Obama Announces New Efforts To Support Military Families

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is announcing new government-wide initiatives to support military families, including programs aimed at preventing suicide and eliminating homelessness.

Obama says the government has an obligation to help military families as they support loved ones fighting for their country. Obama says he often meets with service members who say their top concern is making sure their families are taken care of.

The White House says government agencies will now coordinate on ways to enhance physical and psychological health, ensure excellence in military children's education, develop career opportunities for military spouses, and increase child care availability.

Obama announced the initiatives Monday at the White House, alongside Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, who have worked with government agencies to find the best ways to address the needs of military families.

Comments

[Michael J Kim]

04:32 AM on 02/07/2011

The psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan once said, "be wary of the image..." I say, "be wary of the Vet cults and Vet profiteers..." The new VA grant program via SSVF is a great way to diversify care for veterans. But, I hope those veteran service entities pursue the essentials: 1. Work with the VA,state, local, edu vet service providers 2. Be accountable for the money given to you. The money should be going to vets and families, not to other programs within your site...and surely not into the furniture fund. 3. Don't use veterans as mere pawns to promote fundraising/promotion 4. Be authentic with vet staff members, don't just use their knowledge. also know, there are many veteran voices! don't limit yourself to hero worship. 5. Research military and veteran issues, not just clinical issues. 6. If a Vet is warning you about a serious problem with your program, listen to him/her. Don't be uncritical...BUT REMAIN ATTUNED, YOUR PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS is NOT THE FINAL WORD. Your program can be hurting vets! I called the giveanhour.org program with some suggestions. a light response was given to me. They have a great aim, but there is limited military/vet culture competence with much of the program. The program can really be effective with a few adjustments. Not a Hater, but I am a Iraq Vet with a solid clinical background. I treated the first vets returning from this War! Dah!

[Michael J Kim]

03:45 AM on 02/07/2011

be wary of the new war integration profiteers. there will be great programs and projects that will pursue authentic approaches for veterans, accountability, and effective service delivery. but, so far, there are many vet cult/vet profiteers whom spend lots of time bashing the VA. Look at their referral/call/case managemenat rosters/logs and see if they have truly engaged diverese public/private programs of care for veterans. i know one program that has not been fully utilized by the community to help vets. public law 96-22 vet centers ...a war zone vet in need? call 1-877 war vets ...there are some 300 throughout america ready to care for vets readjusting from war.

[jo smith456]

12:44 AM on 01/30/2011

WHAT ABOUT the millions more UNEMPLOYED non-military citizens?

[Joe Serafini]

08:16 AM on 01/30/2011

Maybe if they contributed to society they would get something.

[txadams]

07:41 PM on 01/28/2011

The Pres has far and above done more for Vets and their families than fratboy Bush and the chickenhawks did in eight years. You don't hear much about his efforts from the MSM because he doesn't use them as campaign props like the repubs. Here's one retired Marine whose proud of his president.

[SoccerNana]

11:35 AM on 01/28/2011

Why isn't this article on the front page? You should run this article on the front page for at least seven days. It is a worthwhile and enlightening article concerning our troops, veterans, and their families.

[HalSparks]

01:40 PM on 01/25/2011

Another tepid Huffpo rubber-stamp of a four paragraph AP story.
This story is important and positive but doesn't fit the Obama can't do anything right narrative here at Huffpo.. So.. No comment.. No Jeff Linkins.. No Howard Fineman... Just a lame "re-tweet" of a story buried halfway down the page..

It's almost like you can hear them yawning

Sad

[fredvh]

10:43 AM on 01/25/2011

now this is odd.
O'Reilly said there are no homeless vets.
and
the GOP wants to cut VA services.

makes ya think.

[paxatman]

08:19 AM on 01/25/2011

After Bush's eight years of neglecting our troop's and veteran's families, it is heartening to have a President that truly cares.

[MikeyJaii]

01:28 AM on 01/25/2011

The soldiers fight for us, now we need to fight for our soldiers. Our soldier should get the best benefit, top notch.

[julietrecamier]

12:23 AM on 01/25/2011

I hope that means hiring counseling psychologists at the masters level so I can help with this mission; requiring counselors to have a Ph.D. only is prehistoric.

Our military men and women and their families deserve to have the best access to psychological care. I would like to help.

[fromtheleftwithlove]

10:55 PM on 01/24/2011

The President and top military leaders should be addressing the high rate of divorce in the services, especially the Army. And when I say address, I don't actually mean address, I mean DO SOMETHING.

[MerrieWay]

10:42 PM on 01/24/2011

When we see how CEO's are given bonus that are sinfully high. When we view that a President of the United States gets a lifelong pension. When we witness our soldiers that are thrown under the bus, after risking their lives in battle. It is time that we take care of our own. No excuses! We must have a conscience that is humane.

[BlackYowe]

02:12 PM on 01/24/2011

Can't we cut the weapons budget and pay these people better and take care of them when they are ill like the brothers and sisters they are?