By Danielle LeSure
September 29, 2008

With 60 percent of its National Guard and Reserve forces deployed on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas stations, Oklahoma currently has the third-largest contingent of troops in the nation. Whereas families of regular military personnel have access to many forms of assistance at military installations where they are stationed, families of Guard and Reserve personnel, who often live far from military bases, find it challenging to obtain similar assistance regarding discharge papers or service records, pension or disability checks, educational benefits, or how to contact former colleagues from another unit. Furthermore, when service members deploy, their families are often left behind struggling with bills, groceries, and rent because they are now receiving a lesser paycheck and most often the spouse left behind is not accustomed to overseeing household expenses.

To better serve the Oklahoma Guard and Reserve personnel, Tulsa Mayor Kathryn Taylor collaborated with the Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa to create Help on the Home Front. It is a campaign designed to provide a database within 2-1-1, the Council’s community assistance hotline, to better direct personnel and their families to the assistance they need. Additionally, the campaign provides outreach and printed information at over 40 locations throughout Tulsa, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, veterans’ service organizations, National Guard and military reserve unit facilities, and local community colleges and universities. Matt Stiner, Assistant to Taylor on Veteran Affairs, stated, “Although 2-1-1 Helpline is going to cover the costs of the literature pieces, the city has now allocated a budget to continue to reprint the materials because of the success of the program.”

In addition to the 2-1-1 Helpline and printed material, Help on the Home Front also provides information on services on-line at Tulsa’s veteran’s website www.tulsaveterans.com. With an increase number of site visits per week, sometimes averaging 1,000 visits more, the on-line tool has proven to be helpful for families of both National Guard and Reserve personnel and veterans returning to Tulsa after their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans’ service organizations have reported the contributions Help on the Home Front have made for troops in the area. For instance, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars have seen more veterans turn to their service officers to get enrolled in the VA Health Care system. Some service members and veterans would rather go to an outside agency for health care services. Help on the Home Front provides information on both options and is seen as a tool to build awareness and education on the resources offered to troops and their families.

When asked about her engagement in Help on the Home Front, Taylor stated, “Tulsa recognizes the sacrifices that our Guard and Reserves, veterans and their families are making. Help on the Home Front will provide easy access to resources within Tulsa. As a local government, in shepherding these resources we can better support the men and women in uniform.”