Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Submissions are open for Operation Homefront's 2025 Military Child of the Year Awards! TAPS surviving military children are strong and resilient—they inspire us daily. Know a military child you think would be the perfect candidate for this award? Learn more and nominate them here: https://lnkd.in/ey4rG-4

This week, we come together to honor our Gold Star Families and express our deepest gratitude to those who carry the loss of a military loved one. TAPS extends our heartfelt thanks to Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for introducing the 2024 Gold Star Families Resolution, dedicating a full week to honor our nation’s Gold Star families. This marks the fourth year they’ve championed this resolution, and we are incredibly grateful for their support. Let’s unite in remembrance, support these families, and ensure their loved ones’ legacies continue to shine brightly. TAPS survivors also visited Capitol Hill this week, advocating for important legislative priorities, including the Love Lives On and Caring for Survivors Acts. Learn more at taps.org/advocacy. For more on the US Senate Resolution, see: https://lnkd.in/gAQM_4Uy https://lnkd.in/gR3_eAgK

📢 Join Our Webinar on Suicide Loss Survivor Experiences and Prevention Efforts 📢 Register now for this important event on September 24, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM ET: Register at https://lnkd.in/gzbQuPF2 This webinar will highlight the collaborative efforts between TAPS and several research groups focused on learning from the personal experiences of military suicide loss survivors. These stories and insights are critical to shaping future prevention strategies. Attendees will hear about three major research initiatives that study the impact of suicide loss and how the findings can inform protection efforts within the military community. You'll learn about projects like CSI:OPIOIDs (Clinical Context of Suicide Following Opioid Transitions) led by Dr. Stefan Kertesz, which investigates suicides linked to opioid dose reductions, and Operation Deep Dive, a collaboration between America's Warrior Partnership and Duke University, focusing on veteran suicide and self-injury mortality. The session will close with a discussion on how survivors can participate in these efforts and share their experiences to contribute to meaningful change. Our expert presenters, Dr. Carla Stumpf-Patton and Dr. Ashley Leal, will guide this impactful conversation and answer your questions.

Huge thanks to our friends at Parsons Corporation! The 17th Annual TAPS Golf outing raised over $116,000 in support of the TAPS mission to provide compassionate care and comprehensive resources to all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community. Thanks to all of the sponsors and participants for your generous support. What an amazing day! ⛳❤️ 🇺🇲

On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the sacrifice of those who were Prisoners of War and those still Missing in Action. Their courage is a reminder of the extraordinary resilience shown in the face of hardship. We also recognize their families, who continue to hope and wait. Today, we renew our commitment to bringing every hero home and ensuring their stories are never forgotten. #POWMIA

Happy 77th Birthday to the United States Air Force! Today, we recognize the courageous men and women who safeguard our skies and defend our freedoms. Your dedication and service are truly appreciated! 🇺🇸 We also celebrate the 77th Birthday of the Air National Guard, a key reserve component of the U.S. Air Force. Always ready, always there! #USAF #AirNationalGuard

Join Eluna on September 19, 2024, at 11:00 AM for a meaningful discussion on Supporting Youth Grieving a Military-Related Death, featuring our own Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton, Ed.D., LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, as one of the expert panelists. This free event is open to caregivers, educators, counselors, veterans, and community members who support youth impacted by military-related loss. We’ll explore the unique challenges these young people face, including navigating societal stigma and secondary losses, with a focus on complex types of grief, such as death by suicide or overdose. 📅 Register here: https://bit.ly/3XapWvE

September is National Suicide Prevention Month During this month of awareness, we focus on sharing messages of hope and providing support to those impacted by suicide. At TAPS, we provide compassionate care for military families who have lost a loved one to suicide, helping them navigate the complex journey of grief and healing. Our TAPS Suicide Postvention Model™ is a field-leading, best-practice approach that guides survivors through immediate stabilization, intentional grief work, and post-traumatic growth. Organizations, including military and veteran services, have widely adopted this model as a core part of their own postvention strategies. It offers a structured, compassionate framework that ensures no one faces the aftermath of suicide alone. We invite professionals and organizations to explore how this model can enhance their support systems and contribute to the well-being of those in their care. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g9EFu8aF and discover how we can work together to offer hope and healing.

🦋 We are so grateful to Humana and The Dollywood Company for hosting over 600 TAPS survivors at a recent TAPS Together event in partnership with Army Survivor Outreach Services. Families were gifted with a beautiful dog tag with their loved ones' photos. During a special remembrance ceremony, their loved ones were honored as their names, hometowns, and service branches were read aloud. TAPS Togethers are organized, one-day social events led by survivors like you that help build and nurture a peer-support network in your local area. Whether you are a company that could sponsor an event in your local community or a fellow survivor who can gather a few survivors together for fellowship, we welcome your ideas! Past events have included nature walks, afternoon teas, coffee meet-ups, seasonal gatherings, and more! All ideas are welcome. Every event helps build bonds of hope, healing, and unity. Let's make a powerful change together. Share your ideas at https://lnkd.in/g2rCtXrc

We honor the memory of the heroes we lost on September 11, 2001, and all those who have since given their lives in service to our nation. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. #NeverForget #HonorTheFallen