Founded in 2005, Still Serving Veterans (SSV) has helped more than 1,000 wounded veterans and their families connect with the services they need to deal with life changing injuries while reintegrating into civilian lives and careers. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, SSV has become a nationally-recognized center of excellence as a grass roots-level reintegration orchestrator for wounded veterans and their families. SSV bridges the gaps, helping veterans assess their medical, vocational and counseling needs, and then connecting those veterans with existing federal, state and local support services.

Our critical asset is our thorough knowledge of what services are available and the processes for obtaining those services, combine with caring case workers who understand the unique needs of combat veterans.

As an accepted role model, SSV has been encouraged by the offices of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program and other organizations to expand its service to help wounded veterans and their families in other regions of the U.S.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing unprecedented numbers of traumatic, life-changing wounds. More than 35,000 service members have been wounded, more than 6,000 of those are severely disabled. There are 50,000 documented cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, with estimates that at least 200,000 additional cases have not been diagnosed, are unreported or have not yet manifested.

The flood of wounded warriors has taxed traditional military support systems beyond their breaking points. Thousands of wounded or disabled veterans are not receiving the medical, rehabilitation, psychological and vocational services they have earned. Support from organizations like SSV is critically needed in multiple locations around the country.

To empower wounded Veterans, and their families, by helping them reintegrate into the workforce and community via counseling, coaching, guiding, job transition, and assistance in obtaining all Veterans Administration (VA) benefits to which they are entitled.

Still Serving Veterans' experience since 2005 validates our operating model and proves the ongoing need for the services we provide to wounded veterans. We are prepared to leverage our local success and our expertise to help veterans across the U.S.

SSV is prepared to become a national advocacy center for wounded or disabled veterans, providing expanded services directly to veterans while also developing training and advocacy services for other local advocacy groups around the country. In that new role, SSV will collect and disseminate information about best practices in veterans affairs. SSV will host national and regional workshops and continuing education programs for case workers at local and regional veterans' service organizations in every corner of the country.

As a national "hub" for veterans' advocates, SSV will also serve as a "think tank" for developing innovative real world techniques for improving services to veterans. Our successful experience at the local level. Coupled with input from other grass roots organizations, gives us a uniquely valuable institutional memory. Our recent affiliation with Easter Seals creates a synergistic opportunity to make the smartest use of resources and minimizing duplication while expanding our service to veterans.