ST. PAUL,MN (ANS) -- Base Camp Hope, a new therapeutic facility and drop-in center, is being developed in the Upper Midwest to help Veterans and their families address the growing problem of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

New centers seek to help Veterans with PTSD. (Photo courtesy Base Camp Hope website)

The non-profit organization is taking a faith-based and comprehensive approach to serve those Armed Forces personnel who experienced the life-shattering trauma of war, but now need to adjust to life at home. The organization will provide centers in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul and also in St. Cloud, MN.

The founder and executive director of Base Camp Hope is Diane Kinney, who served in the U.S. Army in the 1970’s, has worked as a minister for Veteran’s organizations and is currently a chaplain with American Legion Post 468.

“I have seen too many Veterans with PSTD whose needs are not being met,” said Kinney. “Base Camp Hope will be a unique response to PSTD because we will integrate spiritual healing along with mental and physical therapies, plus we will be one of the few facilities that addresses the needs of the families of the traumatized Veterans.”

Kinney is in the process of gathering support and raising funds to open Base Camp Hope, a Christ-centered organization. The organization is already being supported by several organizations and individuals, including the DAV Post 2, Karl Anderson, DDS of Sedation Implant in St. Paul, Calvary Church of Roseville and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization.

Kinney is conducting a search for a Director of Psychological Counseling and a Director of Spiritual Counseling, who will join her as part of the leadership team at Base Camp Hope. Their goal is to provide comprehensive treatment for PTSD and thereby enable troubled Veterans to readjust to productive and meaningful lives at home. The facilities will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and will provide a safe place for the Veteran, the spouse, parents or children to come and talk and heal.

Besides her service with the US Military, Kinney worked for the Billy Graham Evangelical Association as a Graphic Designer for Decision Magazine between 1992- 2002, in 1997 helped form Street Level Ministry, and served as chaplain for Patriot Guard of Minnesota in 2007 -2008.

To arrange an interview with Diane Kinney, contact Glen McCluskey at 612-991-6909 or glenlaw@attglobal.net . Photos are available. For more information on Base Camp Hope, go to its Web site at www.basecamphope.org .

** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter