Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008
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Leading Veterans Service Organizations Meet Near Washington May 13-15, 2008
By Swords to Plowshares
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CHANTILLY, Va., May 9 --
As the war in Iraq enters its fifth year and the U.S. death toll climbs above 4,000 and casualty numbers approach the 30,000 mark, a diverse coalition of military and veterans service organizations on the homefront have organized to help bereaved families and wounded veterans. In some cases, they are nonprofit organizations serving military audiences with decades of experience who are now seeing demand for their services soar. Others are new to veterans services but eager to meet needs and help. Now for the first time ever, the 44 agencies who are members of the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans will meet face-to-face during a conference being held May 13-15, 2008, in the Washington, DC metro area.The Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV) will coordinate efforts on behalf of our nation's active military, veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. These 44 agencies represent every facet of service delivery and advocacy on behalf of deployed and war veterans. CIAV members deliver direct financial aid, housing assistance, mental health and traumatic injury services, legal and employment services, advocacy and research, and counts among its members Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Operation Home Front, the Sesame Street Workshop and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, to name a few.
This conference is an unprecedented gathering of nonprofit agencies dedicated to serving those whose lives have been transformed through deployment.
"Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is honored to be part of the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "Six years into the Iraq war and seven years into the war in Afghanistan, CIAV works to ease the tremendous burden borne by U.S. service members and their families. IAVA looks forward to collaborating with such a dedicated and effective group of agencies."
On Tuesday, May 13, 2008 (8:30am-10:15am), RAND Corporation researchers Terri Tanielian and Lisa Jayjox will present the findings of their groundbreaking report Invisible Wounds of War, which has found that one in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD or major depression. Later workshop sessions on Monday will focus on the needs of families and children, and the health and economic well-being of service members and new combat veterans.
"We recognize that it is incumbent on the greater community and non-profit agencies like ours to step up and support our service members, veterans and their families through the inevitable stresses of deployment," said Amy Fairweather, CIAV director. "Our colleagues in the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are at the cutting edge of military and veterans services, and our partnership will only strengthen the safety net for those who serve".
Amy Fairweather of Swords to Plowshares, +1-415-505-6558, afairweather@stp-sf.org,
