SAMHSA offers this searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs that shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems.

The Locator includes more than 11,000 addiction treatment programs, including residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment programs, and hospital inpatient programs for drug addiction and alcoholism. Listings include treatment programs for marijuana, cocaine, and heroin addiction, as well as drug and alcohol treatment programs for adolescents, and adults.

SAMHSA endeavors to keep the Locator current. All information in the Locator is completely updated each year, based on facility responses to SAMHSA's National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. The most recent complete update occurred on March 17, 2008 based on data collected as of March 31, 2007 in the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. New facilities are added monthly. Updates to facility names, addresses, telephone numbers and services are made weekly, if facilities inform SAMHSA of changes. The last weekly update was done on June 09, 2008.

To access the locator, click here.

VA GPD Grantwriting Workshops

The North Carolina Governor's Institute's Homeless Veteran Provider Technical Assistance Center encourages individuals and organizations interested in applying for funding from the VA to attend one of the grant writing trainings being offered in anticipation of meeting the application deadline in the spring of 2009. It is not too early to be planning for next year's round of capital grants and per diem only grants. Since the format of the application is unlikely to change, applicants can get started on developing properties and obtaining the match on capital grants and engaging supportive services for the veterans. For more information, click here.

Guide to Employer-Assisted Housing Published

Understanding Employer-Assisted Housing: A Guidebook for Employers, which includes a small-town case study, is published by Homes for Working Families and the Metropolitan Planning Council and is free at http://www.homesforworkingfamilies.org/solutions/housing/.

Employer-assisted housing (EAH) is a term used to describe a variety of housing benefits employers can offer to help their workforce afford homes. An EAH program can be a cost-effective way to help improve employee recruitment, retention, productivity and morale, thereby improving the employer's bottom line.

In some cases, employers provide their employees with financial assistance to offset the cost of homes. In other cases, employers offer homebuyer education courses or credit counseling to employees preparing to purchase a home. EAH programs can be designed to work for any type of employer — private companies, public institutions and nonprofit organizations — in any type of market.

PTSD Cases Up About 50 Percent in 2007

WASHINGTON - The number of troops with new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder jumped by roughly 50 percent in 2007 amid the military buildup in Iraq and increased violence there and in Afghanistan.

Records show roughly 40,000 troops have been diagnosed with the illness, also known as PTSD, since 2003. Officials believe that many more are likely keeping their illness a secret.

"I don't think right now we ... have good numbers," Army Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker said in May.

Defense officials had not previously disclosed the number of PTSD cases from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Army statistics showed there were nearly 14,000 newly diagnosed cases across the services in 2007 compared with more than 9,500 new cases the previous year and 1,632 in 2003.

Schoomaker attributed the big rise over the years partly to the fact that officials started an electronic record system in 2004 that captures more information, and to the fact that as time goes on the people keeping records are more knowledgeable about the illness.

He also blamed increased exposure of troops to combat.

Factors increasing troop exposure to combat in 2007 included President Bush's troop buildup and the fact that 2007 was the most violent year in both conflicts.

More troops also were serving their second, third or fourth tours of duty - a factor mental health experts say dramatically increases stress. And in order to supply enough forces for the buildup, officials also extended tour lengths to 15 months from 12, another factor that caused extra emotional strain.

Officials have been encouraging troops to get help even if it means they go to civilian therapists and don't report it to the military.

"We're trying very hard to encourage Soldiers and families to seek care and to not have them feel in any way, shape or form that we're looking over their shoulder or that we're invading their privacy," Schoomaker told a group of defense writers.

Noting that stigma is a problem in American civilian society, not just the military, he said, "I think that's the preferred way to do it."

The accounting of diagnosed cases released May 27 shows those hardest hit last year were Marines and Army personnel, the two ground forces bearing the brunt of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army reported more than 10,000 new cases last year, compared with more than 6,800 new cases the previous year. More than 28,000 Soldiers altogether were diagnosed with the disorder over the last five years, the data showed.

The Marine Corps had more than 2,100 new cases in 2007, compared with 1,366 in 2006. More than 5,000 Marines have been diagnosed with PTSD since 2003, the data showed.

Navy officials who would have data on Marine health issues did not return a phone call seeking to confirm the numbers released by Schoomaker's office.

Schoomaker said he believes PTSD is widely misunderstood by the press and the public - and that what is often just normal post-traumatic anxiety and stress is mistaken for full-blown PTSD.

Experts say many troops have symptoms of stress, such as nightmares and flashbacks, and can get better with early treatment.

The Pentagon had previously only given a percentage of troops believed affected by depression, anxiety, stress and so on - saying up to 20 percent return home with symptoms of mental health problems. A recent private study estimated that could mean up to 300,000 of those who've served have symptoms.

The Veterans Affairs Department said recently it has seen some 120,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have received at least a preliminary mental health diagnosis, with PTSD being the most common diagnosis at nearly 60,000.

An undisclosed number of troops also go to private care providers who are part of the huge military health care system. Schoomaker noted that National Guard and Reserve troops often go home to communities where there is not a veterans facility nearby.

"We're working very hard with the VA and with the National Guard and Reserves to get a better feel for, a grasp on, how big this is," Schoomaker said, adding that over time officials will be able to collect data and get "a better feel for, handle on, the numbers."

Late Registrations Still Being Accepted for NCHV Annual Conference

NCHV's 12^th annual conference is being held June 23-25. The theme of this year's conference is "Special Challenges of a New Era," featuring speakers that will inspire, strengthen and even surprise attendees as we consider the emerging needs of a new homeless veteran demographic. 

Headquarters for the conference will be the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, in the heart of Washington, D.C. NCHV's reserved block of rooms is sold out, but there are a number of hotels in close proximity.

Conference fees are $275 for members, $350 for non-members. One day fees are $110 for members and $130 for non-members. Deadline to register without a $35 late fee was June 10.

For more information click here. 

For the registration form click here.

Grants

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation's Planning and Technical Assistance Grants Program is accepting applications for grants of up to $50,000 each in order to support organizations in Arkansas, Nevada, or Oklahoma that need additional resources for planning activities related to a capital project. Applicant organizations must demonstrate a record of outstanding community service and management. Additional information is available on the foundation's web site. Nonprofit organizations classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that are located and operate in Arkansas, Nevada, or Oklahoma may apply. There are no deadlines for applications. View the Foundation's website at http://www.dwreynolds.org.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Domestic Hunger Program offers grants to organizations fighting hunger and homelessness nationwide. Grants are provided to provide relief including: food, shelter, clothing, medical supplies and care to meet basic human needs, sustainable development, community organizing, and education and advocacy efforts. Applications for the next funding cycle are due July 11. For more information on how to apply go to www.elca.org/grantinghope/.