RECENT STORIES

Westminster Police: Prowler caught ( YourHub.com )
Free foot clinic hosted by Road Runner Sports ( Melissa Whitaker )
Don’t Let Foodborne Illness Spoil the Holidays ( Kodi Bryant )
Blotter: Man harasses ex-wife's boyfriend ( YourHub.com )
Despite economy, $63,000 raised for CASA ( Lisandra Gonzales )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Westminster \\ Stories \\ News \\ Government

Adams County looking to help military families

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

Contributed by: Adams County on 11/26/2007

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan present military personnel and their families with financial, emotional and family relationship challenges. The Adams County Social Services Department seeks to serve these families through its Military Family Assistance Program.

The program connects eligible families to resources such as family counseling, employment services and government assistance programs. The program also provides emergency assistance to military families in jeopardy of losing their homes, utility service or other vital services. "We hope to better meet the needs of children and spouses in military families," said Donald Cassata, Ph.D., director of the Adams County Social Services Department.

To qualify for the program, participants must reside in Adams County. In addition, eligible residents must fit at least one of the following descriptions: family of active duty military personnel, veterans and their families, widows and widowers with children of veterans, children of active duty personnel or veterans, ex-spouses with children of active duty personnel or veterans and/or non-custodial parents (active duty or veteran).

While the military does provide assistance to families, many families are not aware of the local resources that are available to them. Adams County is partnering with Family Tree, a local non-profit with over 30 years experience helping families in crisis, to administer the program.

"Active duty military personnel are sometimes reluctant to use military counseling services," states Ann Carter, Ph.D., of Family Tree. "The stress of combat often strains relationships when a spouse returns home. While some soldiers develop conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) others may have difficulty reintegrating into their family routine. Quite often, the civilian spouse may need help with the trauma of having a spouse at war."

While the program does not provide a monthly financial benefit, families experiencing financial hardship can receive financial assistance. Financial support includes school clothes and supplies, utility and housing assistance, holiday assistance and extracurricular activities for children.

If you would like more information about the Military Family Assistance Program, call 303.227.2001 or email Military.Families@dss.co.adams.co.us. You can also contact Suzy MacKenzie to learn more or schedule an interview at 303.227.2202 or Suzy.MacKenzie@dss.co.adams.co.us.

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

John Eisel

Denver , COLORADO

John Eisel has posted 2865 stories and 12 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. John Eisel's average story rating is 4.39.

view profile » view other postings from John Eisel »

SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY

STORY RSS FEEDS

All stories

All stories in Westminster

All stories by John Eisel

WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?

Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyone what events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

Loading Ad