TAPS Partners with Home Base to Provide Intensive Trauma Support to Surviving Military Family Members
Suicide Postvention Model Now Provides Full Continuum of Care to Help Stabilize Families, Promote Healing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Aug. 9, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va. –The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) recently completed a two-week pilot program to provide intensive trauma therapy for surviving family members whose military loved one died by suicide.
The Home Base program in Boston has developed a best-practice, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for veterans and family members who are suffering from trauma. TAPS joined with Home Base to offer this treatment to survivors of military suicide and to provide peer based support to expand the continuum of care.
“After a family experiences a suicide, three things are necessary for long-term healing,” said Kim Ruocco, TAPS Chief External Relations Officer for Suicide Prevention and Postvention. “These are to stabilize the family, to engage in grief work specific to suicide, and to provide opportunities for post-traumatic growth. This program is aimed at stabilizing families who have experienced the most trauma, to lay a foundation for future grief work and peer-based support.”
In her work with families whose loved one died by suicide, Ruocco realized that trauma can be best supported with a combination of peer support and clinical care. TAPS relies on partners like Home Base to expand our continuum of care by providing best practice clinical care in addition to TAPS peer based grief support.
With the initial offering now complete, TAPS and Home Base will evaluate the program and decide if future sessions will be made available.
ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 70,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).
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MEDIA REQUESTS:
Email christine.fuentes@taps.org or call 540.905.8448 to arrange an interview.