In 2016, the population for the City of Killeen was 143,400, with 25,544 being Veterans (2012-2016) (https://www.census.gov). KPD has an estimated 250 officers, equaling approximately 574 citizens per officer and 102 Veterans per officer, with the number of patrol officers a mere fraction of the total. Therefore, KPD is always taking big strides in new approaches to Community Policing and new ways to develop positive relationships with the citizens they protect and serve. 

The Killeen Police Department is the first department to use this form of program to help Veterans. KPD's team of officers work hard everyday and face many dangers, yet they take the time to talk to those in need and support relationship and community policing.

Since the city of Killeen is right next to Fort Hood Army Installation, officers come in contact with many Veterans and active duty military. They see the need to better assist these individuals and embrace us as a valuable resource, utilizing our assistance several times with successful results for the Veterans. The crisis intervention assessment and communication skills of these officers have helped reduce losing another Veteran to suicide each time they talk to the individual and deploy us to their location.

Operation Phantom Support is in Killeen, TX and works to provide several things to Veterans, active duty, and their families. One of their features is their food pantry, with just for a donation of $20 a month, where you can make a visit Thursday and Saturday mornings. Their food pantry is not the typical pantry, they have frozen meats ranging from brisket to rib-eye to fish to frozen meals. They have fruits and vegetables and canned goods. Along with that monthly donation, the donors have access to their thrift store, vehicle service assistance, military clothing, birthday cake services, back to school filled backpacks, and more. They provide emergency food baskets for those in dire need. They have assisted us by responding to our call to assist Veterans in need that the Killeen Police Department come in contact with.

REBOOT Combat Recovery, a non-profit support system that focuses on healing the spiritual and moral injuries of war is hosting its free, 12-week combat trauma recovery course.

Created to aid service members and their families work through their post-traumatic stress and rejoin civilian life, the course addresses the concept of soul wounds in an effort to heal the mind, body and soul. 

The fresh approach offers a unique blend of clinical insight and faith-based support in the  form  of  weekly  classes  that  include  topic-based  instruction,  class  discussions, homework,  group  exercises  and  a  family-style  meal.  In  contrast  to  traditional  mental health treatment options, REBOOT is led by volunteer veterans and provides practical 

solutions for healing moral injuries, which has led to reduced suicide deaths, increased veteran employment, decreased divorce rates and restored communities. 

The Field House, located in Harker Heights, TX, is an old-school style gym. They have a large selection of weight lifting equipment, a cross-fit area, a room for women to lift away from the rest of the workout area, an open mat room for groups or to use loose equipment such as exercise balls, steps, and more. 

They have donated certain gym times for individuals in our program to use individually or as a group with our peer-support and counselors at no cost. Our program offers a Women's Self-Defense class from one of our board members who is a world Ju-Jitsu Champion. The fitness part of our program works towards mental health as the Veterans or active duty work towards personal goals and fight self-defeating mental blocks. Watch on our Facebook page to see when we will be at the gym to support and work together to successfully reach goals.

MJ Kitchen is a local restaurant serving Puerto Rican cuisine. The owners are a Veteran and his wife. They and their family work together to operate the business. All work to bring authentic Puerto Rico flavors to the local area of Harker Heights, TX.

MJ Kitchen started small as they focused on providing meals to Veterans who needed something to eat. After many locals encouraged them to find a fixed location to serve more people, they bought themselves a place to do just that. Even though they sell meals now, they still work to help Veterans in their local area.

They are willing to help us provide support to Veterans in different ways and allow us to have fundraisers at their restaurant. If you are in the local area, please stop in and enjoy some of their delicious homemade authentic cuisine.

Check out their website: www.mjkitchen.biz

PTSD Foundation of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to  mentoring to our combat veterans and their families with post traumatic  stress. Many warriors are coming home with visible wounds; countless  others are coming home with scars we cannot see, wounded souls from  witnessing the horrors of war over and over again – PTSD. We are faith-based in our approach and have a great history of  providing hope and healing to those experiencing the unseen wounds of  war. We offer a safe place where no one is judged, everyone is  supported, and everything a warrior says or is revealed is confidential  within the group.

We would like the opportunity to train and/or help form groups  within your community for warriors & their families to reach out to.  Our teams consist of Veterans, Active and Reserve Service Members as  well as civilians that have a heart for the military and their families.  We have active, reserve and/or veterans from every war up to World War  II that are coming to our groups. 

WARRIOR GROUPS

Warrior Groups are fellowships for combat veterans and their  families to share their experiences, testimonies of healing, compassion  and hope in overcoming the invisible wounds of war.

 Participants  are required to be military combat veterans or family members of those  who have served in combat and be willing to face the challenges of  managing post-traumatic stress and related conditions. 

This is not a treatment program, but rather a peer coaching and support  program whose primary purpose is helping combat veterans find healing,  balance and positive re-integration with their families and in society.  In addition, The Warrior Family Support Groups exist to assist family  members (spouse, parent, sibling, child, caretaker, etc.) of PTSD  sufferers in understanding and healing from. 

CAMP HOPE

CAMP HOPE provides interim housing for our combat veterans suffering from combat related PTSD in a caring and positive environment.

The facility opened in 2012 and is located in a quiet and safe setting  in Houston, Texas whereby veterans and their immediate family members  can find healing, help and hope while benefiting from an intensive peer  support and mentoring program for combat related Post Traumatic Stress.  In addition to Temporary housing, Camp Hope offers a minimum of a 5  month program that includes a 1 month transitional program in which  residents: attend group lessons and support sessions with other combat  veterans; conduct individual mentoring sessions with certified combat  trauma mentors; participate in off-site small group interaction  activities (i.e. fishing, camping, local activities and sporting  events); and get involved with local churches, businesses and volunteer  organizations to assist in their personal healing and educating the  community on the invisible wounds of war. 

The Camp Hope staff is a unique team of combat veterans and civilian  pastoral staff trained in working with victims of trauma and  post-traumatic stress. They understand those who have served this nation  and continue to struggle with the invisible wounds of combat and are  working to assist our troops in putting the pieces of their lives back  together.  The Camp Hope staff uses the necessary traditional counseling  tools and incorporates a faith based approach to help combat the  effects of post-traumatic stress.  In addition, the staff assists  veterans with a myriad of issues including job placement, coordination  with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and reputable veteran service  organizations to assist with claims and benefits, transportation to  appointments and peer support groups integration.  The Camp Hope  community embraces our troops, veterans and their families as they seek  the rewarding and fulfilling lives they so richly deserve. 

If you have any questions regarding acceptance criteria and availability please contact us at 832-912-4429 

If you are in a crisis please call our hotline 877-717-PTSD (7873) 

Check out their website:

https://ptsdusa.org/