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How can I get an emergency message to a family member in the military?
American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families
following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red
Cross quickly sends these communications on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the
world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists
the service member's commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave.
How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message
- Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members
may call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The
toll-free telephone number is available through base or installation operators and from local on-base Red Cross offices.
- Other family members who do not reside in the service members' household, members of the National
Guard and Reserves, retirees and civilians may access Red Cross services through their local Red Cross chapter, which is listed
in local telephone books and at http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html.
- Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call base or installation operators
or the on-base Red Cross offices.
- At overseas deployment sites, contact the American Red Cross deployed staff.
When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to
have the following information:
Service member’s:
- Full Name
- Rank/Rating
- Branch of Service
- Social Security Number
- Military Address
- Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for deployed service members only)
Where can a sailor or family member go for counseling?
Here are some places where you can start. Each provides free counseling to military
ID card holders. Call and find out which will be best for you.
- Base Chaplain - The base chaplain can be reached at 619-556-3570.
- FFSC Counseling Center provides individual, couple and family counseling, as well as counseling
for work-related issues. Click on this link http://www.cnrsw.navy.mil/fsc/fsc.htm then select "Counseling" for locations and phone numbers:
- Armed Services YMCA - Free Home Visit Counseling and Marriage Counseling. 858-751-5755.
TRICARE Covers Some Counseling
TRICARE beneficiaries who need assistance with depression, stress-related illness, chemical
dependency, alcohol abuse problems or other related issues should know that TRICARE offers a wide range of mental health care
services. Access to those services, also known as behavioral health care, is easy and convenient. Beneficiaries who
require emergency mental health services should immediately seek assistance at the nearest emergency room. Active duty service
members must obtain preauthorization from the Military Medical Support Office (888-647-6676) before receiving any non-emergency
mental health services.
All non-active duty beneficiaries may seek outpatient mental health services WITHOUT referral
or authorization for the first EIGHT visits during a fiscal year in order to receive TRICARE coverage. But you MUST find a
network provider. Visit www.triwest.com for a list of providers in your area. When TRICARE Prime
beneficiaries go beyond eight outpatient visits in the fiscal year, they must seek
referral from their primary care manager
(PCM) and authorization from TRIWEST.
Certain outpatient services always require preauthorization including:
-
psychoanalysis
- psychological and neuropsychological testing
- electroconvulsive therapy
- therapy sessions in
excess of one hour
Contact TRIWEST for additional preauthorization requirements. Marriage counseling is not a TRICARE-covered
benefit. Beneficiaries should seek assistance from installation or community social work services. Inpatient mental
health requirements for non-active duty beneficiaries differ based on the TRICARE coverage option. Check with TRIWEST for
more details at www.triwest.com or www.tricare.osd.mil.
Navy One Source, a FREE military information service for service
members and their families, also provides Service-specific information regarding mental health care support programs. One
Source can be reached by calling (800) 540-4123 24 HOURS A DAY or visit www.navyonesource.com (user name: navy; password:
sailor) for free assistance. This service is available no matter where you live.
Homefront San Diego
One place to call if you are a San Diego military family in need or want to help a military family.
Call 866-424-9467 or Click here
Hot Lines
Battered Women (Shelter)
619-234-3164
Child Abuse Hot Line
858-560-2191
Lawyer Referal Services
619-231-8585
Legal Aid Society
619-262-0896
Naval Hosptial (Emergency)
619-532-8275
Public Assistance Hot Line
619-557-0422
San Diego Police
619-531-2000
San Diego Sherrif's Department
858-565-5200
Staff Duty Officer/OOD (NBSD)
619-556-1246/1247
Center for Community Solutions
Crisis - 858-272-1767
Information - 858-272-5777
Sexual Assault Victim Intervention (SAVI)
Crisis - 619-692-5909
Information - 619-553-4744
EYE Counseling and Crisis (Escondido)
Crisis/Information - 760-747-6281
Women's Resource Center (Ocenaside)
Crisis/Information - 760-757-3500
United Way "Infoline"
Information and Referral
619-230-0997
Victim Witness Assistance Program
619-531-4041
Intervention
Adult Abuse
800-510-2020
Area Agency on Aging
858-495-5885
Family Stress Counseling Services
619-691-1331
Family Advocacy Center
(Spouse Abuse, Child Abuse)
619-556-8809
Social Advocates for Youth (SAY)
858-565-4148
Consumer Information
Better Business Bureau
619-496-2131
CA Dept of Consumer Affairs
800-952-5210
Consumer Credit Counselors
Mision Valley - 619-497-0200
South Bay - 619-498-0600
Internal Revenue Service
800-829-1040
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
AL-Anon, Alateen
619-296-2666
Alocholics Annonymous
619-265-8762
Detoxification/Ineberation Center
619-232-9343
NarAnon Family Group
858-492-8720
Narcotics Annonymous
619-584-1010
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Dept Clinic
Centralized Scheduling - 619-553-0373
Naval Station - 619-556-7633 | 
