Iraq, decided to honor the commitment he made to help people by going to Iraq as a leader and Combat Life Saver, bringing healing and love to his fellow soldiers and the Iraqi children. |
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"We Are Trying to Reach the Families of Fallen Soldiers From The West (those who were killed in action in either Iraq or Afghanistan) Professional Tutors of America will provide free tutoring for the surviving children throughout elementary and high school. The surviving spouse will also receive free tutoring upon request. If you know of any families from California, Nevada, Arizona or Texas have them call (800) 832-2487 and ask for Matthew Gordon or Bob Harraka." Thanks for helping us spread the word. Bob |
| © 2007-2008, Nadia McCaffrey, the Patrick McCaffrey Foundation & the Veteran's Village, all rights reserved © Formed in 2006, the organization is a peace based organization for members of the military who have served in the war, we are focusing on the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts, however, this foundation is to help all war veterans . We believe the best way to support our troops is to bring them home now and take care of them when they get here. |
| Hi Nadia, I hope your well. A spouse of a veteran has donated two wheelchair to veterans in need. Let me know if you know anyone who can use a powered wheelchair. Mary Mary Jalufka, Owner MindFul Referral Services PO Box 273282 Concord, CA 94527 Nadia@veteransvillage.org |
| Thursday, March 20, 2008 New Self-Assessments for Mental Health Protect Anonymity, Offer Referrals for Treatment Want to know if you’re exhibiting symptoms of PTSD? Do you suspect one of your buddies is abusing alcohol to cope with combat or post-combat stress and could use professional help? Has your spouse come home from deployment and returned a different person? Service members seeking answers to these types of questions can now assess their health via a new set of self- administered, anonymous screening tools offered as part of the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (MHSAP). This DoD-funded program provided by the non-profit organization, Screening for Mental Health, Inc., covers a variety of psychological concerns and is especially helpful to service members and families struggling with issues of stress, anxiety, and depression during a post-deployment, readjustment period. "No one is immune from the stresses of everyday life, and especially those associated with deployment,” explained Captain Mark Paris, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Psychological Health Strategic Operations, Force Health Protection and Readiness. “Here is an easy, quick, and private way of finding out if seeking help might just be a good idea." The questionnaires are short, free, and offered 24 hours a day online (at militarymentalhealth.org) and by phone (1-877-877-3647). They will also be administered at special events held at installations around the world. The six available questionnaires cover depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol use, general anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and adolescent depression. Each questionnaire includes a demographics section asking for info like age, marital status, military rank and status (if any), and deployment status. A series of questions follows that gathers information on a person’s mental well-being. Some questions focus on sleeping and eating habits, some on mood and attitude, and other ask about a person’s ability to function and concentrate. When linked together, the answers to these questions create a picture of how an individual is feeling and whether they could benefit from talking to a health professional. If an outcome results in a recommendation to seek professional help, the individual receives feedback on who to speak with and/or where to go, whether it’s a chaplain, a clinic, a TRICARE provider, or the VA. Appropriate hotline numbers and info on finding support groups are also provided. Often service members hesitate to seek help for emotional issues. They’re understandably concerned about the stigma associated with psychological treatment. But these screening tests can be taken on the service member’s time, at any time, and without anyone else knowing. And the results of a screening can help persuade a person to seek treatment. “Anonymity allows people who are distressed to gauge where they are as far as their need for help goes,” said Katherine Cruise, Director of Communications and Marketing for Screening for Mental Health. “This is a discrete way to take that first step toward treatment.” Providing easy and anonymous screenings for psychological health advances the Military Health System’s commitment to health and resilience in the military community at large. DoD and Screening for Mental Health, Inc. are hopeful that this method of screening will help service members and their families catch problems before they grow into more serious conditions. “Our goal is to reach service members and families who struggle with the stress of military life,” said Cruise. In addition to the self-assessment program, Screening for Mental Health, Inc. created A Different Kind of Courage: Safeguarding and Enhancing Your Psychological Health, an educational video containing interviews with military personnel and families that explores military mental health issues and offers advice on how to approach a family member or friend who may need professional help. The full video and its trailer can be streamed at Screening for Mental Health’s Web site. “You want your spouse to come home and just open their arms and just hug you,” says the wife of a recently deployed Marine in the video. “But in fact, they’re dealing with a lot.” MHSAP questionnaires are available 24/7 at militarymentalhealth.org and 1-877-877-3647. Screening for Mental Health, Inc. offers free kits of materials to installations wishing to hold mental health and alcohol education events. The organization has similar kits for Family Readiness Groups, Chaplains, and other groups that help military families during deployment cycles. You can order the kits online. |
| Mission The mission of Patrick McCaffrey’s Foundation is to promote mental and holistic wellness and palliative care among veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by providing a live-in retreat village, wherein with the help of trained professional staff and volunteers, veterans will find inner healing and an eventual re-entry into society. |
