Service to the Armed Forces

American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) helps military members and their families cope with separation and other special needs related to service in the armed forces. Services include around-the-clock, around-the-world communication between military members and their families; neutral, impartial assistance; independent verification of emergency situations; access to financial assistance and referrals for emergency needs; and pre-deployment briefings.

The Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross provides services to over 4,000 military members and their families every year.

Emergency Communications

The Red Cross keeps military personnel in touch with their families in situations such as the death or serious illness of an immediate family member or the birth of a child. Red Cross emergency messages provide military personnel and their commanders with fast and reliable information to help them make good decisions regarding how best to deal with a family crisis or emergency leave situation.

Access to Financial Assistance

The Red Cross collaborates with the Military Aid Societies in providing financial assistance when an urgent personal or family crisis arises. Financial assistance is provided when there is a demonstrated need for funds for such items as emergency travel, burial assistance or urgent health and welfare needs such as food and shelter.

Pre-deployment Briefings Our “Get to Know Us Before You Need Us” program was developed to reach out to our community-based military members and their families to provide information on Red Cross services.

Coping with Deployments:

Psychological First Aid for Military Families Course

This course was designed to assist military families in managing the changes in their lives when their service members are deployed. It provides useful information on how to strengthen your ability to successfully respond to the challenges you may encounter throughout the deployment cycle. It also explains how to provide psychological first aid to others experiencing stressful feelings or events. It includes an adult section, a children’s section and a comprehensive resource and referral section. Click here to learn more about this course.

Information and Referral

The Red Cross offers knowledgeable problem-solving guidance as well as information and referrals to other helpful organizations and social service agencies to help military families in crisis. Red Cross AFES workers are neutral/non-government personnel to whom military persons or family members can go for confidential problem-solving.

Compassion In Action...