Camaraderie Foundation Inc

SEE SCHEDULE O ATTACHEDCAMARADERIE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS "TO PROVIDE HEALING FOR INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR THROUGH COUNSELING, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT FOR ALL BRANCHES OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES."

SEE SCHEDULE O ATTACHEDOUR COUNSELING SERVICES DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL CAMARADERIE FOUNDATION MISSION BY PROVIDING COUNSELING INTERVENTION, EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.THIS PROGRAM FACILITATES AN ENGAGED AND RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF MILITARY FAMILIES AND THEIR CRITICAL NEED TO HEAL THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR. THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2023 (FY23), THE COUNSELING PROGRAM HAS AWARDED 3,693 HOURS OF COUNSELING SERVICES TO SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, THEIR FAMIIES AND CAREGIVERS. ADDITIONALLY, CAMARADERIE FOUNDATION AND ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON NUMBEROUS OUTREACH EVENTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT POST TRAUMATIC STRESS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND OTHER INVISIBLE WOUNDS AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT PRESENT BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION. IN FY23, WE CONTINUED TO STREAMLINE OUR OPERATIONS AND STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS THEREBY INCREASING OUR PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, CENTRAL FLORIDA, TAMPA BAY, AND THE I4 CORRIDOR. COMBINED, THE COUNSELING PROGRAM PRODUCED BOTH LONG- AND SHORT-TERM RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. FOR THE FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMS THE RESULTS ARE LONG-TERM. THERE WERE 273 UNDUPLICATED COUNSELING SERVICES AWARDED IN 2023. THIS COUNSELING AFFORDS THE PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN BETTER COPING MECHANISMS ENHANCE THEIR COMMUNICATION AND BUILD A STRONGER FAMILY BOND. ADDITIONALLY, 262 COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIPS WERE CARRIED OVER AND MANAGED THROUGHOUT FY23.SERVICES ARE CONTINUALLY REFINED BASED ON PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK AND PROGRAM STAFF AND MEDICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP. SESSION EVALUATIONS AND FEEDBACK ARE TRACKED TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE PROGRAM OUTCOMES IN THE AREAS OF ADJUSTING TO PRE AND POST DEPLOYMENT LIFE, WHILE OFFERING COPING SKILLS, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE CHALLENGES AND STRESSES OF COMBAT, DEPLOYMENTS AND REINTEGRATION.

MEDICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL - DURING 2023, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PROGRAM STAFF AND MEDICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (COMPOSED OF LEADERS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES) MET FOUR TIMES TO DISCUSS, OFFER ADVICE AND RECOMMEND POLICY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND TO EVALUATE IMPLEMENTATION OF CURRENT AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING EFFORTS.WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE PROGRAM STAFF, THIS COUNCIL FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OUR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH CONTINUED HELP IN MAINTAINING HEALTHY, MEANIFUL RELATIONSHIPS FREE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SEE SCHEDULE O ATTACHEDPROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE FUN-FILLED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DAYS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY FOR PEER SUPPORT AND POSITIVE INTERACTIONS. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO PARTICIPATE IN AND ALLOW POSITIVE INTERACTIONS TO OCCUR BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS AND WITH THEIR PEERS. WE HAD MORE THAN 900 SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN FAMILY FUN DAYS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCE REFERRAL FOR OTHER SERVICES NOT PROVIDED BY CAMARADERIE FOUNDATION.

SEE SCHEDULE O ATTACHEDTRANSITION SERVICES - THROUGH CAMARADERIE'S MENTOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (MLP), TRANSITIONING VETERANS AND SPOUSES ARE PAIRED WITH MENTORS WHO HAVE PRIOR MILITARY EXPERIENCE AND HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME STRONG LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM OFFERS PROTEGE VETERANS AND SPOUSES OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD PEER SUPPORT, FRIENDSHIPS, AND GUIDANCE IN ORDER TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS PAST YEAR, 14 PROTG'S AND 28 MENTORS WERE SELECTED FOR MLP CLASS IX (ORLANDO) AND MLP CLASS IV (TAMPA). DURING THE PROGRAM, BOTH PROTG'S AND MENTORS ATTENDED PROGRAM ORIENTATIONS AND NINE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WERE FOCUSED ON KEY TOPICS FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS (I.E., STRATEGIC NETWORKING, MOTIVATION/INSPIRATION, SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK, ENTEREPENEURSHIP AND COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT), AND PARTICIPATED IN ONE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.