Scholarships still available for Operation Healing Journey

PHOENIX — One organization is offering scholarships to a three-month program designed to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life and deal with issues, such as PTSD.

“We are trying to fill the gap in veterans’ care,” said Brian Mancini with the nonprofit Honor House.

The program, called Operation Healing Journey, still has spots available and strives to find services within three to five miles of the veteran’s home.

“For pain management, we’re trying to introduce healthy alternatives that they can find within their communities, such as spinal networking, acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic care,” said Mancini, a 13-year veteran combat medic.

For treatment of symptoms of PTSD, Mancini said they integrate yoga, tai chi and deep breathing exercises.

“What we do is we have a veteran reintegration specialist — a licensed social worker that meets with the veteran,” he said. “[They] create a customized healing calendar, coordinate that plan of action and the Honor House helps offset the financial cost that is associated with it.”

At a cost of $5,000 per participant, many of the alternative healing methods are not
covered by the veterans’ health insurance.

“We recognize that this generation suffered a lot fighting our nation’s longest running conflicts, and we want to help aide in that traditional healing process,” he said.

The Honor House is asking for community groups or corporate offices to help sponsor a veteran by going through the Operation Healing Journey program. The nonprofit is also looking for community-based providers that offer these types of services that would be willing to reduce costs to contact the organization.

For more information on how to apply or to donate online, go to HonorHouse.org.