Survivor & Gold Star Family Resource Network
This page includes a directory of community resources; upcoming events for survivors; Home Base programs; TAPS programs & support groups; and information about VA survivor & death benefits and the Survivor & Gold Star Family Resource Network.
Organizations aligned with our Survivor & Gold Star Family Resource Network are focused on supports for survivors of service members and veterans, including Gold Star family members. Participants in this network build community, social support, and connections to ensure survivors have access to timely and relevant information, resources, benefits, and services.
Survivors are eligible for a range of programs and support offered by TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, including TAPS support groups.
Home Base’s Intensive Clinical Program for Families of the Fallen supports survivors navigating grief and co-occurring challenges like post-traumatic stress, depression, or anxiety.
VA Vet Centers offer Gold Star survivors bereavement counseling regardless of how recent or distant the family member’s loss is.
Survivors with low incomes may be eligible for MassVets financial benefits; survivors can connect with their local veterans’ agents to apply.
The Home Base Training Institute offers courses on the Impact of Combat-Related Injury, Illness & Death on Military Children & Families and Suicide Postvention: Survivor Care for Families of Service Members & Veterans.
PsychArmor offers on demand virtual courses focused on topics related to Survivors.
OneOp has learning opportunities focused on Survivors and Estate Planning.
Military OneSource offers information for Survivors, including for Casualty Assistance and Survivor Benefits for Gold Star families.
Upcoming Events & Workshops for Survivors
Home Base
Home Base is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war at no cost for veterans of all eras, service members, military families, and Families of the Fallen, regardless of their discharge status or geographical location.
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Home Base’s Intensive Clinical Program (ICP) is a two-week outpatient treatment program designed to treat veterans, service members, and their family members with up to two years of treatment, combining evidence-based therapy with complementary and alternative medicine and high-level peer support.
Treatment, food, lodging and transportation expenses are covered for participants, including those traveling from outside of the state of Massachusetts.
Insurance will be billed for ICP participants who have it, but participants will not be billed for any co-pays or remaining balances after insurance payments.
The Intensive Clinical Program for Families of the Fallen (ICPFF) is specifically designed to treat Survivors of Fallen Warriors with up to two years of treatment in a two-week program, combining evidence-based therapy with complementary and alternative medicine.
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The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund (MMHF) at Home Base serves post-9/11 Families of the Fallen from Massachusetts who lost an active-duty service member since September 11, 2001. MMHF at Home Base provides critical mental healthcare as well as financial assistance, advocacy and benefits navigation, and specialized referrals to post-9/11 Massachusetts Families of the Fallen.
Basic Needs offers limited financial assistance for post-9/11 Massachusetts Families of the Fallen whose financial security has been compromised by the loss of an active-duty service member for missed rental and mortgage payments, utility bills, and other basic necessities.
Emergency Casualty Assistance offers emergency financial assistance for post-9/11 Massachusetts Families of the Fallen impacted by the loss of an active-duty service member who was an immediate family member.
Family Enrichment offers annual financial assistance — up to $1,000 per year — for post-9/11 Massachusetts Families of the Fallen impacted by the loss of an active-duty service member to be used for services and programs that can enrich their quality of life, including uninsured mental health counseling fees, life-coaching services and career-counseling services.
To connect with MMHF at Home Base, please contact Diane Nealon, LICSW, Director of the Families of the Fallen Program, at dnealon@mgh.harvard.edu.
To get care from Home Base or recommend an individual for a program, complete the Connect to Care form or call (617) 724-5202.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
TAPS is the national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources to all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community. TAPS provides comfort and hope 24/7 through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources.
TAPS provides a variety of programs to survivors, including regional survivor seminars and youth programs, as well as retreats and expeditions. Staff can connect survivors to counseling and help navigate benefits and resources. If you are grieving the loss of a fallen service member, or if you know someone who can use our support, connect with the National Military Survivor Helpline
Suicide Loss Support
TAPS has supported tens of thousands of military suicide loss survivors by offering hope and connection. TAPS has developed resources and programming that provide compassionate care through an approach to suicide postvention that helps with immediate stabilization, support with processing grief, and opportunities for healing and growth.
In honor of National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month in September 2023, TAPS released 10 Things We Know to Be True: Surviving Suicide Loss. The videos reflect the wisdom of survivor stories and expert insights in suicide loss, grief, and trauma, underscoring the power of community and the deep healing that arises from our shared understanding.
VA Survivor & Death Benefits
The r/VeteransBenefits subreddit’s Knowledge Base was created by veterans for veterans to help those who wish to help themselves to access the benefits they have earned and are entitled to. The wiki covers just about anything veterans need regarding VA benefits, including information on eligibility and applying for Death Benefits, Life Insurance, and Survivor Benefits.
PACT Act
The PACT Act offers support for veterans exposed to burn pits, toxins, and airborne hazards; it also impacts an estimated 382,000 survivors of veterans whose deaths may have resulted from toxic exposures.
Survivors can call 800-827-1000 to notify VA of their Intent to File to preserve the earliest effective date (the claim must be filed within a year). Survivors can contact their local veterans’ agent for claims assistance.
The TAPS Casework Team is also available to answer questions and help filing VA claims. Survivors can contact them at 800-959-8277 or visit their PACT Act page to learn more.
Survivor & Gold Star Family Resource Network
Key Topics
Ensuring survivors have a community of support and know where to turn for help, social support, and referrals, and encouraging information sharing, inclusion, and coordination of services to support survivors
Identifying issues involving access, eligibility, and gaps in services and benefits available to survivors and forming affinity groups as needed to organize and facilitate community summits on relevant topics and identify resources and programs
Ensuring summits include discussion of relevant information on topics as they relate to survivors; creating space for participants who are survivors themselves to share their unique perspectives; and sharing opportunities for collaboration, events, and partnerships to encourage broader engagement of survivors
Referring survivors to the wide range of specialized programs and services available through TAPS, Home Base, VA Vet Centers, and veterans’ services offices in Massachusetts
Submitting events to the shared calendar using the tag #survivors and other tags so they appear above and on relevant resource or regional pages, including for survivors who are also #caregivers, #spouses, and #families.