Wounded Warrior Project Programs
WWP offers comprehensive programs to assist Wounded Warriors and their families, including:
Combat Stress Recovery eases readjustment for returning warriors through mental health resources, access to care, and peer support. Components include: Project Odyssey™, an outdoor, rehabilitative retreat that helps warriors overcome combat stress through shared experiences with peers and connecting with nature; Restore Warriors™ , a secure, online community for warriors living with the invisible wounds of war (PTSD, combat / operational stress, depression).
Economic Empowerment programs include technology training, employment assistance, and financial education to empower warriors to provide long-term economic stability for themselves and their families. Some enter intensive programs like TRACK, a full-year, residential commitment that requires each warrior to meet specific objectives daily towards a degree program, employment, or other economic empowerment goal while also working on mind and body through physical therapy, peak performance training, and more.
WWP Packs, our very first program offering, continues today – stateside by WWP outreach staff assigned to DoD care facilities, and overseas through partnership with the American Red Cross. Transitional care packs (TCPs), backpacks, and family support totes provide comfort to Wounded Warriors and their families throughout the hospital stay. TCPs are designed for those airlifted from the battlefield, and provide clothing, toiletries, and calling cards. Wounded otherwise arrive at the hospital with nothing - no gear, no toothbrush, no clothes except a hospital gown; TCPs provide essentials needed to feel more secure as recovery begins, and serve as an introduction to WWP.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
WWP is equipped to serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war. Based on feedback from those we serve and the demographics of returning service members, by the end of 2011, WWP opened five regional service centers around the US, including Seattle WA (2223 Alaskan Way, Suite 220). These offices allow greater presence in communities where warriors and families live, and help mitigate gaps between needs and services available.
WWP establishes quarterly KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to gage the effectiveness of all programs and services. Examples of recent successes (Fiscal Year 2012) include:
- 28,765 Alumni of OEF/OIF and New Dawn enrolled in WWP
- 84.3% of TRACK students reach graduation
- 93% of Solder Ride participants report developing greater self-confidence
- WWP filed 5,949 benefit issues - resulting in $14.2 M annual benefits and $7.7M retroactive benefits paid
Due to advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of service members post-9/11/2001 have survived severe wounds or injuries. As of 3/25/2013, the DoD reports 50,569 wounded in action in current conflicts; studies estimate ~ 320,000 have suffered traumatic brain injury. Additionally, 400,000 are estimated to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. These physical and psychological wounds require immediate and long-term assistance. If unaddressed, these can lead to drug and/or alcohol dependency, financial instability, homelessness or suicide. In the coming years, WWP will establish funds to ensure long-term care to Wounded Warriors as their parents and caregivers age, and will grow its Combat Stress Recovery Program offerings. By 2017, WWP estimates more than 100,000 alumni will receive assistance through WWP.