Helps service members, veterans, and their families make wise financial decisions and avoid scams. This is accomplished through improving financial readiness and consumer education.

Deployment Services - Coping With Deployments Course: Spouses, parents, siblings and significant others learn skill-building techniques that help them respond to the challenges of the deployment cycle - Mind-Body Workshops: Offer an alternative method of healing that engages both the mind and body to address common stress reactions that occur within military families and communities - Post-Deployment Support Resources: Information and workshops to help families re-adjust to being together after a loved one's deployment - Pre-Deployment Preparedness Tool for Family Members: Makes sure families are prepared with information they may need throughout the deployment - Reconnection Workshops: Enhance the likelihood of positive reconnections among family members and successful re-engagement of service members and veteran in civilian life Emergency Communications? - The American Red Cross independently verifies an emergency, enabling the service member's commander to make an educated decision regarding emergency leave and then provides transportation assistance and/or financial assistance if needed Financial Assistance? - The American Red Cross works in partnership with Military Aid Societies to provide financial assistance which includes funds for emergency travel, burial of a loved one, emergency food and shelter, etc. Aid Societies determine the financial assistance package that will be offered - a grant or loan. The Red Cross is the mechanism to expedite access to these financial resources. Information and Referral Services? - Offers confidential services to all members of the military, veterans and their families by connecting them with local, state and national resources through the network of American Red Cross chapters. Local chapters develop and maintain relationships with community partners. Military families rely on the local chapter to help them identify their needs and connect them to the most appropriate chapter and community resources. These services range from responding to emergency needs for food, clothing and shelter; referrals to counseling services (e.g. financial, legal, mental health, etc.); respite care for caregivers; and other resources. Military and Veteran Caregiver Network? - Peers engage to exchange experiences, empathy, education and encouragement - Connect Online: Connect with caregivers in a secure, custom, peer-moderated online community - Share With a Mentor: Share with caregivers in an understanding, one-on-one, peer mentor relationship - Join a Support Group: Join caregivers in confidential, peer-facilitated support groups in the community and online Veteran Services? - Veterans Claims for Benefits: Assists veterans and their families in preparing, developing and obtaining evidence to support applicants' claims for veterans' benefits. Also assists claimants seeking to appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

The following are benefits and services that veterans and dependents may be entitled to through federal and state programs: Federal Benefits (US Department of Veterans Affairs) Service Connected Disability Compensation Non-service Connected Disability Pension Dependency and indemnity Compensation (DIV) Chemical Dependency Treatment Education benefits Vocational Rehabilitation VA Home Loans Burial benefits Medical Care at VA Hospitals Agent Orange benefits State Benefits (Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs) Temporary financial assistance (short term disability) Dental and Optical assistance State veteran's homes (nursing home and domiciliary care) Veterans and war orphans education benefits Veterans preference advocacy State veterans' cemetery (Little Falls, MN)

Advise and assist all veterans and their dependents with all state and federal veterans benefits: Disability, Social Security including: - Alcohol dependency treatment - Burial benefits - Counseling Services Local 1:1 w/VA Rep. - Service-connected disability compensation - Dental and Optical Care - Disability insurance - Discharge reviews - Death benefits - Domiciliary care - Drug dependency treatment - Education and training - Financial assistance - G.I. Bill educational training - G.I. Life Insurance - Home loan guaranteed by the U.S.D.V.A. - Home Care Hours - VA - Outpatient medical care - Non-service connected disability pension - Survivors and dependents education - Vocational rehabilitation for disabled

Deployment Services - Coping With Deployments Course: Spouses, parents, siblings, and significant others learn skill-building techniques that help them respond to the challenges of the deployment cycle - Mind-Body Workshops: Offer an alternative method of healing that engages both the mind and body to address common stress reactions that occur within military families and communities - Post-Deployment Support Resources: Information and workshops to help families re-adjust to being together after a loved one's deployment - Pre-Deployment Preparedness Tool for Family Members: Makes sure families are prepared with the information they may need throughout the deployment - Reconnection Workshops: Enhance the likelihood of positive reconnections among family members and successful re-engagement of service members and veterans in civilian life Emergency Communications - The American Red Cross independently verifies an emergency, enabling the service member's commander to make an educated decision regarding emergency leave and then provides transportation assistance and/or financial assistance if needed Financial Assistance - The American Red Cross works in partnership with Military Aid Societies to provide financial assistance which includes funds for emergency travel, the burial of a loved one, emergency food and shelter, etc. Aid Societies determine the financial assistance package that will be offered - a grant or loan. The Red Cross is the mechanism to expedite access to these financial resources. Information and Referral Services - Offers confidential services to all members of the military, veterans, and their families by connecting them with local, state, and national resources through the network of American Red Cross chapters. Local chapters develop and maintain relationships with community partners. Military families rely on the local chapter to help them identify their needs and connect them to the most appropriate chapter and community resources. These services range from responding to emergency needs for food, clothing, shelter, referrals to counseling services (e.g. financial, legal, mental health, etc.), respite care, and other resources. Military and Veteran Caregiver Network - Connect Online: Connect with caregivers in a secure, custom, peer-moderated online community - Peers engage to exchange experiences, empathy, education, and encouragement - Share With a Mentor: Share with caregivers in an understanding, one-on-one, peer-mentor relationship - Join a Support Group: Join caregivers in confidential, peer-facilitated support groups in the community and online Veteran Services - Veterans Claims for Benefits: Assists veterans and their families in preparing, developing, and obtaining evidence to support applicants' claims for veterans' benefits. Also, assists claimants seeking to appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA).

Advise and assist all veterans and their dependents with all state and federal veterans benefits: Disability, Social Security including: - Alcohol dependency treatment - Burial benefits - Service-connected disability compensation - Dental treatment - Disability insurance - Discharge reviews - Death benefits - Domiciliary care - Death benefits - Drug dependency treatment - Education and training - Financial assistance - G.I. Bill educational training - G.I. Life Insurance - Home loan guaranteed by the U.S.D.V.A. - Outpatient medical care - Non-service connected disability pension - Survivors and dependents education - Vocational rehabilitation for disabled

Partners with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to support military members, veterans, and their families in maintaining their wellbeing through CORE which stands for Casework, Outreach, Referral, and Education. CORE services can foster greater peace of mind and resiliency, support the development of new skills to cope with challenges, and improve relationships. Services include: Behavioral Health Counseling - Deployment and reintegration support - Diagnostic assessment - Family counseling and support - Individual and couples counseling - Trauma-focused behavioral therapy Caregiver Support and Respite - Caregiver coaching and counseling - Caregiver respite - Caregiver support groups - Caregiver training and education - Emergency planning for caregivers - Telephone reassurance Case Management - Case managers assess each individual's situation and create a personalized plan identifying services and resources found at Lutheran Social Services or through a network of providers across Minnesota Financial Counseling - Budgeting - Credit Improvement - Debt Management - Homebuyer Education - Student Loan Counseling Homeless Initiative - Referrals to short and long term shelter options Support Groups - Men's Veterans PTSD Support Group - Women's Support Group for Family Members of Veterans

Advise and assist all veterans and their dependents with all state and federal veterans benefits: - VA Health Care benefit application/updates - VBA Service-connected disability compensation - VA Vocational rehabilitation - VBA Non-service connected disability pension - VBA Death benefits - VBA Burial benefits - VBA Survivors and dependents education - VA / Post 9/11 G.I. Bill education - VA Life Insurance - VA Home Loan Guaranty program - Military Discharge Record reviews - MN Dept of Veterans Affairs Dental/Optical grants - MN Dept of Veterans Affairs Subsistence Financial assistance - Drug/Alcohol dependency assessment/treatment referral

Advise and assist all veterans and their dependents with all state and federal veterans benefits: Disability, Social Security including: - Alcohol dependency treatment - Burial benefits - Service-connected disability compensation - Dental treatment - Disability insurance - Discharge reviews - Death benefits - Domiciliary care - Death benefits - Drug dependency treatment - Education and training - Financial assistance - G.I. Bill educational training - G.I. Life Insurance - Home loan guaranteed by the U.S.D.V.A. - Outpatient medical care - Non-service connected disability pension - Survivors and dependents education - Vocational rehabilitation for disabled

Benefits may include: - Pension - Disability - Non-Service connected disability - Health Care - MACV Assistance - State Soldiers Assistance Program - School - Home Loan - Medical transportation - Lawn mowing for elderly or disabled veterans - Snow plowing for elderly or disabled veterans - Provide shelter for a homeless Veteran and assist to get long term shelter or permanent home - Gas assistance to drive to a medical appointment

Advise and assist all veterans and their dependents with all state and federal veterans benefits: Disability, Social Security including: - Alcohol dependency treatment - Burial benefits - Service-connected disability compensation - Dental treatment - Disability insurance - Discharge reviews - Death benefits - Domiciliary care - Death benefits - Drug dependency treatment - Education and training - Financial assistance - G.I. Bill educational training - G.I. Life Insurance - Home loan guaranteed by the U.S.D.V.A. - Outpatient medical care - Non-service connected disability pension - Survivors and dependents education - Vocational rehabilitation for disabled