August is Make-A-Will Month, and we know that the idea of creating a will can be overwhelming and confusing, especially since the specifics can vary based upon the state you live in. Some people think they might be too young to need a will or that it’s scary or morbid to think about, but that’s not true. It’s important for everyone to have a will to make sure that, should the unthinkable happen, your assets and family are taken care of.
Continue reading
Veterans Outreach Center has been selected as one of 30 finalists across North America as part of Land Rover’s Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase. A community voting period begins July 29 and closes August 14 to select one winner from each of six categories. The winner of each category will receive $30,000 and a brand-new, customized Defender 130.
Continue reading
Supporting the causes you care about should feel simple, meaningful, and impactful. A donor-advised fund (DAF) is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to make charitable gifts while maximizing your philanthropic goals.
Continue reading
As you prepare for fun and fireworks on the 4th of July, especially since this year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, it’s important to keep a few safety measures in mind to make sure your pets are safe during the celebratory festivities. In fact, because the noise from fireworks can cause anxiety in pets, July 4th is the busiest day for animal shelters as animals will often escape if not properly secured at home.
Continue reading
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are about 12 million people in the United States with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In 2014, the federal government designated June as National PTSD Awareness Month to raise awareness of PTSD and the effectiveness of treatment. This blog post explores what PTSD is and the effective treatments available.
Continue reading
As part of its Vets With Pets program, Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) is hosting a tree-planting ceremony from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10th, at VOC – 447 South Ave., Rochester – to remember and honor the beloved pets and faithful companions of our veterans that have passed away. This event coincides with World Pet Memorial Day, which falls on the second Tuesday in June every year.
Continue reading
“Trauma-informed care” is a phrase often used in veteran services and mental health, but to people outside of those spaces, it can sound like jargon. Put plainly, trauma-informed care means operating and delivering services while recognizing that a person’s life experiences, especially the difficult ones, shape how they interact with the world today.
Continue reading
During the three-day event, volunteers will be stationed at various retail locations across Monroe County, handing out free handheld American flags. Community members will have the opportunity to make optional donations, with all proceeds benefiting VOC’s programs and services.
Continue reading
It is better to give than to receive. We have heard that statement time and again. Research shows that generous acts trigger the release of oxytocin and dopamine, creating a chemical change in your body, called a “helper’s high.” Research from Harvard has demonstrated that charitable giving and volunteering provide remarkable health benefits.
Continue reading
The understood contract between our country and its veterans has historically centered on tangible forms of compensation and care, such as access to medical services, benefits, shelter, and assistance in finding secure and meaningful civilian employment. These obligations are, without question, foundational pillars of our societal responsibility for those who wore our nation’s uniform. Yet, as we continue to assess the veteran support landscape, a more encompassing understanding of “need” requires our consideration. Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) has witnessed the evolving lives of veterans since its inception in 1973, and in the same way our founders felt, we are compelled to continually reevaluate the traditional models of veteran services to keep up with their changing needs and preferences.
The evolution of veteran services emphasizes the transition from solely receiving foundational benefits to striking a balance between transactional benefits and holistic well-being. This evolving transition prioritizes:
Comprehensive well-being that extends beyond baseline “fixes” of specific ailments to encompass the overall physical, mental, and emotional flourishing. It implies an approach that empowers veterans to be active agents in their journey toward sustained health.
While economic stability is a primary need, many veterans seek to apply their unique skills and military experiences to a job or career that provides them with inherent meaning – a demonstrable contribution to society and their community.
Related Post: Why Economic Stability is a Critical Issue for Female Veterans
True reintegration extends beyond the basic utilization of services, instead signifying paths for veterans to navigate and find meaningful participation in the broader community.
Instead of merely treating symptoms, we must diagnose and resolve the root causes of veteran challenges. A food pantry might address hunger, but the underlying issue could be unemployment. If job assistance isn’t enough, the ultimate root might be a lack of community and connection, which can be found at peer support groups. We understand this at VOC and structure our services in a way that allows us to treat the symptoms while working toward the identification and resolution of the root causes.
At VOC, we’re proud to embrace a comprehensive understanding of veteran services. We don’t purely serve as a conduit or middleman for foundational services; instead, we strive to go beyond that and provide individualized, holistic support that serves the entire veteran as a human.
In addition to offering established wellness initiatives like art therapy, outdoor recreation groups, and mindfulness practices, we recognize the need to support veterans navigating other service-related health challenges. Hydromassage is an effective method for pain management in a safe and supportive environment.
For instance, veterans exposed to Agent Orange often face conditions like peripheral neuropathy. This causes numbness, tingling, or prickling in the toes or fingers in the early stages that can spread to the feet or hands. In later stages, it can cause burning, throbbing, or shooting pain that is worse at night. Hydromassage, as a therapeutic modality, demonstrates potential for alleviating neuropathic symptoms through improved circulation and pain reduction.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that one in three female veterans reports that they experienced sexual harassment or assault while in the military. For these veterans battling the intertwined burdens of military sexual trauma (MST) and chronic pain, traditional, hands-on therapies can be problematic. The experience of MST violates personal boundaries and can lead to touch aversion, hypervigilance, and the potential for physical touch to trigger distressing memories or physiological stress responses. Hydromassage is a beneficial alternative, delivering the therapeutic effects of massage, such as pain alleviation, stress reduction, and improved circulation, without direct physical contact. This creates a crucial sense of safety, control, and alignment with trauma-informed care principles.
We actively cultivate opportunities for communal engagement, from peer support programs to shared activity groups, all hosted within a welcoming environment designed to help veterans feel safe, understood, and supported. The effectiveness of peer support for veterans is particularly notable, stemming from the connection forged through shared lived experiences, especially military service and often personal recovery journeys. This common ground grows empathy, reduces the stigma often associated with seeking help, and builds upon the inherent trust and camaraderie of military culture. This deeply relational support translates into significant positive outcomes, including reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety, alongside increased empowerment and self-efficacy.
Our Steve Preston Peer Connection Center (PCC) gives veterans a space to come together and connect. Groups such as the Men’s Recovery Group, Cultivating Resilience, and Open Art Studio are led by a licensed clinician or certified peer specialist, serving as vital bridges that guide fellow veterans through complex systems and encourage sustained engagement with care and support. These programs enhance social integration and combat feelings of isolation.
A study from the VA revealed a significant correlation between the frequency of engagement with peer specialists and positive changes in psychiatric symptoms. Veterans who had over twelve contacts with a peer specialist (“high engagers”) were substantially more likely to experience reliable positive symptom changes (over 40%) compared to those with fewer than twelve contacts (“low engagers,” 24%) and a control group (11%). While no significant differences in hope were observed between groups, these results strongly suggest that more frequent, sustained interactions with peer specialists yield greater mental health benefits.
Regular exercise offers physical benefits, which are crucial for addressing the high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among veterans, improving cardiovascular health, and aiding in weight management. For those with service-related injuries, adaptive exercise ensures these benefits remain accessible.
The mental health advantages of exercise are equally compelling. Physical activity elevates mood and alleviates symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. It also enhances sleep quality, improves cognitive functions like memory and concentration, which are often impaired by trauma, and provides a valuable sense of routine, purpose, and empowerment. For many veterans transitioning to civilian life, the discipline and accomplishment derived from a fitness regimen, coupled with the potential for social interaction in group settings, are invaluable tools for resilience and adaptation.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time of significant stress and isolation, we safely opened our on-site fitness center, giving veterans a vital and safe space to continue working on both their physical and mental health.
Providing the fundamental entitlements of veterans remains a critical societal duty. However, a thoughtful consideration of the path forward, particularly within communities like ours in Rochester, New York, mandates an expansion of society’s vision of veteran services. To honor service is to facilitate stability and conditions for flourishing. By nurturing and strengthening the complete well-being of our veterans, we simultaneously enrich the vitality and strength of our community.
