Welcome to PeerGalaxy Calendar featuring over 99,000+ monthly offerings of FREE telephone- and online-accessible peer support, recovery support + wellness activities!
Over 30+ warmlines plus webinars, workshops, job postings, special events, consumer input opportunities and more.
WE ARE PEER FOR YOU!
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First, at the top of the list: SAMHSA Disaster Helpline and similar links.
Next in the list: Bundled “All Day” Events for organizations with events happening at multiple times throughout the day and/or in many formats or locations; these are bundled into a single listing to prevent endless scrolling. Usually these offer a lookup by zip code or other criteria.
Lastly, Time-Specific Events listed by start time from 12:01am early morning to 11:59pm late night. Warmlines and places east of Oregon’s time zone tend to start earlier (e.g. 4am in Oregon is 7am in New York).
When you call 800.656.HOPE (4673), you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider.
Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services including:
Confidential support from a trained staff member
Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
Someone to help you talk through what happened
Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
Referrals for long term support in your area
Information about the laws in your community
Basic information about medical concerns
Is it confidential?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.
While almost all callers are connected directly to a staff member or volunteer at a local sexual assault service provider, a handful of providers use an answering service after daytime business hours. This service helps manage the flow of calls. If all staff members are busy, you may choose to leave a phone number with the answering service. In this case, the number will be confidential and will be given directly to the organization’s staff member for a callback. If you reach an answering service, you can try calling back after some time has passed, or you can choose to call during regular business hours when more staff members are available. You can also access 24/7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.
Who are the sexual assault service providers?
Sexual assault service providers are organizations or agencies dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. The providers who answer calls placed to the hotline are known as RAINN affiliates. To be part of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, affiliates must agree to uphold RAINN’s confidentiality standards. That means:
Never releasing records or information about the call without the consent of the caller, except when obligated by law
Only making reports to the police or other agencies when the caller consents, unless obligated by law
How was the National Sexual Assault Hotline created?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) has helped more than 3 million people affected by sexual violence.
Before the telephone hotline was created, there was no central place where survivors could get help. Local sexual assault services providers were well equipped to handle support services, but the lack of a national hotline meant the issue did not receive as much attention as it should. In response, RAINN developed a unique national hotline system to combine all the advantages of a national organization with all the abilities and expertise of local programs. One nationwide hotline number makes it easier for survivors to be connected with the help they deserve.
Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.
00 – Hotline – Text HELP to 741741 to Connect with a Crisis Counselor for Crisis / Depression – 24/7 Weekdays and Weekends
@ text/chat
Connecting with someone who cares and listens can make a difference and can help us get through our most difficult moments.
Whether it’s friends, family, or community – Everyone needs Somebody to lean on!
NOTE: Wait time can vary. Usually a response comes pretty quickly in under 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait can be 5 to 15 minutes or longer if there is a disaster or other reason.
Who are the Crisis Counselors? They are trained volunteers who—with the support of full-time Crisis Text Line staff—use active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning to help texters in their moment of crisis.
Crisis doesn’t just mean suicide; it’s any painful emotion for which you need support.
This service is for short term needs and is not a substitute for a friend or professional therapist.
The Racial Equity Support Line is a service led and staffed by people with lived experience of racism. We offer support to those who are feeling the emotional impacts of racist violence and microaggressions, as well as the emotional impacts of immigration struggles and other cross-cultural issues.
Many of us experience racism every day.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture where racist acts happen often. From workplaces to housing to healthcare, we know that our communities aren’t getting the same kind of treatment as others.
Experiencing racism can harm our mental wellness.
Whether in small acts, or violent ones, racial bias can have serious emotional impacts. Racism changes how we see the world around us. It’s stressful to worry about how people see us as different or dangerous. It’s exhausting to notice the ways that people treat us as less-than, day in and day out. It’s heartbreaking to turn on the news and learn about more violence against people who look like us.
We get it. And we’re here to talk. To support. To connect.
The person who answers may be a stranger – but we understand what you’re going through. We’ll listen to your situation as you talk through your feelings, and we may offer resources based on what seems most helpful to you.
Call us today at 503-575-3764.
This line is available weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, Pacific Standard Time.
If you have questions or want to reach the Director of Equity Initiatives, please email Donna Harrell at DonnaH@linesforlife.org.
Toll-Free Access
If you need toll-free access, call any line at Lines for Life and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line during its operating hours.
For example, you can call Lines for Life / National Suicide Prevention Line @ 1-877-273-8255 and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line between 8:30am and 5pm PST.
04 – Resources – AKIDSCO – A Kids Book About School Shootings – Free
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootingsfree for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
LOCATE SERVICES IN OREGON
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
COVID-19 ALERT – Due to COVID-19 many County Offices are limiting in-person services and are providing services by phone. Please call your County Veteran Service Office before going in to confirm how they can best serve you during this time.
This self-screen can help you find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD.
Only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. Your responses here are private and secure—they are not collected or shared. You may take a screenshot or print this screen to share with a provider.
Do not take the self-screen for someone else. If you are concerned that someone you care about might have PTSD, please share this screen with them instead.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
VA now allows veterans in suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare
Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency health care at no cost — including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use this benefit. This expansion will increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system.
The final policy, which took effect on Jan. 17, allows the VA to:
Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
If you or someone you know is struggling: Don’t wait. Reach out. Visit www.va.gov/REACH for resources and information, or call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7.
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
If you’ve been diagnosed with an eye condition, have a family member who has, or have become a caregiver, joining a support group may be the most important thing you’ll ever do. Whether online or in your local community, such groups offer the opportunity to talk to others; share common concerns, frustrations, and stories; and find solutions to your vision-related difficulties. For more information on support groups, you can readSupport Groups and the Adjustment Process.
Check out Finding Support Groupsfor more information including links to directory listings of support groups.
Support Group Resources and Supportive Communities Meeting Virtually
ILVSG TeleSupport – This support group is designed for older adults with low vision who may not have access to the internet or other in-person groups. It is a monthly meeting offered over the phone and there are no fees or obligations. It is designed for low vision seniors anywhere in the U.S. who have no access to the Internet or cannot attend a live support group. Learn more at: MD Support — TeleSupport or call toll-free at 1-888-866-6148 to get started!
The Friendship Line – The Institute on Aging established this toll-free line for older adults who may be depressed, lonely, disabled, or in crisis. It is both a crisis “hotline” and a ‘warmline” for emotional support. Trained volunteers answer the calls and make calls. The Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis support services including: providing emotional support, elder abuse reporting, well-being checks, grief support through assistance and reassurance, active suicide intervention, information and referrals for isolated older adults, and adults living with disabilities. Volunteers will also call people on a regular basis to help monitor their physical and mental health concerns. This service can improve the quality of life and contentedness of isolated callers. Reach out today and call 1-800-971-0016. To learn more, visit Senior Intervention Hotline for Crisis Support Services.
Social Call – This Covia program connects adults 60 and older to new friends on the phone or video calls. Volunteers are “matched” to participants with the goal of building friendships through weekly calls. This free service is a great way to socialize and make connections when you can’t get out in your community. Go to: Social Call | Covia Corporate or call 1-877-797-7299 to get started.
Covia Well Connectedand Well Connected Espanol– This program, previously known as Senior Center without Walls, offers enrichment, community, fun, support and learning groups for older adults who may be homebound. All groups meet over the phone and/or on-line and are free. They offer support groups specifically for the visually impaired. It is a rich and supportive community and there is something for everyone! Visit their website to check out the catalog of offerings and learn how it all works. Call 1-877-797-7299 to register and get started.
Mather Telephone Topics – Join Telephone Topics to learn about a variety of topics: wellness, music, sports, history. Participate in live discussions and enjoy live performances from home. All you do is call the phone number or log on to the Zoom meeting. Participation is FREE and open to everyone, anywhere! Learn more at:Aging Well Discussions and Programs | Telephone Topics (mather.com) Then click on “Download Schedule” and choose an option that interests you. If you have questions about Telephone Topics, call 1-888-600-2560.
Eye2Eyeis a free phone-based peer support program which offers emotional support, assessment, information, and referrals to people who are blind or visually impaired and their families. It helps people cope with the challenges of adjusting to vision loss, using trained peer support specialists who are also blind or visually impaired. They serve people in more than twenty states.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) has a list of helpful resources for people with vision loss and their families. It also has a national directory of affiliates in each state. Seniors can find information through the ACB affiliate Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers tuition-free distance education courses in various media on topics, such as participating in or even initiating a a self-help groups and dealing with many issues related to blindness and low vision.
Vision Exchangeis an online resource for support group leaders who facilitate support groups for adults with vision loss. The purpose is to exchange ideas, information, and community resources to help adults with low vision be more independent
The Family Caregiver Alliance(FCA) was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state, and local levels to support and sustain caregivers, and has an online family support group.
Phone emotional peer support line for blind persons
Rutgers has launched the nation’s first peer support helpline for the legally blind and their families.
Eye2Eye – 833-932-3931 (83-EYE2EYE-1) – is staffed 24/7 by peer support specialists who are legally blind and understand the challenges callers face.
The program, which is funded by a grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, serves residents in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The helpline assists people with vision impairments and blindness to work through some of the practical and emotional challenges associated with losing vision. Services include peer support, clinical assessment and referrals to resources for help with mental health, employment and technology. The program also offers callers resilience training to promote wellness, strength and self-care.
Recent studies show that one-third of people with vision loss suffer from depression and anxiety. This risk has gone largely unaddressed in the medical community, which has focused more on the practical problems faced by the visually impaired, such as finding employment and navigating everyday tasks, said Steven Silverstein, a clinical psychologist and vision researcher who co-directs the program with Cherie Castellano, the National Peer Support Call Center program director at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
The Eye2Eye peers all have different forms of visual impairments, and these began at different times during their lives. This allows for a ‘cultural connection’ between callers with a wide range of vision problems and life concerns, and our peer counselors.”
Steven Silverstein, clinical psychologist and vision researcher
Well Connected Program Offerings
Welcome to Well Connected
Well Connected is a nationwide phone and online community that brings people over the age of 60 together to explore, learn, laugh, and share experiences. Over 3,500 members join educational, fun, and engaging groups from the comfort of home. The Well Connected community of participants, staff, facilitators, and presenters value being connected to engaging content, and to each other. Well Connected is a Front Porch Community Service and is free of charge to individual members.
A Word About Inclusion
We welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, opinions, living situations, and abilities. Many of our participants are low vision or blind. Many are dealing with health concerns, chronic or disabling conditions or other issues. Please be sensitive, and mindful of the diversity in our community.
How It Works
1. Browse the materials and find groups that interest you, there a currently groups to select from.
( download the 2024 Catalog In PDF or TEXT and choose from 77 different groups! )
• Once you are enrolled in the program, there is no limit to the number of
groups you may join. ( To Join use this Link) or by phone at 877- 797-7299
• Check your Participant Calendar for group times in your time zone, and
for information about how to join.
2. Join by Phone
• All groups can be joined by telephone using a toll-free number from an
unblocked number.
• To join a group, call the program line, and when prompted, enter the
two-digit code listed on the Participant Calendar.
• If you need help getting into groups, we can call you! Call the office to
request an automated call-in to any group.
3. Join Online
• All groups can be joined online with a device that connects to the
Internet.
• Create your own online registration account and sign yourself up!
• Once you’re registered for groups in advance, and you will get an email
the morning of the group (check your spam folder!) with a personal link
to join.
• Allow the system to access your microphone and speakers.
• Click the Join Group button to enter the meeting.
• If you need tech help, contact us and we can send you more detailed
instructions, or walk you through how it works.
Call or email the office to get started, or if you have any questions.
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
WFA – Wildflower Alliance – Psych Drug Support Group – Tuesdays
@ Online via Zoom
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
EA – Emotions Anonymous – Online Peer Support Meeting – Tuesdays 6:30pm PDT
@ Online Via ZOOM
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
EA – Emotions Anonymous – Peer Support Meeting – Newcomers Welcome! – Tuesdays 6:30pm PDT
@ Online Via ZOOM
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
When you call 800.656.HOPE (4673), you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider.
Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services including:
Confidential support from a trained staff member
Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
Someone to help you talk through what happened
Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
Referrals for long term support in your area
Information about the laws in your community
Basic information about medical concerns
Is it confidential?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.
While almost all callers are connected directly to a staff member or volunteer at a local sexual assault service provider, a handful of providers use an answering service after daytime business hours. This service helps manage the flow of calls. If all staff members are busy, you may choose to leave a phone number with the answering service. In this case, the number will be confidential and will be given directly to the organization’s staff member for a callback. If you reach an answering service, you can try calling back after some time has passed, or you can choose to call during regular business hours when more staff members are available. You can also access 24/7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.
Who are the sexual assault service providers?
Sexual assault service providers are organizations or agencies dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. The providers who answer calls placed to the hotline are known as RAINN affiliates. To be part of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, affiliates must agree to uphold RAINN’s confidentiality standards. That means:
Never releasing records or information about the call without the consent of the caller, except when obligated by law
Only making reports to the police or other agencies when the caller consents, unless obligated by law
How was the National Sexual Assault Hotline created?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) has helped more than 3 million people affected by sexual violence.
Before the telephone hotline was created, there was no central place where survivors could get help. Local sexual assault services providers were well equipped to handle support services, but the lack of a national hotline meant the issue did not receive as much attention as it should. In response, RAINN developed a unique national hotline system to combine all the advantages of a national organization with all the abilities and expertise of local programs. One nationwide hotline number makes it easier for survivors to be connected with the help they deserve.
Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.
00 – Hotline – Text HELP to 741741 to Connect with a Crisis Counselor for Crisis / Depression – 24/7 Weekdays and Weekends
@ text/chat
Connecting with someone who cares and listens can make a difference and can help us get through our most difficult moments.
Whether it’s friends, family, or community – Everyone needs Somebody to lean on!
NOTE: Wait time can vary. Usually a response comes pretty quickly in under 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait can be 5 to 15 minutes or longer if there is a disaster or other reason.
Who are the Crisis Counselors? They are trained volunteers who—with the support of full-time Crisis Text Line staff—use active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning to help texters in their moment of crisis.
Crisis doesn’t just mean suicide; it’s any painful emotion for which you need support.
This service is for short term needs and is not a substitute for a friend or professional therapist.
The Racial Equity Support Line is a service led and staffed by people with lived experience of racism. We offer support to those who are feeling the emotional impacts of racist violence and microaggressions, as well as the emotional impacts of immigration struggles and other cross-cultural issues.
Many of us experience racism every day.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture where racist acts happen often. From workplaces to housing to healthcare, we know that our communities aren’t getting the same kind of treatment as others.
Experiencing racism can harm our mental wellness.
Whether in small acts, or violent ones, racial bias can have serious emotional impacts. Racism changes how we see the world around us. It’s stressful to worry about how people see us as different or dangerous. It’s exhausting to notice the ways that people treat us as less-than, day in and day out. It’s heartbreaking to turn on the news and learn about more violence against people who look like us.
We get it. And we’re here to talk. To support. To connect.
The person who answers may be a stranger – but we understand what you’re going through. We’ll listen to your situation as you talk through your feelings, and we may offer resources based on what seems most helpful to you.
Call us today at 503-575-3764.
This line is available weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, Pacific Standard Time.
If you have questions or want to reach the Director of Equity Initiatives, please email Donna Harrell at DonnaH@linesforlife.org.
Toll-Free Access
If you need toll-free access, call any line at Lines for Life and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line during its operating hours.
For example, you can call Lines for Life / National Suicide Prevention Line @ 1-877-273-8255 and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line between 8:30am and 5pm PST.
04 – Resources – AKIDSCO – A Kids Book About School Shootings – Free
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootingsfree for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
LOCATE SERVICES IN OREGON
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
COVID-19 ALERT – Due to COVID-19 many County Offices are limiting in-person services and are providing services by phone. Please call your County Veteran Service Office before going in to confirm how they can best serve you during this time.
This self-screen can help you find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD.
Only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. Your responses here are private and secure—they are not collected or shared. You may take a screenshot or print this screen to share with a provider.
Do not take the self-screen for someone else. If you are concerned that someone you care about might have PTSD, please share this screen with them instead.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
VA now allows veterans in suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare
Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency health care at no cost — including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use this benefit. This expansion will increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system.
The final policy, which took effect on Jan. 17, allows the VA to:
Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
If you or someone you know is struggling: Don’t wait. Reach out. Visit www.va.gov/REACH for resources and information, or call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7.
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
If you’ve been diagnosed with an eye condition, have a family member who has, or have become a caregiver, joining a support group may be the most important thing you’ll ever do. Whether online or in your local community, such groups offer the opportunity to talk to others; share common concerns, frustrations, and stories; and find solutions to your vision-related difficulties. For more information on support groups, you can readSupport Groups and the Adjustment Process.
Check out Finding Support Groupsfor more information including links to directory listings of support groups.
Support Group Resources and Supportive Communities Meeting Virtually
ILVSG TeleSupport – This support group is designed for older adults with low vision who may not have access to the internet or other in-person groups. It is a monthly meeting offered over the phone and there are no fees or obligations. It is designed for low vision seniors anywhere in the U.S. who have no access to the Internet or cannot attend a live support group. Learn more at: MD Support — TeleSupport or call toll-free at 1-888-866-6148 to get started!
The Friendship Line – The Institute on Aging established this toll-free line for older adults who may be depressed, lonely, disabled, or in crisis. It is both a crisis “hotline” and a ‘warmline” for emotional support. Trained volunteers answer the calls and make calls. The Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis support services including: providing emotional support, elder abuse reporting, well-being checks, grief support through assistance and reassurance, active suicide intervention, information and referrals for isolated older adults, and adults living with disabilities. Volunteers will also call people on a regular basis to help monitor their physical and mental health concerns. This service can improve the quality of life and contentedness of isolated callers. Reach out today and call 1-800-971-0016. To learn more, visit Senior Intervention Hotline for Crisis Support Services.
Social Call – This Covia program connects adults 60 and older to new friends on the phone or video calls. Volunteers are “matched” to participants with the goal of building friendships through weekly calls. This free service is a great way to socialize and make connections when you can’t get out in your community. Go to: Social Call | Covia Corporate or call 1-877-797-7299 to get started.
Covia Well Connectedand Well Connected Espanol– This program, previously known as Senior Center without Walls, offers enrichment, community, fun, support and learning groups for older adults who may be homebound. All groups meet over the phone and/or on-line and are free. They offer support groups specifically for the visually impaired. It is a rich and supportive community and there is something for everyone! Visit their website to check out the catalog of offerings and learn how it all works. Call 1-877-797-7299 to register and get started.
Mather Telephone Topics – Join Telephone Topics to learn about a variety of topics: wellness, music, sports, history. Participate in live discussions and enjoy live performances from home. All you do is call the phone number or log on to the Zoom meeting. Participation is FREE and open to everyone, anywhere! Learn more at:Aging Well Discussions and Programs | Telephone Topics (mather.com) Then click on “Download Schedule” and choose an option that interests you. If you have questions about Telephone Topics, call 1-888-600-2560.
Eye2Eyeis a free phone-based peer support program which offers emotional support, assessment, information, and referrals to people who are blind or visually impaired and their families. It helps people cope with the challenges of adjusting to vision loss, using trained peer support specialists who are also blind or visually impaired. They serve people in more than twenty states.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) has a list of helpful resources for people with vision loss and their families. It also has a national directory of affiliates in each state. Seniors can find information through the ACB affiliate Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers tuition-free distance education courses in various media on topics, such as participating in or even initiating a a self-help groups and dealing with many issues related to blindness and low vision.
Vision Exchangeis an online resource for support group leaders who facilitate support groups for adults with vision loss. The purpose is to exchange ideas, information, and community resources to help adults with low vision be more independent
The Family Caregiver Alliance(FCA) was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state, and local levels to support and sustain caregivers, and has an online family support group.
Phone emotional peer support line for blind persons
Rutgers has launched the nation’s first peer support helpline for the legally blind and their families.
Eye2Eye – 833-932-3931 (83-EYE2EYE-1) – is staffed 24/7 by peer support specialists who are legally blind and understand the challenges callers face.
The program, which is funded by a grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, serves residents in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The helpline assists people with vision impairments and blindness to work through some of the practical and emotional challenges associated with losing vision. Services include peer support, clinical assessment and referrals to resources for help with mental health, employment and technology. The program also offers callers resilience training to promote wellness, strength and self-care.
Recent studies show that one-third of people with vision loss suffer from depression and anxiety. This risk has gone largely unaddressed in the medical community, which has focused more on the practical problems faced by the visually impaired, such as finding employment and navigating everyday tasks, said Steven Silverstein, a clinical psychologist and vision researcher who co-directs the program with Cherie Castellano, the National Peer Support Call Center program director at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
The Eye2Eye peers all have different forms of visual impairments, and these began at different times during their lives. This allows for a ‘cultural connection’ between callers with a wide range of vision problems and life concerns, and our peer counselors.”
Steven Silverstein, clinical psychologist and vision researcher
Well Connected Program Offerings
Welcome to Well Connected
Well Connected is a nationwide phone and online community that brings people over the age of 60 together to explore, learn, laugh, and share experiences. Over 3,500 members join educational, fun, and engaging groups from the comfort of home. The Well Connected community of participants, staff, facilitators, and presenters value being connected to engaging content, and to each other. Well Connected is a Front Porch Community Service and is free of charge to individual members.
A Word About Inclusion
We welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, opinions, living situations, and abilities. Many of our participants are low vision or blind. Many are dealing with health concerns, chronic or disabling conditions or other issues. Please be sensitive, and mindful of the diversity in our community.
How It Works
1. Browse the materials and find groups that interest you, there a currently groups to select from.
( download the 2024 Catalog In PDF or TEXT and choose from 77 different groups! )
• Once you are enrolled in the program, there is no limit to the number of
groups you may join. ( To Join use this Link) or by phone at 877- 797-7299
• Check your Participant Calendar for group times in your time zone, and
for information about how to join.
2. Join by Phone
• All groups can be joined by telephone using a toll-free number from an
unblocked number.
• To join a group, call the program line, and when prompted, enter the
two-digit code listed on the Participant Calendar.
• If you need help getting into groups, we can call you! Call the office to
request an automated call-in to any group.
3. Join Online
• All groups can be joined online with a device that connects to the
Internet.
• Create your own online registration account and sign yourself up!
• Once you’re registered for groups in advance, and you will get an email
the morning of the group (check your spam folder!) with a personal link
to join.
• Allow the system to access your microphone and speakers.
• Click the Join Group button to enter the meeting.
• If you need tech help, contact us and we can send you more detailed
instructions, or walk you through how it works.
Call or email the office to get started, or if you have any questions.
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
EA – Emotions Anonymous – Bend Oregon Zoom Meeting – Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday – 10:00pm PDT
@ Online Via ZOOM
This group has suspended meeting locally in person and is now meeting virtually online through Zoom. Please contact the group at least 24-48 hours before the meeting starts for the meeting details. The group may resume meeting face-to-face.
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
When you call 800.656.HOPE (4673), you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider.
Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services including:
Confidential support from a trained staff member
Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
Someone to help you talk through what happened
Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
Referrals for long term support in your area
Information about the laws in your community
Basic information about medical concerns
Is it confidential?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.
While almost all callers are connected directly to a staff member or volunteer at a local sexual assault service provider, a handful of providers use an answering service after daytime business hours. This service helps manage the flow of calls. If all staff members are busy, you may choose to leave a phone number with the answering service. In this case, the number will be confidential and will be given directly to the organization’s staff member for a callback. If you reach an answering service, you can try calling back after some time has passed, or you can choose to call during regular business hours when more staff members are available. You can also access 24/7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.
Who are the sexual assault service providers?
Sexual assault service providers are organizations or agencies dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. The providers who answer calls placed to the hotline are known as RAINN affiliates. To be part of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, affiliates must agree to uphold RAINN’s confidentiality standards. That means:
Never releasing records or information about the call without the consent of the caller, except when obligated by law
Only making reports to the police or other agencies when the caller consents, unless obligated by law
How was the National Sexual Assault Hotline created?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) has helped more than 3 million people affected by sexual violence.
Before the telephone hotline was created, there was no central place where survivors could get help. Local sexual assault services providers were well equipped to handle support services, but the lack of a national hotline meant the issue did not receive as much attention as it should. In response, RAINN developed a unique national hotline system to combine all the advantages of a national organization with all the abilities and expertise of local programs. One nationwide hotline number makes it easier for survivors to be connected with the help they deserve.
Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.
00 – Hotline – Text HELP to 741741 to Connect with a Crisis Counselor for Crisis / Depression – 24/7 Weekdays and Weekends
@ text/chat
Connecting with someone who cares and listens can make a difference and can help us get through our most difficult moments.
Whether it’s friends, family, or community – Everyone needs Somebody to lean on!
NOTE: Wait time can vary. Usually a response comes pretty quickly in under 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait can be 5 to 15 minutes or longer if there is a disaster or other reason.
Who are the Crisis Counselors? They are trained volunteers who—with the support of full-time Crisis Text Line staff—use active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning to help texters in their moment of crisis.
Crisis doesn’t just mean suicide; it’s any painful emotion for which you need support.
This service is for short term needs and is not a substitute for a friend or professional therapist.
The Racial Equity Support Line is a service led and staffed by people with lived experience of racism. We offer support to those who are feeling the emotional impacts of racist violence and microaggressions, as well as the emotional impacts of immigration struggles and other cross-cultural issues.
Many of us experience racism every day.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture where racist acts happen often. From workplaces to housing to healthcare, we know that our communities aren’t getting the same kind of treatment as others.
Experiencing racism can harm our mental wellness.
Whether in small acts, or violent ones, racial bias can have serious emotional impacts. Racism changes how we see the world around us. It’s stressful to worry about how people see us as different or dangerous. It’s exhausting to notice the ways that people treat us as less-than, day in and day out. It’s heartbreaking to turn on the news and learn about more violence against people who look like us.
We get it. And we’re here to talk. To support. To connect.
The person who answers may be a stranger – but we understand what you’re going through. We’ll listen to your situation as you talk through your feelings, and we may offer resources based on what seems most helpful to you.
Call us today at 503-575-3764.
This line is available weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, Pacific Standard Time.
If you have questions or want to reach the Director of Equity Initiatives, please email Donna Harrell at DonnaH@linesforlife.org.
Toll-Free Access
If you need toll-free access, call any line at Lines for Life and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line during its operating hours.
For example, you can call Lines for Life / National Suicide Prevention Line @ 1-877-273-8255 and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line between 8:30am and 5pm PST.
04 – Resources – AKIDSCO – A Kids Book About School Shootings – Free
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootingsfree for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
LOCATE SERVICES IN OREGON
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
COVID-19 ALERT – Due to COVID-19 many County Offices are limiting in-person services and are providing services by phone. Please call your County Veteran Service Office before going in to confirm how they can best serve you during this time.
This self-screen can help you find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD.
Only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. Your responses here are private and secure—they are not collected or shared. You may take a screenshot or print this screen to share with a provider.
Do not take the self-screen for someone else. If you are concerned that someone you care about might have PTSD, please share this screen with them instead.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
VA now allows veterans in suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare
Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency health care at no cost — including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use this benefit. This expansion will increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system.
The final policy, which took effect on Jan. 17, allows the VA to:
Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
If you or someone you know is struggling: Don’t wait. Reach out. Visit www.va.gov/REACH for resources and information, or call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7.
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
If you’ve been diagnosed with an eye condition, have a family member who has, or have become a caregiver, joining a support group may be the most important thing you’ll ever do. Whether online or in your local community, such groups offer the opportunity to talk to others; share common concerns, frustrations, and stories; and find solutions to your vision-related difficulties. For more information on support groups, you can readSupport Groups and the Adjustment Process.
Check out Finding Support Groupsfor more information including links to directory listings of support groups.
Support Group Resources and Supportive Communities Meeting Virtually
ILVSG TeleSupport – This support group is designed for older adults with low vision who may not have access to the internet or other in-person groups. It is a monthly meeting offered over the phone and there are no fees or obligations. It is designed for low vision seniors anywhere in the U.S. who have no access to the Internet or cannot attend a live support group. Learn more at: MD Support — TeleSupport or call toll-free at 1-888-866-6148 to get started!
The Friendship Line – The Institute on Aging established this toll-free line for older adults who may be depressed, lonely, disabled, or in crisis. It is both a crisis “hotline” and a ‘warmline” for emotional support. Trained volunteers answer the calls and make calls. The Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis support services including: providing emotional support, elder abuse reporting, well-being checks, grief support through assistance and reassurance, active suicide intervention, information and referrals for isolated older adults, and adults living with disabilities. Volunteers will also call people on a regular basis to help monitor their physical and mental health concerns. This service can improve the quality of life and contentedness of isolated callers. Reach out today and call 1-800-971-0016. To learn more, visit Senior Intervention Hotline for Crisis Support Services.
Social Call – This Covia program connects adults 60 and older to new friends on the phone or video calls. Volunteers are “matched” to participants with the goal of building friendships through weekly calls. This free service is a great way to socialize and make connections when you can’t get out in your community. Go to: Social Call | Covia Corporate or call 1-877-797-7299 to get started.
Covia Well Connectedand Well Connected Espanol– This program, previously known as Senior Center without Walls, offers enrichment, community, fun, support and learning groups for older adults who may be homebound. All groups meet over the phone and/or on-line and are free. They offer support groups specifically for the visually impaired. It is a rich and supportive community and there is something for everyone! Visit their website to check out the catalog of offerings and learn how it all works. Call 1-877-797-7299 to register and get started.
Mather Telephone Topics – Join Telephone Topics to learn about a variety of topics: wellness, music, sports, history. Participate in live discussions and enjoy live performances from home. All you do is call the phone number or log on to the Zoom meeting. Participation is FREE and open to everyone, anywhere! Learn more at:Aging Well Discussions and Programs | Telephone Topics (mather.com) Then click on “Download Schedule” and choose an option that interests you. If you have questions about Telephone Topics, call 1-888-600-2560.
Eye2Eyeis a free phone-based peer support program which offers emotional support, assessment, information, and referrals to people who are blind or visually impaired and their families. It helps people cope with the challenges of adjusting to vision loss, using trained peer support specialists who are also blind or visually impaired. They serve people in more than twenty states.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) has a list of helpful resources for people with vision loss and their families. It also has a national directory of affiliates in each state. Seniors can find information through the ACB affiliate Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers tuition-free distance education courses in various media on topics, such as participating in or even initiating a a self-help groups and dealing with many issues related to blindness and low vision.
Vision Exchangeis an online resource for support group leaders who facilitate support groups for adults with vision loss. The purpose is to exchange ideas, information, and community resources to help adults with low vision be more independent
The Family Caregiver Alliance(FCA) was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state, and local levels to support and sustain caregivers, and has an online family support group.
Phone emotional peer support line for blind persons
Rutgers has launched the nation’s first peer support helpline for the legally blind and their families.
Eye2Eye – 833-932-3931 (83-EYE2EYE-1) – is staffed 24/7 by peer support specialists who are legally blind and understand the challenges callers face.
The program, which is funded by a grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, serves residents in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The helpline assists people with vision impairments and blindness to work through some of the practical and emotional challenges associated with losing vision. Services include peer support, clinical assessment and referrals to resources for help with mental health, employment and technology. The program also offers callers resilience training to promote wellness, strength and self-care.
Recent studies show that one-third of people with vision loss suffer from depression and anxiety. This risk has gone largely unaddressed in the medical community, which has focused more on the practical problems faced by the visually impaired, such as finding employment and navigating everyday tasks, said Steven Silverstein, a clinical psychologist and vision researcher who co-directs the program with Cherie Castellano, the National Peer Support Call Center program director at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
The Eye2Eye peers all have different forms of visual impairments, and these began at different times during their lives. This allows for a ‘cultural connection’ between callers with a wide range of vision problems and life concerns, and our peer counselors.”
Steven Silverstein, clinical psychologist and vision researcher
Well Connected Program Offerings
Welcome to Well Connected
Well Connected is a nationwide phone and online community that brings people over the age of 60 together to explore, learn, laugh, and share experiences. Over 3,500 members join educational, fun, and engaging groups from the comfort of home. The Well Connected community of participants, staff, facilitators, and presenters value being connected to engaging content, and to each other. Well Connected is a Front Porch Community Service and is free of charge to individual members.
A Word About Inclusion
We welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, opinions, living situations, and abilities. Many of our participants are low vision or blind. Many are dealing with health concerns, chronic or disabling conditions or other issues. Please be sensitive, and mindful of the diversity in our community.
How It Works
1. Browse the materials and find groups that interest you, there a currently groups to select from.
( download the 2024 Catalog In PDF or TEXT and choose from 77 different groups! )
• Once you are enrolled in the program, there is no limit to the number of
groups you may join. ( To Join use this Link) or by phone at 877- 797-7299
• Check your Participant Calendar for group times in your time zone, and
for information about how to join.
2. Join by Phone
• All groups can be joined by telephone using a toll-free number from an
unblocked number.
• To join a group, call the program line, and when prompted, enter the
two-digit code listed on the Participant Calendar.
• If you need help getting into groups, we can call you! Call the office to
request an automated call-in to any group.
3. Join Online
• All groups can be joined online with a device that connects to the
Internet.
• Create your own online registration account and sign yourself up!
• Once you’re registered for groups in advance, and you will get an email
the morning of the group (check your spam folder!) with a personal link
to join.
• Allow the system to access your microphone and speakers.
• Click the Join Group button to enter the meeting.
• If you need tech help, contact us and we can send you more detailed
instructions, or walk you through how it works.
Call or email the office to get started, or if you have any questions.
Find your local phone number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdHnS7OmrT
Group’s Contact: Harvey B. at hbaumoel@sbcglobal.net & +1 707-391-1447
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
EA – Emotions Anonymous – Peer Support Meeting – Thursdays – 8:00pm PDT
@ Online Via ZOOM
Group’s Contact: Hank K. at hjayk2@yahoo.com or +1 213-210-4912
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
EA – Emotions Anonymous – Peer Support Meeting – Thursdays – 10:00pm PDT
@ Online Via ZOOM
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
When you call 800.656.HOPE (4673), you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider.
Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services including:
Confidential support from a trained staff member
Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
Someone to help you talk through what happened
Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
Referrals for long term support in your area
Information about the laws in your community
Basic information about medical concerns
Is it confidential?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.
While almost all callers are connected directly to a staff member or volunteer at a local sexual assault service provider, a handful of providers use an answering service after daytime business hours. This service helps manage the flow of calls. If all staff members are busy, you may choose to leave a phone number with the answering service. In this case, the number will be confidential and will be given directly to the organization’s staff member for a callback. If you reach an answering service, you can try calling back after some time has passed, or you can choose to call during regular business hours when more staff members are available. You can also access 24/7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.
Who are the sexual assault service providers?
Sexual assault service providers are organizations or agencies dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. The providers who answer calls placed to the hotline are known as RAINN affiliates. To be part of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, affiliates must agree to uphold RAINN’s confidentiality standards. That means:
Never releasing records or information about the call without the consent of the caller, except when obligated by law
Only making reports to the police or other agencies when the caller consents, unless obligated by law
How was the National Sexual Assault Hotline created?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) has helped more than 3 million people affected by sexual violence.
Before the telephone hotline was created, there was no central place where survivors could get help. Local sexual assault services providers were well equipped to handle support services, but the lack of a national hotline meant the issue did not receive as much attention as it should. In response, RAINN developed a unique national hotline system to combine all the advantages of a national organization with all the abilities and expertise of local programs. One nationwide hotline number makes it easier for survivors to be connected with the help they deserve.
Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.
00 – Hotline – Text HELP to 741741 to Connect with a Crisis Counselor for Crisis / Depression – 24/7 Weekdays and Weekends
@ text/chat
Connecting with someone who cares and listens can make a difference and can help us get through our most difficult moments.
Whether it’s friends, family, or community – Everyone needs Somebody to lean on!
NOTE: Wait time can vary. Usually a response comes pretty quickly in under 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait can be 5 to 15 minutes or longer if there is a disaster or other reason.
Who are the Crisis Counselors? They are trained volunteers who—with the support of full-time Crisis Text Line staff—use active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning to help texters in their moment of crisis.
Crisis doesn’t just mean suicide; it’s any painful emotion for which you need support.
This service is for short term needs and is not a substitute for a friend or professional therapist.
The Racial Equity Support Line is a service led and staffed by people with lived experience of racism. We offer support to those who are feeling the emotional impacts of racist violence and microaggressions, as well as the emotional impacts of immigration struggles and other cross-cultural issues.
Many of us experience racism every day.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture where racist acts happen often. From workplaces to housing to healthcare, we know that our communities aren’t getting the same kind of treatment as others.
Experiencing racism can harm our mental wellness.
Whether in small acts, or violent ones, racial bias can have serious emotional impacts. Racism changes how we see the world around us. It’s stressful to worry about how people see us as different or dangerous. It’s exhausting to notice the ways that people treat us as less-than, day in and day out. It’s heartbreaking to turn on the news and learn about more violence against people who look like us.
We get it. And we’re here to talk. To support. To connect.
The person who answers may be a stranger – but we understand what you’re going through. We’ll listen to your situation as you talk through your feelings, and we may offer resources based on what seems most helpful to you.
Call us today at 503-575-3764.
This line is available weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, Pacific Standard Time.
If you have questions or want to reach the Director of Equity Initiatives, please email Donna Harrell at DonnaH@linesforlife.org.
Toll-Free Access
If you need toll-free access, call any line at Lines for Life and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line during its operating hours.
For example, you can call Lines for Life / National Suicide Prevention Line @ 1-877-273-8255 and ask to be transferred to the Racial Equity Support Line between 8:30am and 5pm PST.
04 – Resources – AKIDSCO – A Kids Book About School Shootings – Free
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootingsfree for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
LOCATE SERVICES IN OREGON
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
COVID-19 ALERT – Due to COVID-19 many County Offices are limiting in-person services and are providing services by phone. Please call your County Veteran Service Office before going in to confirm how they can best serve you during this time.
This self-screen can help you find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD.
Only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. Your responses here are private and secure—they are not collected or shared. You may take a screenshot or print this screen to share with a provider.
Do not take the self-screen for someone else. If you are concerned that someone you care about might have PTSD, please share this screen with them instead.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
VA now allows veterans in suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare
Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency health care at no cost — including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use this benefit. This expansion will increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system.
The final policy, which took effect on Jan. 17, allows the VA to:
Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
If you or someone you know is struggling: Don’t wait. Reach out. Visit www.va.gov/REACH for resources and information, or call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7.
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
If you’ve been diagnosed with an eye condition, have a family member who has, or have become a caregiver, joining a support group may be the most important thing you’ll ever do. Whether online or in your local community, such groups offer the opportunity to talk to others; share common concerns, frustrations, and stories; and find solutions to your vision-related difficulties. For more information on support groups, you can readSupport Groups and the Adjustment Process.
Check out Finding Support Groupsfor more information including links to directory listings of support groups.
Support Group Resources and Supportive Communities Meeting Virtually
ILVSG TeleSupport – This support group is designed for older adults with low vision who may not have access to the internet or other in-person groups. It is a monthly meeting offered over the phone and there are no fees or obligations. It is designed for low vision seniors anywhere in the U.S. who have no access to the Internet or cannot attend a live support group. Learn more at: MD Support — TeleSupport or call toll-free at 1-888-866-6148 to get started!
The Friendship Line – The Institute on Aging established this toll-free line for older adults who may be depressed, lonely, disabled, or in crisis. It is both a crisis “hotline” and a ‘warmline” for emotional support. Trained volunteers answer the calls and make calls. The Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis support services including: providing emotional support, elder abuse reporting, well-being checks, grief support through assistance and reassurance, active suicide intervention, information and referrals for isolated older adults, and adults living with disabilities. Volunteers will also call people on a regular basis to help monitor their physical and mental health concerns. This service can improve the quality of life and contentedness of isolated callers. Reach out today and call 1-800-971-0016. To learn more, visit Senior Intervention Hotline for Crisis Support Services.
Social Call – This Covia program connects adults 60 and older to new friends on the phone or video calls. Volunteers are “matched” to participants with the goal of building friendships through weekly calls. This free service is a great way to socialize and make connections when you can’t get out in your community. Go to: Social Call | Covia Corporate or call 1-877-797-7299 to get started.
Covia Well Connectedand Well Connected Espanol– This program, previously known as Senior Center without Walls, offers enrichment, community, fun, support and learning groups for older adults who may be homebound. All groups meet over the phone and/or on-line and are free. They offer support groups specifically for the visually impaired. It is a rich and supportive community and there is something for everyone! Visit their website to check out the catalog of offerings and learn how it all works. Call 1-877-797-7299 to register and get started.
Mather Telephone Topics – Join Telephone Topics to learn about a variety of topics: wellness, music, sports, history. Participate in live discussions and enjoy live performances from home. All you do is call the phone number or log on to the Zoom meeting. Participation is FREE and open to everyone, anywhere! Learn more at:Aging Well Discussions and Programs | Telephone Topics (mather.com) Then click on “Download Schedule” and choose an option that interests you. If you have questions about Telephone Topics, call 1-888-600-2560.
Eye2Eyeis a free phone-based peer support program which offers emotional support, assessment, information, and referrals to people who are blind or visually impaired and their families. It helps people cope with the challenges of adjusting to vision loss, using trained peer support specialists who are also blind or visually impaired. They serve people in more than twenty states.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) has a list of helpful resources for people with vision loss and their families. It also has a national directory of affiliates in each state. Seniors can find information through the ACB affiliate Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers tuition-free distance education courses in various media on topics, such as participating in or even initiating a a self-help groups and dealing with many issues related to blindness and low vision.
Vision Exchangeis an online resource for support group leaders who facilitate support groups for adults with vision loss. The purpose is to exchange ideas, information, and community resources to help adults with low vision be more independent
The Family Caregiver Alliance(FCA) was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state, and local levels to support and sustain caregivers, and has an online family support group.
Phone emotional peer support line for blind persons
Rutgers has launched the nation’s first peer support helpline for the legally blind and their families.
Eye2Eye – 833-932-3931 (83-EYE2EYE-1) – is staffed 24/7 by peer support specialists who are legally blind and understand the challenges callers face.
The program, which is funded by a grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, serves residents in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The helpline assists people with vision impairments and blindness to work through some of the practical and emotional challenges associated with losing vision. Services include peer support, clinical assessment and referrals to resources for help with mental health, employment and technology. The program also offers callers resilience training to promote wellness, strength and self-care.
Recent studies show that one-third of people with vision loss suffer from depression and anxiety. This risk has gone largely unaddressed in the medical community, which has focused more on the practical problems faced by the visually impaired, such as finding employment and navigating everyday tasks, said Steven Silverstein, a clinical psychologist and vision researcher who co-directs the program with Cherie Castellano, the National Peer Support Call Center program director at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
The Eye2Eye peers all have different forms of visual impairments, and these began at different times during their lives. This allows for a ‘cultural connection’ between callers with a wide range of vision problems and life concerns, and our peer counselors.”
Steven Silverstein, clinical psychologist and vision researcher
Well Connected Program Offerings
Welcome to Well Connected
Well Connected is a nationwide phone and online community that brings people over the age of 60 together to explore, learn, laugh, and share experiences. Over 3,500 members join educational, fun, and engaging groups from the comfort of home. The Well Connected community of participants, staff, facilitators, and presenters value being connected to engaging content, and to each other. Well Connected is a Front Porch Community Service and is free of charge to individual members.
A Word About Inclusion
We welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, opinions, living situations, and abilities. Many of our participants are low vision or blind. Many are dealing with health concerns, chronic or disabling conditions or other issues. Please be sensitive, and mindful of the diversity in our community.
How It Works
1. Browse the materials and find groups that interest you, there a currently groups to select from.
( download the 2024 Catalog In PDF or TEXT and choose from 77 different groups! )
• Once you are enrolled in the program, there is no limit to the number of
groups you may join. ( To Join use this Link) or by phone at 877- 797-7299
• Check your Participant Calendar for group times in your time zone, and
for information about how to join.
2. Join by Phone
• All groups can be joined by telephone using a toll-free number from an
unblocked number.
• To join a group, call the program line, and when prompted, enter the
two-digit code listed on the Participant Calendar.
• If you need help getting into groups, we can call you! Call the office to
request an automated call-in to any group.
3. Join Online
• All groups can be joined online with a device that connects to the
Internet.
• Create your own online registration account and sign yourself up!
• Once you’re registered for groups in advance, and you will get an email
the morning of the group (check your spam folder!) with a personal link
to join.
• Allow the system to access your microphone and speakers.
• Click the Join Group button to enter the meeting.
• If you need tech help, contact us and we can send you more detailed
instructions, or walk you through how it works.
Call or email the office to get started, or if you have any questions.
Please contact the group at least 24–48 hours before the meeting starts for the meeting details.
Special Interest: Open Meeting – Newcomers Welcome!
Remote Program: Zoom
Video Component: Please ask the group for information.
This meeting has an audio and/or video component.
The group may resume meeting face-to-face.
The group welcomes all!
Group’s Main Contact: Richard B. at balsamre@gmail.com & +1 310-857-4774 (Ok to Text)
Group’s Second Contact: Cliff B. at +1 310-913-1210 (Ok to Text)
The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally.
Please remember…
The group’s meetings are on specific days at designated times.
When you attend meetings, please be respectful to others and keep the meeting topics related to the EA program.
Please do not discuss religion, politics, or other outside issues during the meeting. Participants who use inappropriate or abusive language may be removed from the meeting and possibly banned.
The group’s contact(s) are volunteers who provide their phone/email to assist you and answer questions about their meeting.
Please be kind in your communications. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get a response depending on the contact’s availability.
EA meetings are designed to be open to anyone with a desire to improve their mental health. In some cases, a meeting can be oriented toward a specific group of individuals, such as men, women, specific ethnic backgrounds, etc., and/or groups with unique shared experiences in order to best meet the needs of those choosing to attend. EA’s goal is to meet the needs of all who wish to become well emotionally; therefore, we support a range of meeting types.
When you call 800.656.HOPE (4673), you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider.
Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services including:
Confidential support from a trained staff member
Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
Someone to help you talk through what happened
Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
Referrals for long term support in your area
Information about the laws in your community
Basic information about medical concerns
Is it confidential?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.
While almost all callers are connected directly to a staff member or volunteer at a local sexual assault service provider, a handful of providers use an answering service after daytime business hours. This service helps manage the flow of calls. If all staff members are busy, you may choose to leave a phone number with the answering service. In this case, the number will be confidential and will be given directly to the organization’s staff member for a callback. If you reach an answering service, you can try calling back after some time has passed, or you can choose to call during regular business hours when more staff members are available. You can also access 24/7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.
Who are the sexual assault service providers?
Sexual assault service providers are organizations or agencies dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault. The providers who answer calls placed to the hotline are known as RAINN affiliates. To be part of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, affiliates must agree to uphold RAINN’s confidentiality standards. That means:
Never releasing records or information about the call without the consent of the caller, except when obligated by law
Only making reports to the police or other agencies when the caller consents, unless obligated by law
How was the National Sexual Assault Hotline created?
The National Sexual Assault Hotline was the nation’s first decentralized hotline, connecting those in need with help in their local communities. It’s made up of a network of independent sexual assault service providers, vetted by RAINN, who answer calls to a single, nationwide hotline number. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) has helped more than 3 million people affected by sexual violence.
Before the telephone hotline was created, there was no central place where survivors could get help. Local sexual assault services providers were well equipped to handle support services, but the lack of a national hotline meant the issue did not receive as much attention as it should. In response, RAINN developed a unique national hotline system to combine all the advantages of a national organization with all the abilities and expertise of local programs. One nationwide hotline number makes it easier for survivors to be connected with the help they deserve.
Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.
00 – Hotline – Text HELP to 741741 to Connect with a Crisis Counselor for Crisis / Depression – 24/7 Weekdays and Weekends
@ text/chat
Connecting with someone who cares and listens can make a difference and can help us get through our most difficult moments.
Whether it’s friends, family, or community – Everyone needs Somebody to lean on!
NOTE: Wait time can vary. Usually a response comes pretty quickly in under 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait can be 5 to 15 minutes or longer if there is a disaster or other reason.
Who are the Crisis Counselors? They are trained volunteers who—with the support of full-time Crisis Text Line staff—use active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning to help texters in their moment of crisis.
Crisis doesn’t just mean suicide; it’s any painful emotion for which you need support.
This service is for short term needs and is not a substitute for a friend or professional therapist.
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootingsfree for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
LOCATE SERVICES IN OREGON
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
COVID-19 ALERT – Due to COVID-19 many County Offices are limiting in-person services and are providing services by phone. Please call your County Veteran Service Office before going in to confirm how they can best serve you during this time.
This self-screen can help you find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD.
Only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. Your responses here are private and secure—they are not collected or shared. You may take a screenshot or print this screen to share with a provider.
Do not take the self-screen for someone else. If you are concerned that someone you care about might have PTSD, please share this screen with them instead.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
VA now allows veterans in suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare
Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can now go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for emergency health care at no cost — including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use this benefit. This expansion will increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million veterans who are not currently enrolled in the VA system.
The final policy, which took effect on Jan. 17, allows the VA to:
Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
If you or someone you know is struggling: Don’t wait. Reach out. Visit www.va.gov/REACH for resources and information, or call 988 (then press 1) to quickly connect with caring, qualified crisis support 24/7.
Veteran Resource Navigator
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has a comprehensive online resource guide (VETERAN RESOURCE NAVIGATOR) available to assist veterans in finding the benefits that are most useful to their unique circumstances at this time.
Use the link below for the Veteran Resource Navigator
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy, so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
You are welcome to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Find out if you’re eligible for VA home loan programs to help you buy, build, repair, or keep a home. If you have a service-connected disability, see if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
Explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources.
Get help planning a burial in a VA national cemetery, order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a Veteran’s service, and apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
Learn about benefits for spouses and dependents of a Veteran or service member, including added support if you’re caring for a Veteran with a service-connected disability.
Other Resources Available to Veterans and Military Service Members
If you’ve been diagnosed with an eye condition, have a family member who has, or have become a caregiver, joining a support group may be the most important thing you’ll ever do. Whether online or in your local community, such groups offer the opportunity to talk to others; share common concerns, frustrations, and stories; and find solutions to your vision-related difficulties. For more information on support groups, you can readSupport Groups and the Adjustment Process.
Check out Finding Support Groupsfor more information including links to directory listings of support groups.
Support Group Resources and Supportive Communities Meeting Virtually
ILVSG TeleSupport – This support group is designed for older adults with low vision who may not have access to the internet or other in-person groups. It is a monthly meeting offered over the phone and there are no fees or obligations. It is designed for low vision seniors anywhere in the U.S. who have no access to the Internet or cannot attend a live support group. Learn more at: MD Support — TeleSupport or call toll-free at 1-888-866-6148 to get started!
The Friendship Line – The Institute on Aging established this toll-free line for older adults who may be depressed, lonely, disabled, or in crisis. It is both a crisis “hotline” and a ‘warmline” for emotional support. Trained volunteers answer the calls and make calls. The Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis support services including: providing emotional support, elder abuse reporting, well-being checks, grief support through assistance and reassurance, active suicide intervention, information and referrals for isolated older adults, and adults living with disabilities. Volunteers will also call people on a regular basis to help monitor their physical and mental health concerns. This service can improve the quality of life and contentedness of isolated callers. Reach out today and call 1-800-971-0016. To learn more, visit Senior Intervention Hotline for Crisis Support Services.
Social Call – This Covia program connects adults 60 and older to new friends on the phone or video calls. Volunteers are “matched” to participants with the goal of building friendships through weekly calls. This free service is a great way to socialize and make connections when you can’t get out in your community. Go to: Social Call | Covia Corporate or call 1-877-797-7299 to get started.
Covia Well Connectedand Well Connected Espanol– This program, previously known as Senior Center without Walls, offers enrichment, community, fun, support and learning groups for older adults who may be homebound. All groups meet over the phone and/or on-line and are free. They offer support groups specifically for the visually impaired. It is a rich and supportive community and there is something for everyone! Visit their website to check out the catalog of offerings and learn how it all works. Call 1-877-797-7299 to register and get started.
Mather Telephone Topics – Join Telephone Topics to learn about a variety of topics: wellness, music, sports, history. Participate in live discussions and enjoy live performances from home. All you do is call the phone number or log on to the Zoom meeting. Participation is FREE and open to everyone, anywhere! Learn more at:Aging Well Discussions and Programs | Telephone Topics (mather.com) Then click on “Download Schedule” and choose an option that interests you. If you have questions about Telephone Topics, call 1-888-600-2560.
Eye2Eyeis a free phone-based peer support program which offers emotional support, assessment, information, and referrals to people who are blind or visually impaired and their families. It helps people cope with the challenges of adjusting to vision loss, using trained peer support specialists who are also blind or visually impaired. They serve people in more than twenty states.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) has a list of helpful resources for people with vision loss and their families. It also has a national directory of affiliates in each state. Seniors can find information through the ACB affiliate Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers tuition-free distance education courses in various media on topics, such as participating in or even initiating a a self-help groups and dealing with many issues related to blindness and low vision.
Vision Exchangeis an online resource for support group leaders who facilitate support groups for adults with vision loss. The purpose is to exchange ideas, information, and community resources to help adults with low vision be more independent
The Family Caregiver Alliance(FCA) was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state, and local levels to support and sustain caregivers, and has an online family support group.
Phone emotional peer support line for blind persons
Rutgers has launched the nation’s first peer support helpline for the legally blind and their families.
Eye2Eye – 833-932-3931 (83-EYE2EYE-1) – is staffed 24/7 by peer support specialists who are legally blind and understand the challenges callers face.
The program, which is funded by a grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, serves residents in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The helpline assists people with vision impairments and blindness to work through some of the practical and emotional challenges associated with losing vision. Services include peer support, clinical assessment and referrals to resources for help with mental health, employment and technology. The program also offers callers resilience training to promote wellness, strength and self-care.
Recent studies show that one-third of people with vision loss suffer from depression and anxiety. This risk has gone largely unaddressed in the medical community, which has focused more on the practical problems faced by the visually impaired, such as finding employment and navigating everyday tasks, said Steven Silverstein, a clinical psychologist and vision researcher who co-directs the program with Cherie Castellano, the National Peer Support Call Center program director at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
The Eye2Eye peers all have different forms of visual impairments, and these began at different times during their lives. This allows for a ‘cultural connection’ between callers with a wide range of vision problems and life concerns, and our peer counselors.”
Steven Silverstein, clinical psychologist and vision researcher
Well Connected Program Offerings
Welcome to Well Connected
Well Connected is a nationwide phone and online community that brings people over the age of 60 together to explore, learn, laugh, and share experiences. Over 3,500 members join educational, fun, and engaging groups from the comfort of home. The Well Connected community of participants, staff, facilitators, and presenters value being connected to engaging content, and to each other. Well Connected is a Front Porch Community Service and is free of charge to individual members.
A Word About Inclusion
We welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, opinions, living situations, and abilities. Many of our participants are low vision or blind. Many are dealing with health concerns, chronic or disabling conditions or other issues. Please be sensitive, and mindful of the diversity in our community.
How It Works
1. Browse the materials and find groups that interest you, there a currently groups to select from.
( download the 2024 Catalog In PDF or TEXT and choose from 77 different groups! )
• Once you are enrolled in the program, there is no limit to the number of
groups you may join. ( To Join use this Link) or by phone at 877- 797-7299
• Check your Participant Calendar for group times in your time zone, and
for information about how to join.
2. Join by Phone
• All groups can be joined by telephone using a toll-free number from an
unblocked number.
• To join a group, call the program line, and when prompted, enter the
two-digit code listed on the Participant Calendar.
• If you need help getting into groups, we can call you! Call the office to
request an automated call-in to any group.
3. Join Online
• All groups can be joined online with a device that connects to the
Internet.
• Create your own online registration account and sign yourself up!
• Once you’re registered for groups in advance, and you will get an email
the morning of the group (check your spam folder!) with a personal link
to join.
• Allow the system to access your microphone and speakers.
• Click the Join Group button to enter the meeting.
• If you need tech help, contact us and we can send you more detailed
instructions, or walk you through how it works.
Call or email the office to get started, or if you have any questions.
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