The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness announced the kick-off of inTransition, a new program designed to offer service members currently receiving mental health treatment a bridge of support between health care providers should they transfer to a new location or separate from active service.

The program may be accessed by service members or referring mental health providers by calling toll-free 1-800-424-7877 (continental United States including Alaska and Hawaii); 1-800- 424-4685 (outside the United States). Individuals outside the U.S. may also call collect 1-314-387-4700.

Once contact is made, the service member will be assigned a Transition Support Coach. These coaches are licensed, master's-level behavioral health clinicians specially trained and skilled in understanding today's military culture. They understand and respect the importance of service member privacy, and will provide one-on-one coaching with the service member via telephone until the transition to the new mental health provider is complete.

Transition Support Coaches will offer support through motivational consultation and action planning. They will provide detailed informa- tion on how to successfully change providers, assist with referrals, and follow-up with new providers to ensure continuity of care. They will also offer crisis intervention to those who need it, and provide information on local community resources, support groups, and other resources specifically tailored to the service member's new duty station or location. In particular, coaches will have the knowledge to assist service members transitioning mental health care from the Military Health System to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

For more information, please visit the inTransition web site at: www.health.mil/ inTransition.

America's Military Health System is a unique partnership of medical educators, medical researchers, healthcare providers and all support personnel worldwide. This DoD enterprise consists of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; the medical departments of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Combatant Command surgeons; and TRICARE providers (including private sector health care providers, hospitals and pharmacies).