Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Hot off the Press at DB101.org: Federal Government Launches New and Improved National Resource Directory for Military and Veteran Communities

Federal Government Launches New and Improved National Resource Directory for Military and Veteran Communities

Washington, DC – The U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs are continuing their commitment to Veterans, Service Members and their families with the launch of a new and improved National Resource Directory (NRD).

Located at www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov, this online tool provides access to thousands of services, programs and resources at the national, state and community level. Recently unveiled with a new look and other key features, the Web site now boasts an improved search engine, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) news feeds, subscriptions to e-mail updates, and new subject areas such as “Homeless Assistance.”

The NRD is designed to serve a broad base of users including Service Members, Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and their families and caregivers. In addition, it has proved to be a useful tool for service providers who support Veterans, such as Federal Recovery Coordinators, health care providers and case managers at Veterans Service Organizations.

“(The National Resource Directory) is wonderful,” says Cara Hammer, an Army Veteran who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “I’ve been using it pretty regularly. It is very comprehensive and fool proof – I love it.”

The new features allow the Veteran and Military community to stay connected with the resources that are available to them as well as browse for information they may not have known about it the past. Additionally, a faster, more accurate search engine provides the tools to sort results by subject area, audience and government or non-government resources to ensure users locate exactly what they want, without having to sort through thousands of links themselves.

For more than a year now, the NRD has provided Wounded Warriors, transitioning Service Members and Veterans, and those who support them with quick and easy access to resources they need. Resources on the Web site are vetted and must meet the NRD Participation Policy before being added to ensure they are relevant and from reputable sources, preventing users from having to sort through inappropriate or unhelpful services.

The new NRD is simple, easy-to-navigate and even more relevant to the needs of the Wounded Warrior, Veteran and caregiver communities. It also contains “In the News” and “Spotlight” features to highlight relevant news and updates. To tell friends and family about the new National Resource Directory, use the “Bookmark and Share” function to post updates on more than 200 social media networks such as Facebook or Twitter.

To learn more about the National Resource Directory’s new features, and to explore the thousands of resources provided, visit the Web site at www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov.

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