Resources for Returning Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans

Miami VA Healthcare System

back

Returning Vets Brochure

Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Coordinator

The Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Coordinator is Ms. Karen Conde. Ms. Conde may be reached at (305) 575-7000, extension 6252, or at Room 1D137.

Medical Care

The Miami VA Medical Center is comprised of the main hospital located in Miami-Dade County, a full service Outpatient Clinic located in Broward County, and eight additional Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located throughout Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Broward Counties.

• Miami VA Medical Center
  1201 NW 16th Street Miami, FL 33125
  Toll Free: 1-888-276-1785 or 305-575-7000
  
• Oakland Park VA Outpatient Clinic
  5599 North Dixie Highway Oakland Park, FL 33334
  Toll Free: 1-888-497-4647 or 954-771-2101

Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs):

• Coral Springs, FL 954-575-4940
  
• Deerfield Beach, FL 954-570-5572
  
• Homestead, FL 305-248-0874
  
• Key Largo, FL 305-451-0164
  
• Key West, FL 305-293-4609
  
• Pembroke Pines, FL 954-894-1668
  
• TRI-CARE(Toll Free)1-888-363-2273
  

Mental Health Services

• Miami VA Medical Center
  1201 NW 16th Street Miami, FL 33125
  POC: Gary Kutcher 1-888-276-1785 ext. 3632 or 305-575-7000 ext. 3632
  

• Oakland Park VA Outpatient Clinic
  5599 North Dixie Highway Oakland Park, FL 33334
  POCs: Sherrill Valdes, LCSW 954-229-7650 Nancy Addison, LCSW 954-229-7741 Janice Postlewaite, LCSW 954-229-770
  

• Miami Vet Center
  8280 NW 27 Street, Suite 511, Miami (Doral), FL 33122
  Phone: 305 718-3712
  POC: Armando Alvarez
  

• Fort Lauderdale Vet Center
  713 NE 3rd Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
  POC: Bobby White 954-356-7926
  

• Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Psychology Center *Counseling for spouses and family members
  POC: Ayala Weiner 954-262-5874
  

HYPERLINK DISCLAIMER:
Please note that some of the links that appear below are to non-VA  and non-Government web sites. They are provided for your convenience only. VA is not responsible for their content.

Children’s Services

• Florida Kid Care  780 SW 24th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 Main 954-467-8737 POC: Renee Cundiff 954-467-4885
  

• Outreach for KidCare, which provides affordable, low-cost health insurance for children and adolescents whose parents meet the income eligibility threshold and do not have access to private insurance through their workplace. KidCare offers a comprehensive insurance package. To request an application: 1-888-540-5437 To check the status of your application: 1-800-821-5437
  

• Women Infants Children (WIC) - Provides the following at no cost: Healthy foods, nutrition, education and counseling, breast feeding support, and referrals for health care. Must meet income guidelines. For further information call: 954-321-3780
  

• Child Nutrition Programs - Free school breakfast, lunch, and summer food service. Must meet income guidelines. For further information call: 954-467-4700
  

• Family Central for Child Care 840 SW 81st Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL. For further information call: 954-724-3973 Helps clients locate child care, educates parents on components of quality child care, prescreens for eligibility for financial assistance and provides linkage to resources for families with unmet social service needs.
  

• Broward County School System Contact Peer Counseling at your child’s school. Provides support for children whose parent is in the status of predeployment, deployment, or post-deployment. http://www.browardschools.com/ Broward County School System/Main Number: 754-321-0000 Psychological Services/Family Counseling: 754-321-2460
  

• Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Mental Health Supportive Services provided through the Psychology Center. POC: Ayala Weiner 954-262-5874

HYPERLINK DISCLAIMER:
Please note that some of the links that appear below are to non-VA  and non-Government web sites. They are provided for your convenience only. VA is not responsible for their content.

Emergency Services (Info/resources for crisis, food, groceries, gas, etc.)

• VFW Unmet Needs Program - One time financial assistance for recently discharged veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan. For an application call: 1-866-789-6333
  
• First Call For Help Emergency Assistance Broward County - 24-hour Crisis and Help Line 3217 NW 10th Terrace, Suite 308 Fort Lauderdale, FL Call: 954-537-0211 or 211
  
• Switchboard of Miami, Inc. Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties - 24-hour Crisis and Help Line  Call: 305-358-HELP (4357)
  
• All American VFW Post 8182 Contact: Johnny Owens, Post Commander 954-943-3552
  
• American Legion - Support for families 1-800-504-4098
  
• Jewish Family Services 100 S. Pine Island Road, Suite 230 Plantation, FL Call: 954-370-2140; 2790 SW 27th Avenue Miami, FL 33145 Call: 305-445-0555
  
• Department of Children and Families Economic Service - To apply for Food Stamps, Cash Assistance, or Medicaid:
  
  • 1801 W. Sample Rd, Pompano Beach, FL 954-969-3400
  • 1400 W. Commercial Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-967-1420
  • 311 North SR 7, Plantation, FL 954-327-5000
  • 7261 Sheridan St, Hollywood, FL 954-967-1333
  • 1490 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL (Central Office) 305-637-2485
  • 1111 12th Street, Key West, FL (FL Keys) 305-293-1684
  • 8539 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL (FL Keys) 305-853-3246
  • 2796 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL (FL Keys) 305-289-2396
    

• HOPE Forgive Our Debt Program Program - acts as negotiators for people who are in need of repairing and restoring their credit. 2305 Sheridan Street Hollywood, FL Call: 954-342-8470
  
• Florida Impact Food Stamp Hotline 345 Magnolia Drive #E-11 Tallahassee, FL 32301
  
• Food Stamp Hotline: 1-800-224-3470 Pre-screens applicants to determine if they are eligible for food stamps and an approximation of their monthly food stamp benefit. Applicants must provide information on personal income, assets, and expenses.
  
• Food Pantry Wilton Manors Good News Church 201 SW 38th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL - Call: 954-581-1612

Housing Assistance

• Fort Lauderdale CED Purchase Assistance 1409 NW 6th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL Main: 954-828-4530 This is a City of Fort Lauderdale program to provide closing costs or down payment assistance to eligible home buyers. Up to $3000 in the form of a grant may be provided to eligible lower income home buyers to purchase existing single family homes.
  

• Hollywood First Time Home Buyer
  2500 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 314 Hollywood, FL 33020 Main: 954-921-3271 Provides down payment and closing cost assistance up to $10,000 for the purchase of an existing property and $20,000 for new construction. Must contribute $1000 toward the down payment and attend home buyer’s workshop.

Employment and Training Resources

• Work Force One for Employment Purposes
  2610 W. Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL Veterans Representative: 954-677-5555 ext. 1516
  
• Broward County Jobs   115 South Andrews Ave, Annex B Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 - Apply for jobs with Veterans Preference; search for jobs and apply online Main: 954-357-6445 24-hour job hotline: 954-357-5627
  
• Miami Vet Center 8280 NW 27 Street, Suite 511, Miami (Doral), FL 33122 POC: Armando Alvarez 305-718-3712, Job fairs, seminars, and career counseling
  
• Federal Jobs (Veterans Preference)   Apply online and post your resume
• Atlantic Vocational Technical Center 4700FDMS-AWI (Agency for Workforce Coconut Creek Parkway Coconut Creek, FL 33063 Main: 754-321-5100 Provides vocational counseling/training, skill assessment, job placement, academic remediation and supportive services for vets.
  
• State of Florida Unemployment Office Work Force One Initiative:
  
  • 2301 W. Sample Road, Building 4, Suite 7A Pompano Beach, FL Main: 954-969-3541
    
  • 7550 Davie Road Extension Hollywood, FL Main: 954-967-1010
    
  • 2660 W. Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL Main: 954-677-5400
    
  • 3050 Biscayne Blvd, 4th Floor, Miami, FL Main: 305-573-7301
    
  • 3112 Flagler Ave, Habana Plaza, Key West, FL Main: 305-292-6762
    
  • 103400 Overseas Hwy, Suite 239, Key Largo, Fl Main: 305-853-3540
    
• United States Department of Labor POC: Oscar Fuentes, Assistant Director 954-677-5818 If you lose your job or you returned and your job is no longer available.
  
• National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)/ESGR Ombudsman   1555 Wilson Blvd, Ste 200 Arlington, VA 22209 Main Number 1-800-336-4592. Third party assistance, informal mediation services to employers and members of the National Guard and Reserve. Provides assistance in the resolution of employment conflicts resulting from military membership, training or other services requirements protected under USSERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act).

Legal Help

• Broward County Bar Association Lawyer Referral – Low Cost Panel 1051 SE Third Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Main: 954-764-8040 Provides legal referrals (only handles family law and landlord/tenant law) to people currently without an attorney; attorneys are all members of the Broward County Bar Association and appointments are usually available within two days of the referral.
  
• Legal Aid Service (Broward County) 491 North State Rd 7 Plantation, FL 33317 Main: 954-765-8950
  
• Miami Legal Aid Services 124 NW 1st Ave Miami, FL 33128 Main: 305-579-5733
  
• Legal Services of the Florida Keys 600 White Street Key West, FL 33040 Main: 305-292-3566
  
• Miami Asylum Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 77 SE 5th Street, 3rd Floor Miami, FL 33131 Office is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (Federal Holidays excepted) National Telephone number: 1-800-375-5283
  
• Naturalization Information for Military Personnel Special information is available for military personnel pursuing the naturalization process. You may call 1-800-870-3676 and request a “military packet” or you may go to the website and download the forms.
  

Claims and Benefits

Help filing for pension, compensation, education, insurance claims, and other benefits:

• Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services Division
  
  • North Office: 1600 W. Hillsboro Blvd, Room 200 Deerfield Beach, FL 954-831-1230
    
  • Central Office: 2995 North Dixie Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-537-2936
    
  • South Office: 3550 Hollywood Blvd, Room 190 Hollywood, FL 954-831-0420
    
• Florida Department of Veterans Affairs General/Main Address: P.O. Box 31003 St. Petersburg, Fl 33731 727-319-7400
  
• VAMC Miami 1201 NW 16th St, Room A206 Miami, FL 33125 POC: Enrique Carrion 305-325-3325, ext. 3068
  
• VA OPC Oakland Park 5599 N. Dixie Hwy, Rm. 100B Oakland Park, FL 33334 POC: vacant (as of 04/05) 954-229-7727

Helpful Numbers

• GI Bill Office Education Benefits P.O. Box 100022 Decatur, GA 30031-7022 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) Information for Chapter 30 self-verifications: 1-877-823-2378
  
• VA Regional Office (VARO) Florida (For all VA benefits and Information): P.O. Box 1437 St. Petersburg, FL 33731 Main: 1-800-827-1000
  
• Veterans Health Administration (medical care) 1-877-222-8387
  
• VA EFT Hotline (to change status of electronic funds transfer or direct deposit for disability or compensation): 1-877-838-2778
  
• VA Insurance Center P.O. Box 42954 Philadelphia, PA Main: 1-800-669-8477
  
• CHAMPVA Inquiries: 1-800-733-8387
  
• Loan Guaranty Eligibility Center
  (Home loan certificates of eligibility) P.O. Box 20729 Winston-Salem, NC 27120 Main: 1-800-244-6711
  

Internet Resources

HYPERLINK DISCLAIMER:
Please note that some of the links that appear below are to non-VA web sites, and as such, VA is not responsible for their content.

• Department of Veterans Affairs Web Site
• Iraq Freedom Veterans
• Variety of Health Topics and Education
• Active Duty Military and Veterans Web Site
  Comprehensive website on military and veterans benefits
  

Support Site
For wives, significant others, and adult children of vets suffering from PTSD. A safe haven of support for those whose battles live on in the aftermath of war http://www.msn.com/AftermathofwarcopingwithPTSDtoo

• Information on PTSD
• Information on Veterans Service Officers
• Informational Site/Private Support Message Forum
  For women veterans of war suffering from PTSD and other military related traumatic issues
• Information/Support for Operation Iraqi Freedom Active Military Pesonnel and Family Members   Related to pre-deployment, deployment, and post deployment issues
• Informational Site for Vets and Family Members
  Includes issues updated weekly from Washington. Help with claims, family issues, stories, etc.,
• Information on PTSD and Military Issues
  Excellent site by Patience Mason, author of “Recovering from the War”
• Informational Site for Active Duty Servicemembers   - Use the following to logon: userid= military; password= onesource
  Website for active duty service members and their families, help provided for a variety of different areas.
  

Informational Site for Military Branches

• Army One Source
  (1-800-464-8107)
  (userid=army; password=onesource)
  
• Air Force One Source
  (1-800-707-5784)
  (userid=airforce; password=ready)
  
• Marine Corps One Source
  (1-800-869-0278)
  (userid=marines; password=semperfi)
  
• Navy One Source
  (1-800-540-4123)
  (userid=navy; password=sailor)

Assistance with Employment

• Comprehensive career website for hiring veterans of America’s military - Hire Vets First
• Help with resumes, job searches, and jobseeker support - Hire Veterans

Transitional Issues

Self-care to manage stress after a combat experience

• Consider limiting your exposure to television coverage.
  
• Monitor yourself for signs of anger, rage, depression, or anxiety and take a break from the coverage to allow yourself to recover from these feelings.
  
• Keep up with your daily schedules and routines.
  
• Keep up with your physical needs relating to exercise, food, and sleep.
  
• Feel what you feel. It is normal to feel a range of emotions. Having these feelings is to be expected; how you deal with them is most important.
  
• Remember that people have their own pace for dealing with traumatic incidents, and it is important to listen to and honor your own pace.
  
• Count on feeling angry, but temper your actions with wisdom. Try to stay calm and avoid reacting with impulsive anger. Consider the long term consequences of these actions for the overall benefit of the country.
  
• Talk with someone close to you who might understand what you are going through.
  
• Studies suggest that if you do not feel like talking, writing in a journal may be helpful for dealing with intense feelings.
  
• Studies show that seeking support along with other veterans can be very helpful when stress is increasing. This can be done through the VA, Vet Centers, and Vets Service Organizations.
  
• Seek assistance from your medical doctor or a mental health professional who is skilled in working with survivors of trauma if:
  
• You are experiencing any symptoms causing significant distress, changes in relationships, or impairing functioning at work
  
• You are self medicating with alcohol or drugs;
  
• You are unable to find relief using the strategies listed above

return to top