What is the Acadiana "Ready 4 the Return" initiative?

"Ready 4 the Return" is a community initiative including services, resources, and education opportunities geared toward assisting all military families and their soldiers as they return from active duty.  The initiative is the brainchild of two Wholistic Wellness Network, Inc. volunteers, both registered nurses, and is fueled by many more volunteer hearts. When they recognized that new medical and scientific research indicated mind/body therapies were proving successful in eliminating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) they knew they needed to do something to help the soldiers returning home to Acadiana.  “An ounce of prevention…” 

Since November of 2004, they have activated the volunteer members of the local Lafayette WWN Chapter to organize the April symposium (www.wholisticwellnessnetwork.org/r4rschedule) which includes educational opportunities for families and healthcare providers alike, created and printed over 2500 copies of a brochure geared toward educating families about an integrated approach to healing PTSD, and continue to support the creation of this website.   This Acadiana “Ready 4 the Return” website exists solely for the dissemination of information that may serve our troops upon their return and their families until they return. 

How does the Acadiana “Ready 4 the Return” serve military families?

In Acadiana "We support our troops" means supporting their families too.

1.        Families need emotional, spiritual, and practical support now, while their soldier is on active duty.

·         Various individuals have started family support groups.   The "Ready 4 the Return" website will serve as the database for meeting times, dates, locations and contact person information.

·         This website also houses a “Goods and Services” department.  Merchants and service providers from across Acadiana have agreed to provide discounted and free services to military families and soldiers returning from active duties.  This is Acadiana’s way of saying we not only support your effort, we care about and want to support you.

2.        Families can learn simple “can do” skill sets to take care of themselves in this time of terrific stress.  The Wholistic Wellness Network organized a 3-day symposium to teach families and healthcare providers about these simple self-care tools.  (www.wholisticwellnessnetwork.org/r4r)

3.        Soldiers returning from war can find difficulty readjusting to civilian life.  Teaching families the warning signs of underlying distress and trauma can reduce the stress of the readjustment period and save precious time in finding the help these soldiers may need. 

·         The “Ready 4 the Return” educational brochure is being distributed throughout Acadiana by local merchants.  It contains: self-care tools, signs of distress that warrant medical attention, references and resources.

·         WWNetwork Practitioners Directory provides contact information for area practitioners of the new skill set therapies aimed at reducing stress and its underlying causes.  (www.wholisticwellnessnetwork.org/directory) 

How does the Acadiana “Ready 4 the Return” serve the soldier?

1.        Knowing that their families are being taken care of while they serve is #1.

2.        The “patriot penalty” causes real financial struggle for some returning vets.  Providing  “Goods and Services” to help our new veterans deal with the practical concerns of living when they return may include:  free first month rent; utility deposits; cash backed debit cards; free haircuts; discounted auto repair; half-priced yoga classes; etc.  Notice the words “may include”.  We are currently accepting donation commitments for “Goods and Services”.  Contact Robbie Bush at (337) 233-5521

3.        The trauma of war doesn’t just disappear for some.   The “Ready 4 the Return” volunteers are committed to continuing education for healthcare providers, employers, families, and veterans themselves about the new skill set therapies that can replace the hypervigilance of wartime with peaceful brainwave activity.    (www.wholisticwellnessnetwork.org/r4rschedule)

4.        Finding resources when you need them is challenging for everyone.  The Acadiana “Ready 4 the Return” website is becoming a compendium of resources and references specifically for the veteran and his/her family. 

Who is the Wholistic Wellness Network, Inc?

The Wholistic Wellness Network, Inc (WWNetwork) is a national volunteer non-profit organization committed to the integration of conventional medicine with complementary or alternative medicine into a system of healthcare that creates healthy people, families, and communities. The “Ready 4 the Return” is a Wholistic Wellness Network National Initiative  (www.wholisticwellnessnetwork.org/initiatives) and the brainchild of two Lafayette WWNetwork volunteers, both registered nurses.  The Wholistic Wellness Network, Inc. is committed to offering the “Ready 4 the Return” initiative to other military communities across the nation. (www.wholisticwellnessnetwork.org)