Medical Care
Miami VA Healthcare System started receiving Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers for medical care in July 2003. We continue to educate the community through the media and community organizations about the five-year priority healthcare for returning soldiers. As of September 2010, the Miami VA Combat Outreach Team has registered 8729 OEF/OIF soldiers for medical care.
The Miami VA Healthcare System has an OEF OIF Care Management Team that works exclusively with returning combat veterans. Our team includes the Program Manager, Social Work Case Manager Registered Nurse Case Manager and the Transitional Patient Advocate.Our role it is to assist service members and veterans in their transition from military and post deployment, civilian life. In addition, we have a Post Deployment Clinic located at the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (formerly the Miami VA Medical Center).
The Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Program Manager is Annette Portales, LCSW, Annette Portales, may be reached at (305) 575-7000, extension 6252, or at Room 1D137.
Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
1201 NW 16th Street Miami, FL 33125
Toll Free: 1-888-276-1785 or 305-575-7000
Outpatient Clinics (OPCs)
Broward County VA Outpatient Clinic
9800 West Commercial Blvd. Directions Sunrise, FL 33351
Phone: (954)475-5500
Toll Free: (888)497-4647
Key West Outpatient Clinic
1300 Douglas Circle, Building L-15 Key West, FL 33040
Phone: (305)293-4609
Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs):
Coral Springs, FL 954-575-4940
Deerfield Beach, FL 954-570-5572
Hollywood, FL 954-986-1811
Homestead, FL 305-248-0874
Key Largo, FL 305-451-0164
Pembroke Pines, FL 954-894-1668
TRI-CARE(Toll Free)1-888-363-2273
Mental Health Services
Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
1201 NW 16th Street Miami, FL 33125
POC: Gary Kutcher 1-888-276-1785 ext. 3632 or 305-575-7000 ext. 3632
Broward County VA Outpatient Clinic
9800 West Commercial Blvd. Directions Sunrise, FL 33351
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
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 pre-deployment, 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
Emergency Services
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
Miami VA Healthcare System 1201 NW 16th St, Room A206 Miami, FL 33125 POC: Enrique Carrion 305-325-3325, ext. 3068
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
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 Sites
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
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
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
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