Kent County Veterans Services
Service Providers
American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids
The American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program ensures that service members, veterans and their families have worldwide, around-the-clock access to timely and reliable comfort and support.
Contact:
Brad Dorland
Program Director
616-456-8661 ext. 5204
bdorland@ggr.redcross.org
redcrossggr.org
Association for Children's Mental Health (Michigan)
ACMH has identified a need to provide support, information, and resources to families of youth with behavioral, emotional, and mental health challenges who have family members deployed in the military or who are recently returning from a deployment. Their quarterly newsletter features resources in a "Military Family Corner."
Contact:
888-ACMH-KID
www.acmh-mi.org/military.html
Blue Star Mothers of Ionia, Kent and Montcalm Counties, Chapter #188
This local organization is for mothers who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military.
Contact:
Kathy Barnes at 989-814-0650
or
Debbie Rasmussen at 616-824-5306
www.bluestarmothers.org/
Disability Advocates of Kent County
We can help connect veterans with disabilities to benefits and services that are available to them and their families. We serve Kent County MI and a limited surrounding area.
Contact:
Trina Edmondson
Workforce Development Program Manager
Veteran Supports
3600 Camelot Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Phone: 616-949-1100 x 223
Fax: 616-949-7865
trina.e@dakc.us
www.dakc.us
For general questions concerning disability please contact Jenny Markel at 616-949-1100 ext. 249 or by email at jenny.m@dakc.us
Grand Rapids Urban League
Grand Rapids Urban League is dedicated to helping people help themselves to become self-sufficient, secure, and healthy by providing programs in education, job training, employment, housing, health and economic development.
Contact:
www.grurbanleague.org
Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
Homeownership opportunities for low income families at 0% interest.
Contact:
Miriam Reyes
Manager of Homeownership Programs
616-588-5235
homeownership@habitatkent.org
www.habitatkent.org
Military OneSource Military
OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense to service members and their families with a broad range of concerns including counseling, money management, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care, relocation, deployment, reunion, and the particular concerns of families with special-needs members. They can also include more complex issues like relationships, stress, and grief. Services are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Contact:
April Clipper,
Michigan MOS JFSAP
989-415-9846
www.militaryonesource.com
Our Military Kids
Provides substantial (financial) support in the form of grants to children of National Guard and Military Reserve personnel who are currently deployed overseas. Grants pay for participation in extracurricular activities and tutoring programs that nurture and sustain children while a parent is away in service to our country or recovering from injury.
Contact:
866-691-6654
www.ourmilitarykids.org/
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
National organization caring for the families of the fallen, TAPS is the 24/7 tragedy assistance resource for ANYONE who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death. TAPS provides comfort and care through comprehensive services and programs including peer based emotional support, case work assistance, crisis intervention, and grief and trauma resources. Our National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief camp has been held annually since 1994. TAPS also conducts regional Survivor Seminars and Good Grief Camps at locations across the country.
Contact:
800-959-TAPS
(8277)
www.taps.org/
Veterans Services: (616) 632-5722