TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS INC
3033 WILSON BOULEVARD NO 300, ARLINGTON, VA 22201 www.taps.org

---

Organizations Filed Purposes: THE TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS (TAPS) IS THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROVIDING COMFORT, CARE, AND RESOURCES TO ALL THOSE GRIEVING THE DEATH OF A MILITARY LOVED ONE. SINCE 1994, TAPS HAS OFFERED COMFORT AND HOPE 24/7 THROUGH A NATIONAL PEER SUPPORT NETWORK, CONNECTION TO GRIEF RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY-BASED CARE, CASEWORK ASSISTANCE AND THE NATIONAL MILITARY SURVIVOR HELPLINE - ALL AT NO COST TO SURVIVING FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY SURVIVOR, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DECEASED, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH, OR THE DUTY STATUS OF THE SERVICE MEMBER AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEATH. IN 2019, OVER 6,893 NEW SURVIVORS SOUGHT CARE CONTINUING A MULTI-YEAR UPWARD TRAJECTORY PROJECTED TO CONTINUE FOR 2020.

OFFERING 24/7 TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE TO ANYONE WHO HAS SUFFERED THE LOSS OF A MILITARY LOVED ONE.

TAPS SURVIVOR PROGRAMS: REGIONALS, RETREATS, CAMP OUTS, EXPEDITIONS, AND INNER WARRIOR.KEY ELEMENTS OF TAPS PEER BASED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ARE THE MILITARY SURVIVOR SEMINARS, RETREATS, FAMILY CAMPS AND EXPEDITIONS HELD AT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SURVIVORS GAIN COPING SKILLS THAT ENABLE THEM TO LIVE A FULL LIFE IN THEIR "NEW NORMAL." THESE EVENTS GIVE THE FAMILIES OF AMERICA'S FALLEN HEROES A FULLY-FUNDED EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING LODGING, MEALS, MATERIALS, PROGRAMMING, SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION. THE MOST HEALING ASPECTS OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE THE PHYSICAL ELEMENTS, TAKING THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING TRAUMATIC GRIEF OUTDOORS IN NATURE, PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT SHOW THEM THEY CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND ESTABLISH AN EVER-PRESENT SUPPORT SYSTEM. THESE PROGRAMS UTILIZE THE CONCEPT OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE IMPACT.

PEER BASED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND SURVIVOR CARE: TAPS STANDS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH LEADERS IN THE MILITARY COMMUNITY FOR EVERY BRANCH OF SERVICE TO ENSURE ALL THOSE GRIEVING THE DEATH OF A MILITARY LOVED ONE ARE CONNECTED WITH SUPPORT. THROUGH THESE VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS, ALL MILITARY SURVIVORS ARE IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED WITH ACCESS TO RESOURCES. FOLLOWING A SERVICE MEMBER'S DEATH, IMMEDIATE OUTREACH AND PERSONALIZED CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES ARE MADE BY THE TAPS SURVIVOR CARE TEAM (SCT). MADE UP OF MILITARY SURVIVORS WITH RELEVANT ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS, THE SCT GENTLY ASSESSES SURVIVOR NEEDS, OFFERS A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON, AND DESIGN A CARE PLAN TO CONNECT SURVIVORS WITH MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS ACROSS TAPS. IN 2019, CARE TEAM MEMBERS MADE OVER 29,100 DIRECT OUTREACH CALLS. FROM A SURVIVOR: THIS IS A GROUP OF THE MOST CARING, KIND, UNDERSTANDING AND NON-JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE I HAVE EVER SEEN. TAPS HAS BEEN THE SINGLE MOST INFLUENTIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO MY SURVIVAL AND IS HOW I LEARN TO COPE AND LIVE AGAIN AFTER THE LOSS OF MY SON. THE CARE AND LOVE I SEE EXPRESSED ARE FOR ALL AGES, ALL RELATIONSHIPS TO THE SURVIVORS' LOST HERO, AND FOR SURVIVORS OF EVERY MANNER OF DEATH IMAGINABLE. NO STIGMA. NO CONDESCENSION. ONLY LOVE. WHEN THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED THAT EXCEEDS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE SECTOR CAN PROVIDE A FAMILY, TAPS IS THERE WITH EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH THE TAPS CASEWORK TEAM, SURVIVORS CAN ACCESS EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES; RECEIVE HELP NAVIGATING THE COMPLICATED GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE ENTITLEMENTS, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE. IN 2019, OVER 5,557 CASES WERE RESOLVED, SURVIVORS WERE CONNECTED TO OVER $2.2M IN RETROACTIVE BENEFITS, AND OVER $203M IN EDUCATION BENEFITS WERE IDENTIFIED. THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CUMULATIVE OVER $1M IN 2019) GAVE FAMILIES PEACE OF MIND AS THEY COPED WITH THEIR LOSS AND BEGAN TO ADJUST TO AN ALTERED FUTURE. IN ADDITION TO THESE SERVICES, TAPS SUPPORT STRETCHES TO REACH SURVIVING MILITARY FAMILIES WHERE THEY LIVE - IN THE HEART OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS AS WELL AS WARM CONNECTIONS TO CLINICAL GRIEF COUNSELING SERVICES. IN 2019, OVER 1,689 MILITARY SURVIVING ADULTS AND CHILDREN WERE CONNECTED WITH APPROPRIATE AND VETTED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY SPECIFIC TO THEIR GRIEF EXPERIENCE AND TRAUMA EXPOSURE.TAPS CARE GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OFFERING SURVIVORS THE ABILITY TO FEEL THE WARMTH AND CONNECTION OF OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS IN THE COMFORT OF FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS. THESE GROUPS ALLOW GRIEVING FAMILIES TO HAVE SUSTAINED CONNECTIONS, HELPING THEM TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE ON THEIR GRIEF JOURNEY. EACH MEETING IS CO-HOSTED BY A TAPS PEER MENTOR AND A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. A TAPS PEER MENTOR IS A MILITARY SURVIVOR WHO IS AT LEAST 18 MONTHS BEYOND THEIR LOSS AND HAS COMPLETED TRAINING TO BE A COMPANION FOR NEW SURVIVORS. CARE GROUPS ARE NOT THERAPY BUT THEY ARE THERAPEUTIC. SURVIVORS ARE GIVEN TIME TO TALK, OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN, AND RECEIVE THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF AN ATMOSPHERE OF VALIDATION AND COMPASSION. IN 2019, OVER 561 CARE GROUPS WERE HOSTED WELCOMING OVER 2,497 MILITARY SURVIVORS WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO SHARE THEIR GRIEF EXPERIENCE AND CONNECT WITH OTHER MILITARY SURVIVORS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. TAPS ALSO PROVIDES SURVIVORS AWARENESS OF ADDITIONAL BEREAVEMENT GROUPS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. A CAREFULLY RESEARCHED COMMUNITY RESOURCE REPORT IS PROVIDED SO THAT SURVIVORS MAY CONFIDENTLY CHOOSE FROM A CUSTOMIZED LISTING OF GROUPS IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO ONGOING CONNECTION AND SUPPORT CLOSE TO HOME. TAPS CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, HELPING TIPS ON COPING WITH GRIEF AND KEEPING SURVIVORS CONNECTED, NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY. THE TAPS ONLINE COMMUNITY CONDUCTS CHAT SESSIONS AND THROUGH BLOGS, MESSAGE BOARDS, AND PEER GROUPS SURVIVORS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, LEARN HOW OTHERS ARE COPING WITH LOSS AND GAIN A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.FROM A SURVIVOR: WHEN I CAME TO TAPS, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, I WAS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU AMAZING PEOPLE. I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT I HAVE PRETTY MUCH COME BACK FROM THE DEAD. I THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE.BEREAVEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAININGTHE TAPS INSTITUTE FOR HOPE AND HEALING OFFERS INFORMATIVE AND INSTRUCTIONAL WEBINARS, BECOMING A LEADER IN TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR BEREAVEMENT PROFESSIONALS, BEREAVED INDIVIDUALS, AND GRIEVING MILITARY AND CIVILIAN FAMILIES. THROUGH AN ALLIANCE WITH THE HOSPICE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA, THE FOREMOST LEADER IN PROFESSIONAL GRIEF AND LOSS EDUCATION, THE INSTITUTE SERVES AS A RESOURCE AND TRAINING CENTER, PROVIDING A HUB FOR HIGH-QUALITY COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF GRIEF AND LOSS. IN 2019, OVER 5,241 MILITARY SURVIVORS, SUPPORTERS, AND BEREAVEMENT PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED A SESSION HOSTED BY THE TAPS INSTITUTE ON HOPE AND HEALING.SUICIDE SURVIVOR SUPPORTSINCE 2008, TAPS HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 16,000 SURVIVORS OF MILITARY SUICIDE LOSS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, TAPS HAS DEVELOPED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO CARE THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, PEER-BASED SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING. IT IS CALLED THE TAPS SUICIDE POSTVENTION MODELTM. THIS MODEL PROVIDES HOPE AND HEALING TO SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVORS THROUGH A THREE-PHASE APPROACH THAT INCLUDES STABILIZATION, GRIEF WORK, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH.IN 2019, THE TAPS SUICIDE PREVENTION AND POSTVENTION TEAM CONTINUED ITS MOST POPULAR AND IMPACTFUL PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS ADDING SOME NEW INITIATIVES THAT ARE JUST BEARING FRUIT.TAPS WORKED WITH BOSTON'S HOME BASE PROGRAM TO HELP 22 SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVORS GRADUATE FROM AN "INTENSIVE CLINICAL PROGRAM" TO TREAT SYMPTOMS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AND COMPLICATED GRIEF. DURING THREE TWO-WEEK COHORTS, THESE SURVIVING WIDOWS AND PARENTS -- ALL OF WHOM SUFFERED ADDITIONAL TRAUMA TO THEIR LOSS THAT INCLUDED EITHER WITNESSING THE SUICIDE DEATHS OF THEIR LOVED ONES OR DISCOVERING THEIR BODIES -- RECEIVED TRAUMA CARE FROM HOME BASE CLINICIANS BACKED BY EMOTIONAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FROM A ROTATING GROUP OF TAPS STAFF. THE TWO WEEKS WERE FILLED WITH INTENSE THERAPY, BONDING ACTIVITIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR REST AND RELAXATION. FROM A SURVIVOR: THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN A HUGE MONTH FOR HEALING FOR ME ALL THANKS TO TAPS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HOMEBASE. I WOULD NEVER HAVE HEARD OF HOMEBASE IF NOT FOR TAPS. AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER HOMEBASE, I WENT TO THE NATIONAL SEMINAR. THIS WAS THE BEST SEMINAR FOR ME SO FAR, PROBABLY DUE TO ME BEING IN A BETTER FRAME OF MIND. I APPRECIATE TAPS FOR ALL THE NEW FRIENDS I HAVE THAT ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE IN A WAY NO ONE ELSE CAN BE. I PLAN ON TAPS BEING IN MY LIFE FOREVER.NEW INITIATIVES INCLUDED A STORYTELLING PROGRAM LAUNCHED DURING SEPTEMBER'S NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, WHEN A CRITICAL MASS OF SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVORS TOOK CONTROL OF THEIR GRIEF BY BEING INVOLVED IN A RANGE OF MEDIA OR WRITING ACTIVITIES. FIRST, IN A SERIES WE CALLED #SURVIVORSUNDAY, FIVE SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVORS FROM TAPS STAFF WROTE ESSAYS EACH WEEK ABOUT THEIR LOSS AND GRIEF JOURNEYS. THESE PROFOUNDLY MOVING STORIES REACHED ALMOST 60,000 PEOPLE. ALSO, THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF A DONOR, A NEW INITIATIVE WILL ALLOW TAPS TO TRAIN LONGER-TERM SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVORS ON THE TAPS POSTVENTION MODELTM AND THE FIELD OF SUICIDOLOGY. THIS TRAINING WILL BUILD A COHORT OF TAPS "SUPER-VOLUNTEERS" TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AS AMBASSADORS WHO HELP OTHERS COPE WITH SUICIDE LOSS AS THEY HAVE. THE INTENT IS THAT ARMED WITH THIS NEW KNOWLEDGE, THESE SURVIVORS WILL BE EVER MORE CLOSE TO ADVANCING THEIR OWN POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH.IN 2019, THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF OFFERINGS AVAILABLE FOR FEMALE SURVIVORS WHILE MAINTAINING THE SMALL GROUP FEEL THAT ALLOWS FOR DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS. MERGING THE ELEMENTS OF THE FORMER TAPS INNER WARRIOR PROGRAM, RETREATS WERE OFFERED THAT CONTINUED TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THESE VITAL GATHERINGS. WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT ADDED A NEW CURRICULUM IN 2019, OFFERING A RETREAT FOCUSING ON THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO GRIEF. DUE TO DEMAND FOR THIS GATHERING, TWO ADDITIONAL NEW TO GRIEF RETREATS WERE ADDED TO THE 2020 CALENDAR.SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENTTAPS CONNECT SURVIVING MILITARY FAMILIES WITH PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TO BRING HOPE AND HEALING WHILE HONORING THEIR FALLEN HEROES. THESE EXPERIENCES CREATE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE NEW MEMORIES WITH THOSE WHO ONCE BROUGHT THEM, AND THEIR FALLEN HERO JOY AND HAPPINESS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NFL, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, USA BASKETBALL, NASCAR, THE NHL, AND MORE ALLOW SURVIVORS MOMENTS OF JOY AND HELP THEM GAIN COMFORT IN KNOWING THEIR HEROES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. IN 2019, 201 EVENTS ENGAGED OVER 2,800 SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS.

TAPS NATIONAL SURVIVOR SEMINARS:TAPS HOSTS TWO NATIONAL EVENTS ANNUALLY: THE NATIONAL MILITARY SURVIVOR SEMINAR AND GOOD GRIEF CAMP AND THE NATIONAL MILITARY SUICIDE SURVIVOR SEMINAR AND GOOD GRIEF CAMP.TAKING PLACE OVER MULTIPLE DAYS, THESE TWO EVENTS BRING SURVIVORS TOGETHER WITH LEADING AUTHORITIES ON GRIEF AND TRAUMA WHERE THEY CAN LEARN COPING SKILLS, HEALTHY GRIEVING TECHNIQUES AND ALSO INTERACT WITH OTHER SURVIVORS IN A CALMING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. EVENTS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SURVIVORS TO HONOR THE LIVES AND SERVICE OF THEIR LOVED ONES, ESTABLISH A VITAL LONG TERM SUPPORT NETWORK AND LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR HEALTHY GRIEVING AND RESILIENCE FOR MOVING FORWARD. THE NATIONAL MILITARY SURVIVOR SEMINAR TAKES PLACE OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE NATIONAL MILITARY SUICIDE SURVIVOR SEMINAR IS HELD IN THE FALL, AND INCORPORATES CAREFULLY DESIGNED PROGRAMMING AND EXPERT SPEAKERS SPECIFIC TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE FROM SUICIDE.FROM A SURVIVOR: I WENT TO THE SUICIDE SURVIVOR SEMINAR IN OCTOBER FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS 5 MONTHS AFTER MY HUSBAND DIED AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST AND MOST EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES I CHOSE TO DO. HOWEVER, IT FELT GOOD TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO WERE UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE AND WHO HAD AN IDEA OF HOW I FELT AND WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH. I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR TAPS AS THEIR RESOURCES HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST HELPFUL THINGS I HAVE FOUND SINCE MY HUSBAND DIED.

---

---

Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202013189349305621_public.xml