Contribute Content!
CareForTheTroops is always in search of good content that can be useful to military families, therapists, congregation leaders, or any visitor to this web site.
The content can be original or found on the internet where we can link to it ... it's an opportunity to be creative and helpful at the same time. Please send to cftt.hq@gmail.com
Training Development
• Fraser Counseling Center
Non-Profit Opns Mentoring
• Pathways Comm Network
Mental Health Providers
• EMDR Clinicians of GA
• Marriage and Family
Therapists (GAMFT)
Congregation Outreach
• Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
• Episcopal Diocese of Georgia
• The Presbytery of Greater
Atlanta & Presbyterian
Women
• Catholic Charities and the
Archdiocese of Atlanta
• The Georgia Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship (CBF)
• The Lutheran ELCA
Southeast Synod
There is an excellent non-profit that began operating in late 2008 that is very complementary to the mission and goals of CareForTheTroops
Veteran´s Heart Georgia fosters the healing of veterans of all wars by attending to the spiritual and emotional needs of veterans, their families and our communities.
We urge you to link to their web site and take advantage of their training and support activities. CareForTheTroops is inclusive and believe that by working together we can best support the returning veterans and their extended family members.
Veteran Friendly Congregation Designation Program
Introduction
The Veteran Friendly Congregation Program's purpose is twofold. First, to provide a visible sign to those that visit the congregation that this congregation has demonstrated through their actions that they are sympathetic to the needs of veterans and their families. Second, provide acknowledgement to the congregation and their leaders for their sincere and earnest efforts to support veterans and their families.
Click Here for additional information on the Lead Congregation designation which is very important to the success of our overall Program
Click Here for the Congregation Directory page to see those Congregations that have already chosen to participate.
Here is a set of documents that together form a “packet” of information useful when discussing the VFC initiative. Please use these when speaking with clergy or groups of people interested is understanding the VFC initiative.
- VFC SHORT Presentation in Powerpoint - use and modify as needed
- Causes of Concern Extra Charts - use to explain why the VFC initiative is so needed
- The VFC Letter - this is the letter that the Clergy leader needs to send in
- CFTT Pamphlet - a trifold pamphlet about CareForTheTroops
- VFC Reasons - a pocket size 2-sided handout anwering why some VFC FAQs
- The Lastest VFC List including address and contact info
- A list of VFC Congregation names sequenced by Faith
Program Requirements
The program requirements are simple and straighforward. Any congregation that meets the following criteria qualifies on an annual basis. Once qualified, a certificate will be sent to the Congregation Leader (or other person designated by the Congregation) which is suitable for framing and should be displayed in a prominent location such that it can be seen by visitors, members, and leaders of the congregation alike.
Annual Criteria
- Agree to adopt one or more of the Military Ministry Programs suggested by CareForTheTroops or approved and agreed to in discussions with the CareForTheTroops organization. Both CFTT VFC Board and Committee Members and Lead Congregations can provide this approval.
- Agree to advertise the existence of the Military Ministry Program(s) in one or more of your congregation publications (service bulletins, newsletters, etc) at least twice a month, all year long so that their existence is easily visible to visitors, members, and leadership of the congregation.
- Annually, renew your agreement with the provisions above by sending a letter to the CareForTheTroops office address shown at the bottom of this web page, ATTN: Veteran Friendly Congregation Program
- Renewal letters should be sent by November 15th so that we have time to receive them and send out certificates before the end of the year. If you sign up during the middle of the year, then the certificate will be issued as soon as possible for the remainder of that year.
Congregation Support Reading Material for VFCs
This book is one we have researched and what we at CareForTheTroops have decided to mail one free copy to each congregation that signs up as a Veteran Friendly Congregation (VFC). The congregations can then decide if they want to order more...for their military ministry members...for use by congregation members attending an adult education class using this book...whatever the reason.
There are 4 authors including a former military chaplain now Lutheran Pastor, a Social Worker, and 2 PhD's in Counselor Ed and Nursing. What we liked about the book is the following:
- It is layed out such that it could fit into a multi-week adult education format for Sunday or Wednesday education
- The information evolves in a manner similar to how CareForTheTroops has arranged it's workshops for therapists; starting with the basics and background of what military families are dealing with, discussing the transition issues they face, and then raising possible roles that church's can play
- It is ecumenical
- It also has appendices that are useful assessment and screening tools should the congregation want to adopt them.
- It is not too long, 112 pages of which under a hundred are the primary content. We think this will add to the acceptance of the material by more readers in a congregation.
- Cost is reasonable...in the under $12 range
Veteran Friendly Congregation (VFC) Example Approval / Annual Renewal Letter
Click Here to download a WORD version of this Letter
~xx/xx/xxxx~
CareForTheTroops, Inc.
ATTN: Veteran Friendly Congregation Program
1795 Johnson Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30062
This letter is to certify that the Congregation: _____________________________________,
located at address: __________________________________________________________,
makes the following three commitments through the year ending 12/31/XXXX.
- We agree to adopt or implement one or more Military Ministry Programs.
- We agree to advertise the existence of the Military Ministry Program(s) in one or more of our congregation publications (service bulletins, newsletters, etc) at least twice a month, all year long so that their existence is easily visible to visitors, members, and leadership of the congregation.
- We provide permission to the CareForTheTroops organization to list our congregation information on their web site.
We would also like to be a Lead Congregation and help establish Military Ministries in parishes and congregations in our vicinity. [if this does not apply, then erase or cross out this sentence]
Signed: _____________________________________________
Title: _____________________________________________
Clergy Contact Info:
name:____________________ email: _____________________ phone no: _________
Lay Leader Contact Info:
name:____________________ email: _____________________ phone no: _________
To be Signed by the Rector, Pastor, Minister, Rabbi, Imam or designated Congregation Leader.
