January 17, 2012

We are pleased to announce United Way of Long Island has awarded a grant for $12,500 to Clubhouse of Suffolk, who will work in collaboration with Suffolk County United Veterans to operate a Military Family Assistance Project (MFAP) Case Management/Service Coordination Program for active military personnel, reservists, and National Guard (along with their family members) who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation New Dawn (OND) since 2001. This program will operate out of Suffolk County United Veterans food pantry, located at The Vets Place emergency shelter at 32 Mill Rd., Yaphank, NY and the co-operated Clubhouse of Suffolk and Suffolk County United Veterans Helping Hand of the East End food pantry, located at our 1380 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY site.

Case Management/Service Coordination will offer support in obtaining and/or maintaining high quality services for recovery-focused mental health and substance abuse treatment, and individual and family counseling. An extensive list of additional resources, to include unemployment benefits; permanent disability benefits; Medicaid, Social Security, Food stamps, Public Assistance, etc.. as well as assistance in completing the required documentation will be made available. "Active duty and military reserve personnel have risked their lives to defend our national security and freedoms. When discharged, to many return home to face physical, emotional, and financial struggles. Suffolk County United Veterans has been helping Vets and their families since 1989", said Michael Stoltz, Executive Director for Clubhouse of Suffolk and Suffolk County United Veterans.

The not-for-profit Clubhouse of Suffolk, Inc. founded in 1990 by families of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has grown to become a highly respected psychiatric rehabilitation program for people whose lives have been disrupted by mental illness. Its mission is "to assist people who are affected by mental illness to lead healthy, productive, addiction-free, and socially satisfying lives." The agency now serves 1,500 each year people in a range of rehabilitation, treatment, and support services in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County United Veterans, a not for profit organization founded in 1989, operates over ten sites consisting of emergency, transitional and permanent housing where veterans who suffer from the emotional impact of war and military life can begin to heal. These activities support its mission, "to assist homeless veterans pursue their recovery while regaining dignity and independence."

To obtain MFAP Case Management Assistance or information, call:
Wilkins Young (631) 775-7906, or
Joanne Massimo (631) 924-8088 ext 1503