Faith-Based Organizations and Veteran Reintegration: Enriching the Web of Support
Abstract
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) are an important community-based resource for veterans as they readjust to civilian life. Since little is known about the nature of this support, we conducted exploratory interviews with 14 national organizations involved in faith-based support of veterans and 15 smaller, local FBOs from three distinct metropolitan areas, including religious congregations, retreat centers, and those that provide transitional assistance, to understand better their current and potential roles in veteran reintegration. Interviewees suggested that veterans may look to FBOs for support because they are a resource that offers privacy and confidentiality, two features that may be especially critical when a potential stigma is involved. Some FBOs have also developed reputations as safe places for veterans, providing supportive, judgment-free environments. We found that FBOs not only help veterans with spiritual matters, such as moral injury, but, as a group, also address diverse areas of veteran health and wellness, including vocation, education, financial and legal stability, shelter, access to goods and services, mental health, access to health care, physical health, family, and social networks. In some cases, the support is offered to veterans directly; in other instances, the support is indirect, via training individuals to help veterans or educating the public about veterans reintegration challenges. In the process of providing this support, FBOs interact with different kinds of organizations, including government entities, private nonprofits, and one another, for purposes including training, outreach, referrals, information exchange, obtaining donations, and collaboration. Yet insufficient connections with chaplains and others in the web of support at times limit FBOs work with veterans.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA620335
Entities
People
- Diana Naranjo
- Kathryn P. Derose
- Laura Werber
- Margaret C. Harrell
- Mollie Rudnick
Organizations
- RAND Corporation