TRICARE Extends Mental Health Treatment Options

fm Exceptional Advocate eNewsletter, October 2017

TRICARE has expanded mental health and substance use disorder, or SUD, services, adding outpatient programs and expanding options for opioid treatment. The expansion improves access to care and increases opportunities for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The changes include:

Increased substance use disorder treatment options. Improvements to SUD options include opioid treatment programs and office-based opioid treatment. Office visits with qualified TRICARE-authorized providers may include coverage of medications for opioid addiction.

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Financial Planning and Assistance for Families with Special Needs

fm Exceptional Advocate eNewsletter, October 2017

When you have a family member with special needs, financial planning is vital. Be prepared to take good care of your family member by tackling the money issues today.

Military OneSource is here to help you—with financial planning related to issues like disability tax credits, Supplemental Security Income and much more.

How to start your financial plan

Read more: Financial Planning and Assistance for Families with Special Needs

Successful Transition for Students with Special Needs: Advocating for Universal Design for Learning in Classrooms

fm Exceptional Advocate eNewsletter, October 2017

Research has shown that all students and especially those receiving special education who follow a carefully crafted transition plan are more likely to achieve post-secondary success. Helping professionals can craft these plans, but many may not be aware of the various resources available to ensure students’ successful transition. One of the main resources available to parents/guardians and students are their classroom teachers. Teachers who incorporate transition-related content into instruction using universal design for learning (UDL) principles are in the best position to set up students for post-secondary success. It is thus necessary that parents/guardians and students are trained to inform teachers about UDL and advocate for their use in classroom instruction on an ongoing basis.

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Gold Star survivors are part of Air Force family tree

By Tammy Cournoyer
AFPC Airman and Family Division

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - The Air Force family tree has many branches and one branch, representing the services Gold Star families, has leaves that glow consistently with the rest.

Gold Star families are survivors of military service members who lost their lives during armed hostilities, including deployments in support of military operations against an enemy and/or during an international terrorist attack.

Read more: Gold Star survivors are part of Air Force family tree