About Our House

Our House is an organization of committed professionals, staff and volunteers offering tools and guidance, "helping veterans sculpt their today for better tomorrows".


What sets Our House apart from other programs, and will ensure continuing success for the veterans, lies within objective measurements of the paradigm encompassing the whole person and their worldly environment.


Objective measurements will be taken by qualified individuals on predetermined time schedules, such as:


  • The pervasiveness of violence and its cessation
  • Sustainability of healthy relationships with spouses, children, family and community
  • Cessation of Hypervigilence
  • Finding and Maintaining of gainful employment

The "Our House" Foundation, founded by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rita Spilken, has been in existence since 2004. Quickly after it's founding it became a 501C-3 non-profit organization. At that time Dr. Spilken was keenly aware there would soon be a human tsunami of returning military personnel heading our way as Our Country's involvement in Operations Enduring Freedom and Operations Iraqi Freedom continued. Board members and volunteers have worked slowly and surely toward the ultimate goal of building a Model Transitional Community, a center for excellence, in Springfield, Missouri. There is no better place, being in close proximity to the big thriving metropolises of St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City, that is such a natural fit as Springfield, located in the heart of the Ozarks.


In 2007-2008, phone calls from veterans and their families in crisis began to increase, reflecting the effect of the nation's economic decline, even before it was acknowledged by the news media. In early 2007, Dr. Spilken and Janet Dooley met with Dr. Roger Cady and some of his colleagues. Dr. Cady is a well-known and respected researcher. The reason for this consultation was to inquire about the feasibility of collaborating with these doctors on a research protocol benefiting veterans who have been exposed to long periods of stress and trauma. Data is needed in writing grants for our veterans programs.


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