SFACs: New Centers Helping Families of Wounded

November 20, 2008Army News Service| by Lindy Kyzer

WASHINGTON - A key component of caring for wounded warriors is taking care of their families. That's why Soldier Family Assistance Centers now thrive at 34 Army installations across the globe, officials said.

SFACs are a one-stop shop where wounded warriors and their families can find assistance and information to get them through a difficult time.

Maj. Gen. John Macdonald, commanding general of the U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command and Delores F. Johnson, director, family programs, headquarters, U.S. Army FMWRC, joined bloggers and on-line journalists for a special Warrior Care month blogger's roundtable to discuss SFACs and other programs available to wounded warriors.

Travel Reimbursement Increases for Veterans

Mileage reimbursement rates for travel to Veterans Affairs medical facilities went up last week, from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents. VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake said he used his authority to make such an increase.

“We owe it to our veterans to give them the best care possible,” Peake said in a department press release. “The increase will once again provide assistance to our veterans, especially in these difficult economic times, to help offset gasoline costs and to assist veterans with access to the VA’s world-class health system.”

"Give an Hour" Valuable Web Site 

Give an Hour is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop a national network of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Our first target population is the U.S. troops and families who are being affected by the current military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.  We are now creating a national network of mental health professionals who are literally giving an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. Individuals who receive services will be given the opportunity to give back in their own community. By providing critical psychological support to military personnel and their families, we will support the sacrifices they are making and ameliorate the difficulties they face.

Click on the "Give an Hour" Program Menu (to the left) to access further material about this Program.

Their web site at www.giveanhour.org has additional useful material.

Welcome to the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program 

The Wounded Warrior Mentor Program (WWMP) was started by members of the West Point class of 1958 in 2004, to provide mentoring services to wounded military members recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, D.C.  It has since expanded to include a number of West Point classes and several mentors from the other Service Academies to provide mentoring services to wounded military members wherever they are located. 

Lee Miller '58, Bruce Holmberg '61, Greg Gadston '89, Alton McCallum '02, and John Herren '58