One of our newest member organizations is finally expanding its activities and events in or near the Lehigh Valley with the coming year.  Below is a summary of major known events as provided by Sam Johnson, Captain, USMC, its current President.  Details are being developed and more will be posted at http://keystonewarriors.com/category/events/ or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keystone-Wounded-Warriors/100884426661843 .

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As of 29 January 2012

MR. DiLUZIO OF LVMAC SPEAKS OUT ON VETERANS HOMELESSNESS

 Mr. Pat DiLuzio, Executive Director of Victory House, the area’s only VA recognized homelessness shelter and the new Homelessness Subcommittee Chairman for our Veterans Affairs Committee, addressed the Council at its 18 January 2012 meeting on the subject of homelessness and the plight of our veterans who are a significant proportion of that problem.

He started off with, “Close your eyes and when you think of a homeless person – what comes to mind or what do you see?  Someone sitting on a heating grate; someone with a cup on corner of a busy street asking for food or dollars; children and families; someone in line at a soup kitchen; sadness and sorrow?  These were some of the common answers I’ve heard people who were questioned about homelessness in United States.

“Others were asked, why do you think homelessness exists and what are the causes?  The responses varied, but the top causes in the eyes of the respondents were: alcohol and drug addictions; family break-ups including abusive behavior/family dysfunctions; and physical and mental disabilities.

“But what is really interesting is that when people thought about what came to mind when they [the public] thought about homelessness, no one mentioned the homeless veteran.”

He pointed out only a few years back the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated that 131,000 veterans were homeless on any given night and approximately twice that many experienced homelessness over the course of a year. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates were higher – on any given night, 200,000 veterans are homeless, and 400,000 veterans would experience homelessness during the course of a year.

However, according to the 2011 supplement to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) released 13 December 2011, 67,495 Veterans were homeless in the United States on a single night in January 2011 — a significant reduction [12%] from last year’s single night count of 76,329.  [The HUD-VA initiative seems to be having an impact, especially since the overall homeless count of 664,414 meant barely any reduction in homelessness since 2008.

Unfortunately the devil is in the details.  Only 57% of them were in a sheltered place and about 11% of all homeless are veterans, a disproportionate representation when one considers the general adult male population most likely to be affected would result in about a 1% figure.  Also single veterans are about 50% more likely than non-veterans to have been homeless prior to entering a shelter, meaning their street populations are even more disproportionate.

Paradoxically, veterans are more likely to enter shelter settings from institutional settings; for example, 15% of veterans spend the night in jail or prison, a medical or psychiatric setting or substance abuse treatment center before entering a sheltered setting – compared to only 9% of non–veterans.  Worse, 30% of veterans become homeless after being discharged from rehabilitation facilities, prisons, hospitals or psychiatric facilities.

Mr. DiLuzio confirmed that most veterans are over the age of 31 and single males, but the 9% figure for those between the ages of 18 and 30 was disturbing nonetheless. He also pointed out two-thirds have served our country for at least three years and one-third were stationed in a war zone.

He then said, “Think about this: veterans comprise roughly 10% of the population of persons over 18 in the US; however, they comprised 13% of the homeless population in shelters in 2010 and 16% in the Point in Time Survey.  What does this mean? Perhaps the larger number of veterans identified in the PIT survey suggests a greater likelihood of chronic homelessness among veterans … AND … about 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and living conditions that are overcrowded or substandard housing.

“Veterans are struggling with excessive rent burdens and thus are at increased risk of homelessness. It has been estimated that three times that many veterans are struggling with financial problems like this now according to National Coalition for Homeless.  The extreme shortage of affordable housing, poor living wages, lack of access to affordable health care  – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering medical effects (a disability) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effects and substance abuse disorders, and lack of family and social support networks all compound the problem.

“The latter factor of having a family support system is often overlooked. Generally speaking, if you are a single veteran in poverty, you are at a greater risk of homelessness than our non-veterans living in poverty. However, being part of a family seems to act as preventive against becoming homelessness.  This is why family involvement in treatment of veterans is critical in helping our veteran’s populations.”

After discussing the VA’s new Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF), the Grant and Per Diem Program, HUD-VASH vouchers, and various other federal demonstration and work related programs plus HUD’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP), since ceased, he began to wrap up with these sobering recent observations:

• ­“More homeless veterans are accessing shelter services
• ­“More are between the ages of 18 and 50
• ­“The young veteran (18-30) is twice as more likely to be homeless than the non-veteran
• ­“Based upon the preceding three observations and considering the anticipated number of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, he sees increased numbers of these veterans will need help.
• ­“Even though the VA’s intention is to take care of homeless veterans (VA’s specialized homeless programs served more than 92,000 veterans in 2009, which is highly commendable) this still leaves well over 100,000 more veterans that are homeless who must seek help elsewhere.
• ­“The lack of affordable housing, a very basic problem.

“What is most effective so far that we may consider and what do our homeless veterans need? Some of the most effective programs are:

• ­“Community-based, nonprofit, ‘veterans helping veterans’ groups.  According to research, these may be more successful in helping homeless veterans transition into stable housing than the VA.
• ­“Programs that seem to work feature transitional housing with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves and helping other veterans.
• ­“Also programs that assist veterans with job assessment, training, placement and helping them to sustain employment are important too
• ­“Community coordinated efforts that provide secure housing, nutrition, basic health care, substance abuse treatment and aftercare, personal development and mental health counseling

“In other words, services which enfold themselves around a culture of veterans helping veterans, such as Victory House, Veterans Sanctuary, and LVMAC’s JOVE and HOCVA initiatives.”

Finally, he offered some ideas on how the Council and the public can help end homelessness:

• ­Educate yourself and others about the causes and solutions to homelessness.  This is a key to helping!
• ­Donate goods and services to housing organizations and shelters.
• ­Volunteer your time and ideas to programs in your community that support veterans
• ­Contact your elected officials about what is being done in your community for homeless veterans.
• ­Involve others. If you are not already part of an organization, align yourself with a few other people who are interested in attacking this issue.
• ­… Or you can always make a donation to your local homeless veteran provider.

VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SEEKS INCREASED BUDGET

Our programs are growing, a reflection of the needs of our military-veterans community.  The Veterans Affairs Committee decided in its January meeting to increase its planning budget (commitment budget) for FY 2012 to $45,950, a significant increase over last year’s.  Support requirements have increased, particularly in the area of homelessness (our main focus being employment training programs) and mental health (veteran and family).

A NEW SCHOLARSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR IS NEEDED

 While the Veterans Affairs Committee decided to request the Board raise its scholarship awards total to $6,000 for this coming year, a new chairman is needed to ensure the proper administration and continuance of the program.  Phil Hublitz has done yeoman’s work in establishing the program but now needs to move onto other endeavors.  It is not fair that one individual be saddled for life with responsibility for a committee, especially considering the size of our membership.  The Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman told the Council at its 18 January meeting if one is not found, the program will be suspended and it can blame itself for not providing the requisite support.

If you are interested in being a chairman, please contact Rich Hudzinski at rhudzinski@lvmac.org. The nomination period is open.  The program is well documented and organized and a full committee exists, plus Phil Hubltiz will help bring the new chairman on board. What is lacking currently is the leader.

 OPERATION JOVE

Dave Newton is looking for members to take and review applications and for one more instructor.

Starting on March 7, the Council will again offer a continuing series of free, weekly, one-hour job skills hunting workshops at a location chosen this time in South Bethlehem. The program will address all the techniques necessary to presenting a veteran’s skills, strengths and experiences to the civilian employers.  It will go beyond teaching how to present oneself, preparing a resume, and acing an interview onto developing one of the most important but under-emphasized skills required for finding and securing employment in the modern work world: networking. The instructors and mentors are local businessmen and professionals who are both knowledgeable and experienced in the skills they teach – many of them military veterans also.

About 20% of all veterans 18 to 24 years of age are unemployed and unemployment for those veterans in the Reserves and National Guard has been significantly higher than their compatriots discharged from the Active Duty forces.[1]

While older veterans generally have less unemployment than their non-veteran peers, the same cannot be said for the post-9/11 veteran, the veteran group experiencing the highest unemployment rates.[2] About two-thirds of all veterans of the current war are under the age of 35.[3] Indeed they are 75% more likely to be unemployed than a Vietnam era veteran.

Unemployment is a contributing factor to the impoverishment of over 12% of those veterans ranging in age from 18 to 34, a 100% increase from 2000.[4]  In the Lehigh Valley, the Council estimates suggest the possibility of 20-25% of all veterans who have served since 1990 are unemployed.  Almost 6,000 valley veterans are unemployed, when Lehigh and Northampton Counties are combined — placing both counties in or near the top quartile for veterans unemployment.[5]

 HEALTHCARE in OUR COMMUNITY with the VA (HOCVA)

Eric Johnson updated the Veterans Affairs Committee on the progress of this committee initiative to improve access, quality, and safety in healthcare for veterans through a collaboration of the community medical establishment and the local VA network working in together.

An executive-level meeting between the VA and the major medical establishments in the Lehigh Valley has been scheduled for 20 January at the Allentown VA Clinic. The team assembled includes executives from all the major hospital/healthcare systems in the Valley. Dr. Kloin, Chief of Primary Care Medicine, Allentown Clinic, the de facto Mr. VHA in our area in the absence of the remote Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, and several key staff members from the hospital will meet with them for a first-time ever meeting between the VA and the local medical community to open a dialogue towards improving care using community resources in partnership with the VA..

The first focus group meeting occurred as recently as 9 November. To be this far along, so soon, with the VA willing to meet, speaks volumes.

The cost of the current wars are on pace to rival Vietnam’s.  While Vietnam extracted a far higher death toll — 58,000 compared with 6,300 so far in the war on terror — the number of documented disabilities from recent veterans is approaching the size of that earlier conflict, according to a McClatchy analysis of the Department of Veterans Affairs data.  More than 600,000 veterans have filed for VA disability benefits, and more than 700,000 have been treated in the VA’s medical system.  The VA is getting about 10,000 new Iraq and Afghanistan claims and patients per month.

The VA healthcare system is becoming overwhelmed, frankly.  The VA will need to do more to put words into action in seeking community partners to assist it in meeting the higher demands of these recent veterans in the coming years. Many of the problems cannot be resolved without their doing so. Our timing for this initiative, while ambitious, could not be better.

MILITARY SUPPORT

 The Veterans and Families’ Guide to Recovering from PTSD booklet has been published.  We are waiting on Dick Moore to complete its distribution.  It was revised and updated working with the original author, Stephanie Laite Lanham – the booklet having been used in VA Veterans Centers (of which we have none in the Lehigh Valley).  A locally tailored resource guide for various services, including sources of help, treatment and support, was added. Those families who are interested in a copy ought to contact Dick Moore at lvmacmilsupport@aol.com or by contacting the LVMAC office.

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

After talking with Sen. Browne, a prime sponsor of our legislation, we have reinvigorated our efforts to get this state a proper state-level veterans affairs department and have been having discussions with various key people. The time has come.  Chuck Jackson and the chairman wrote a white paper on the current system and what opportunities are being squandered in properly transitioning or caring for our veterans and passed it onto the Governor’s office back in April, at that office’s request.  We think it raised his awareness, though not the needed actions as of yet.

With the creation of a new 501(c)(3) called the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation, by the official in charge of veterans affairs in this state, the Deputy Adjutant General, for the purpose of receiving and distributing corporate and individual voluntary donations to support veterans needing additional assistance and, more importantly, to those organizations which provide needed services to them (Veterans Sanctuary and the Philadelphia Multiservice Center in this regard),  it should be coming apparent to the veterans organizations and the public the current system operated by the National Guard and State is insufficient to the task.  Otherwise, this man of principle would not be creating a program wholly outside of government to do what he thinks needs doing – we assume properly attending to those who need support and ensuring their successful reintegration into society.

FINALLY!   A NEW COUNTY DIRECTOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

After a marvelous demonstration of foot dragging in a county sorely in need of service officers, Northampton County has selected, through internal hire, a new County Director of Veterans Affairs, a Mr. Freddie Ramirez.  We wish him well as he seeks training to become accredited and hope he leads Northampton County into a fuller understanding of the importance of attending to our returning veterans – beyond forms management.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO THE BLOGSITE AND CALENDAR.

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As of 18 January 2012

Training to Commence 7 March in South Bethlehem

In response to the growing concern over the unemployment rate of returning veterans, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) is once again offering its JOVE (Job One:Veterans Employment) program to veterans willing to invest their time to hone their job-seeking skills. Priority will go to those returning from the recent conflicts, for they are less likely to have the job hunting skills needed.

Call 484-602-JOB1 or 610-349-5856, or send an email to JOVE@lvmac.org if you are interested in enrolling. Applications are being accepted now.

Starting on March 7, the Council’s program will offer a continuing series of free Wednesday night, one-hour training sessions – a complete cycle requiring nine weeks – at a location in South Bethlehem. The program will address all the techniques necessary to presenting a veteran’s skills, strengths and experiences to the civilian employers.  It will go beyond teaching how to present oneself, prepare a resume, or ace an interview to developing one of the most vital but under-emphasized skills required for finding and securing well paying employment in the modern work world: networking. The instructors and mentors will be local businessmen and professionals who are both knowledgeable and experienced in the skills they teach – many of them military veterans.

While older veterans generally experience less unemployment than their non-veteran peers, the same cannot be said for the post-9/11 generation of veterans, which has experienced the highest unemployment rate.[i] They are 75% more likely to be unemployed than Vietnam era veterans; two-thirds of them being under the age of 35.[ii] Lately, about 20% of all veterans 18 to 24 years of age are unemployed and veterans in the Reserves and National Guard are seeing significantly higher unemployment than their compatriots discharged from the Active Duty forces.[iii] Unemployment has contributed to over 12% of veterans in the age range of 18 to 34 being in poverty – a 100% increase since 2000.[iv]  The Council believes it is possible 20-25% of all veterans in the Lehigh Valley who served after 1990 are out of work.  In November 2011, almost 6,000 valley veterans were unemployed, placing Lehigh and Northampton in or near the top quartile of Commonwealth counties.[v]

Consequently, Project JOVE is a concerted effort by the Lehigh Valley’s military veterans community to attack this issue. In addition to conducting the training, the program works with both local employers and government to achieve its aim.

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As of 20 Jan 2012

The Good:  As far as websites go, the new website My Next Move for Veterans, which tries to automatically relate military occupational specialties with civilian careers plus provide advice on the future prospects of those career fields, identify their characteristics,  salaries, educational requirements and apprenticeship programs  — and then even goes further in helping you locate actual job offerings in a state or zip code area –  is a long sought idea come to fruition.

The Department of Labor is to be commended  — though one could hope for the day when military very good re-credentialing sites such as the Army’s and Navy COOL sites and job banks such as My Skills My Future, the Veterans Job Bank, and other state and national job banks are all consolidated seamlessly, so one could ensure he  or she is not missing something if one or the other is overlooked.

The Bad:  The timing could not be better.  Any tool that assists in preparing for and finding jobs is most welcome, for employment opportunities for veterans have been at their lowest in decades in the Lehigh Valley for a variety of reasons, not all related to the availability of jobs themselves  — scarce as the good ones are.  As we previously reported, Senator Casey reported on the number of out-of-work veterans in Pennsylvania in November of last year.  Of local counties in the Lehigh Valley region, Lehigh was the highest with 3,328 unemployed veterans and Northampton had 2,520 unemployed veterans.  Such numbers put the Lehigh and Northampton counties in or near the top quartile of counties with unemployment problems for our veterans.  The unemployment rate for younger veterans has been  particularly acute in recent reports, but the general scene has been sufficiently bad to be worrisome for the first time in memory.

The Ugly:  One cannot say the same for the Department of Labor Veterans Gold Card Program which provides to post-9/11 veterans six months of case management and counseling at career centers (CareerLinks in Pennsylvania).  This joint effort of the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) is simply nothing more than selective re-targeting of effort  — not really a new program at all.  The current war veteran has the emotional draw earlier eras have not had since World War II — especially the younger veteran.

There needs to be a deeper sense of responsibility, considering how the funding is calculated, to all veterans who are unemployed.    The  state labor programs financed through the federal government for veterans need questioning generally and now is the time.  The wider-ranging Jobs for Veterans Act  has been on the books since November 2002 (P.L. 107-288/H.R.4015) and it already required priority of service to veterans when it came to employment, training, and placement services.  Its impact?  Nothing one can really detect in Pennsylvania, for example.  It needs full resuscitation, not just for a select few.

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RJH

16 January 2012

On 1 December 2011, we reported on  the tax incentives for employers of P.L. 112-56, signed into law on 21 November 2011, as it seemed at the time the most significant part of the act and had grabbed all the attention, but what about the other major provisions?  Below are five of possible individual interest:

1.  Makes the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for the first time mandatory for service members leaving active duty within a year of enactment of the act.  In addition to requiring other agencies to cooperate with the Department of Labor, it places an additional requirement on the Department of Defense to conduct and provide to the Department of Labor individualized assessment for each departing service member of those “civilian positions available through military experiences.”

2.  Allows service members to formally apply for federal employment (an appointment to a  position) up to 120 days prior to discharge in an effort expedite  transition.

3.  Provides for enhancing a previous efforts on licensing and credentialing standards intended to match civilian jobs with military skills by way of a demonstration project.  [This provision seems partly fuddled or behind the times in light of the requirement in item 1.]

4.  Provides on 1 June 2012 disabled veterans with up to one year of additional VA vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits if the individual has exhausted his/her rights to unemployment benefits under state law.

5.  Provides up to 100,000 veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 with up to one year of additional Montgomery GI Bill benefits after 1 July 2012 for the purpose of “retraining” with the following additional conditions:

a.  You must be a fulltime student
b.  Courses are conducted at a community college or technical school
c.  Training leads to an associate degree or a certificate (or other similar evidence of the completion of the program of education or training)
d. Training is for a high-demand occupation, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor Statistics

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As of 16 January 2012

]]> http://lvmac.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/lvmac-tidbits-30/feed/ 0 lvmac http://lvmac.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/lvmac-tidbits-29/ http://lvmac.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/lvmac-tidbits-29/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:57:11 +0000 LVMAC http://lvmac.wordpress.com/?p=1637 ]]> Employers Now Can Now Receive Expanded Tax Credits for Hiring Veterans

On 21 November, the President signed new legislation, a portion of which continued and expanded tax breaks to employers who hire veterans.  H.R. 674 became Public Law 112-56 and Title II within it, the section which applies to veterans, is known as the “VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.”

While the bill directs certain federal departments to reform or improve veterans retraining and placement,  includes improvements to  Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and directs improvements in the somewhat infamous Transition Assistance Program (TAP) — among  other items of interest  — what seems to be grabbing the attention has been a small section on new tax credits found under “Other Matters.”

In a previous Recovery Act,  employers who hired certain unemployed veterans were eligible for a tax credit of up to 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages, for a maximum credit of $2,400. However, this credit expired at the end of 2010. Under the new law,  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 51 and 52),  two new tax credits have been put in place  in addition to ostensibly simplifying certification:

1.  The Returning Heroes Tax Credit which provides an incentive for businesses to hire unemployed veterans as follows  [Despite the corny name, it does not matter if they are veterans of the current war.]:

• For the  short-term unemployed, a credit of 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks.
• For the  long-term unemployed, a credit of 40 percent of the first $14,000 of wages (up to $5,600) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months.

2.  The Wounded Warrior Tax Credit which will double the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities.

• For the  short-term unemployed and disabled, maintains the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit for veterans with service-connected disabilities (currently the maximum is $4,800).
• For the long-term unemployed and disabled, adds a new credit of 40 percent of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed longer than 6 months.

The Act also  allows tax-exempt organizations to claim the lesser of the amount of the work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans or the amount of the payroll taxes paid by such organizations during the calendar year, extending  through 2012 such credit with respect to such veterans.  Finally, it provides a credit against payroll taxes for their employing such veterans.

For more details and other provisions, go to:

• http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/21/fact-sheet-returning-heroes-and-wounded-warrior-tax-credits
• http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-674&tab=summary  [Use the XML version of Thomas.gov cited for full details.]

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RJH
As of 30 November 2011

CLYDE HOCH SPEAKS TO THE COUNCIL

Clyde Hoch, author of Tracks – Memoirs of a Vietnam Veteran, spoke to the Council on his service in the Marine Corps, his remembrances of war and his return home.

First off, he expressed his appreciation to the Council for their concern for veterans as he thinks too often veterans “are tossed aside” once they have played their role in the defense of the nation.

Now in his sixties, he believes he has a story to tell – as many other veterans do also – which can help the young understand that sometimes great sacrifices are made on their behalf, that millions of men and women before them have left their loving families to do whatever is necessary to protect our way of life. Nor does it matter they ultimately served as cooks or infantry, for the deed was in the willingness to sacrifice for others even when those “others” often little understood or cared for the service members during the Vietnam era.

As result, with the help of his daughter he wrote book and now is active in going to schools, such as Liberty High School, to speak.

Originally from Pennsburg, he entered the Marine Corps as a volunteer in 1965.  Mr. Hoch recounted his boot camp experiences and training as an M48 tank driver.  After two tours with the Mediterranean fleet and after two years, he finally arrived in 1968 in Vietnam for a thirteen month tour to do what he had signed up to do. He was in C Company, 1^st Tank Battalion, First Marine Division.  As it also happens, he showed up during one of the most intense periods of the war, the NVA Tet Offensive, when the NVA lost about one-third of its capability.  He operated in the Marble Mountains south of Da Nang and survived several firefights and a mine explosion to his tank, rising to the rank of Sergeant and the position of tank team leader. In one operation he rescued injured Korean Marines during an assault.

When he returned home as a “man grown up”, he experienced many of the same readjustment issues our current generation of soldiers and marines do, but in a lot less supportive society.  Nevertheless, he has gone on to live a productive and useful life and raised a family.

For those who would like to learn more, click here.

OPERATION JOVE

Dave Newton and his employment steering committee are now meeting regularly Wednesday nights.  There is discussion of starting in February at a place to be determined.  We have a long way to go to get ready and are just firming up our marketing plans.  This time we will also work at developing connections to potential jobs in addition to developing the job hunting and networking skills so needed nowadays.

Our concern in this area is justified.  On 9 November, Senator Casey reported on the number of out-of-work veterans in Pennsylvania.  Of local counties in the Lehigh Valley region, Lehigh is the highest with 3,328 unemployed veterans, or 13.4 per cent of the county’s veterans. Northampton has 2,520 unemployed veterans or 10.6 per cent.  This is in comparison with Berks which had 7.2 per cent and, surprisingly, Carbon which had 8.5 per cent veterans unemployed. Such numbers put the Lehigh and Northampton counties in the top quartile (if not higher) of counties with unemployment problems for our veterans.

HOMELESSNESS

Pat DiLuzio, our Homelessness Subcommittee Chair, is busy with helping set up the ArtsQuest “Salute to the Troops” event on 20 November. Organizations interested in having a display table should have contacted him by now.

The Veterans Affairs Committee will be developing a new homelessness business plan as previously reported.  We still await Wilkes-Barre’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for Veterans.

Why is this important to be concerned about?  On 10 November, in his role as chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Casey also made a statement about impoverished veterans nationwide.  His staff found 12.4 per cent of post-9/11 veterans live in poverty.  For younger veterans between 18 and 24 are, it is an astonishing 21.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, the VA is making an initial stab at preventing homelessness by encouraging family, friends and citizens in the community to “Make the Call” and help prevent and end homelessness among veterans. Since March 2010, VA has offered a toll-free telephone number, staffed around the clock by trained professionals, to help homeless veterans, their families and at-risk people.  The number is 877-4AID-VET (or 877-424-3838).

HEALTHCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE VA (HOCVA)

Eric Johnson, our new Healthcare Subcommittee chief, conducted a healthcare focus group session on 9 November.  It went well, though attendance could have been better.  About half the hospitals were there.  The goal is to get the community to work with and complement the VA and any other government healthcare service provider working with veterans.  Laying aside competition between organizations for business for the betterment of returning veterans was one theme emphasized. It became apparent in the initial session that more professional of awareness of veterans and their service period related maladies.  One suggestion that surfaced of immediate benefit as we go forward is for each hospital system to have a champion or liaison officer.

The Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, Rich Hudzinski, will be discussing with Eric Johnson his progress since the meeting.  There is a need to do some survey work, especially with those who did not attend; and follow-up planning is required. He is looking to scheduling a meeting with the local VA as one of the next steps.

As a footnote, there was a lot of discussion on mental health lately.  The situation seems to be worsening. According to a recent Center for a New American Security Suicide report, “America is losing its battle against suicide by veterans and service members.”  One veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes or 18 per day. Military suicides have also been rise since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and it can no longer be maintained that war service has little to do with the problem.  In the fiscal year 2009 alone, 1,868 veterans of these wars have made suicide attempts, according to the Army Times.

However, it should be also be noted that the VA relies on a limited statistical database to make its analysis because currently only 16 states submit the cause of death among veterans and the VA relies on 3-year-old data for its reports. Improved information collection could help determine if veterans are committing suicide soon after leaving the military and if there’s a higher risk among post-9/11 veterans compared with earlier generations, the study noted.  To say the least, we do not have a good handle on the situation.  More than 1-800-273-TALK is needed as a countermeasure.  Sturdier efforts within and between Department of Defense and the VA are required as the report points out [and the need to use community resources in “Reserve Component” communities.]

PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY FISHING

Phil Hublitz and Trout Unlimited-Hokendauqua are fleshing out their schedule for next year.  The business plan has been updated.  Looks like there will be: 1)  a fly tying course starting 28 March; 2)   two major local events, one on 5 May and another on 6 October; and 3) a camping trip 20-22 June.  LVMAC will once again reserve funds to support these activities, based upon their input.

VETERANS SANCTUARY

Veterans Sanctuary rolls along.  They are working to expand their referral base with the VA, the Veterans Courts, and the Department of Corrections.

On 10 November, it had a meeting with VISN-4’s Director, the organization which is responsible for the network of VA hospitals in Pennsylvania.  The possibility of a working, contractual relationship with them emerged.  The possibility of fee-basis work is real and also a pilot project, as it provides services that are not within the VA system of care.  Meanwhile, it will be meeting with the Department of Corrections to establish referrals of veterans to Veterans Sanctuary instead of sending them under the existing contract to Keenan House.

Meanwhile, in our opinion the total dependence on government for this sort of venture limits the good this concept can do in treating those who do not qualify for VA assistance or wish to use its services [This is not a statement about the quality of VA services, but rather a recognition that one size does not fit all.].  Major sponsorships are still needed.

LVMAC will be attending Veterans Sanctuary’s Veterans Planning Committee in early December.

MILITARY SUPPORT

Half the order for “family PTSD Booklet” has been completed and the balance should soon arrive. The Veterans Affairs Committee chairman has asked Dick Moore, the subcommittee chair for military support activities, to provide his distribution scheme for ensuring this product gets into the hands of local families [this project is about providing families in a “Reserve Land” environment with an understanding of PTSD and available local resources – crisis intervention, counseling and support. It is not about educating the service members.] We want to place a booklet in the hand of every affected family, whether that service member is married or single.

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

Chuck Jackson and Rich Hudzinski met with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) on 3 November about the State Department of Veterans Affairs legislation which LVMAC had proposed.  DMVA elected to take no action in recommending separation of its Office of Veterans Affairs to the new Governor – nor did it reveal any actions for improving its generally subpar performance as a veterans affairs activity.  We have a meeting scheduled with Senator Browne on what can be done regarding state department of veterans affairs legislation on 28 November.

It was recently reported Michigan has been ranked as the worst state in the union for veterans benefits.  The irony is that DMVA and some veterans organizations misguidedly used this state as a model for how it fields claims officers.  Our state performs nearly as badly.  We see a larger role, however, for state veterans affairs — one that extends into assisting in the  veterans back into civilian life and recovering those who have fallen along the way.  Ironically, the Commonwealth has chosen to create a Department of Drug and Addiction Programs to bring focus, efficiency, and accountability to the effort in helping recover addicts, but when it comes to its veterans, unlike in the majority of other states, the Commonwealth cannot see its way clear to a better system [at relatively little increased cost and with a huge return on investment for its sons and daughters and communities].

DOD/VA NEWS:

COLA INCREASE:  The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 (S. 894) was signed by the President on 9 November. It will result in a 3.6% increase or cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for those receiving service-connected disability compensation and those survivors receiving dependency indemnity compensation. It will take effect on December 1, 201.  This increase matches the increases granted to Social Security recipients.  This marks the first increase in two years. For more about the COLA increase and how it applies to those still in the military, click here.

The Congressional Impasse May Have Negative Effects on Our Servicemembers:  According to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) these are the current three “scare-worthy” issues:  1) straightening out the Medicare/TRICARE Payment cuts mess Congress promotes yearly; 2)  the Super Committee failing to arrive at a satisfactory compromise plan for budget cuts will impact on health and welfare of the military community (it’s not all about weapons projects) and could hollow out our military; and 3) the failing to pass a Defense Bill for the first time in decades will cause a major disruption of vital programs and important retention bonuses.  For more information, see MOAA’s Legislative Update of 28 October 2011.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO THE BLOGSITE AND CALENDAR.

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16 November 2011

First Generation Visual Communication in Allentown “gets it.”  While it is important to support our troops when deployed, it is also important to support them as veterans when they return home and are most likely to be forgotten.  First Generation realizes it takes the  “whole village” to do this.  Not only must federal, state and county governments do their part on our behalf, but in times of war our community must make a special effort to ensure those local nonprofits effectively helping the local military veteran community are supported as well.  One cannot afford the opinion of one former state legislator who stated helping veterans is the federal government’s responsibility alone.

And while it is good to donate to the various national-level agencies and organizations  — one can only admire their support to Department’s of Defense and Veterans Affairs hospitals  — most do not have nearly the local focus we often need.   Unfortunately, this is also not widely understood locally; and gaps in support occur, consequently.

Therefore, it is good to see another business step forward.  Through its “Twelve Weeks of Christmas” campaign,  First Generation is  contributing to some of the  most active, local organizations serving the Lehigh Valley’s military veterans and their families.  In addition to LVMAC,   member organizations such as Victory House, Veterans Sanctuary, and Keystone Wounded Warriors are also benefiting.

We expect more organizations will be surprised by this company’s wisdom and generosity.  Kudos to the team at First Generation.  They provide another good example for the rest of the local business community.

For more about First Generation’s Twelve Weeks of Christmas campaign and those it has helped,  click here.

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As of 15 November 2011

For 2012, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase will be 3.6% for most military retirees, for military survivor benefit plan and social security recipients, and for those drawing VA compensation (to include DIC) – a welcomed increase after two years without one.  The President signed the last of the necessary legislation on 9 November — the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 (S. 894).  This dispels a local rumor that spouses and children receiving dependency indemnity compensation (DIC) would be forgotten.

The 3.6% adjustment will become effective 1 December 2011 and will be received beginning with the January 2012 retired pay, Survivor Benefit Plan, Veterans Administration, and Social Security payments (note: to be received 30 December 2011 this year by military retirees).

However, there are two groups of military retirees who will not see a full COLA increase:

1. Those who entered service on or after Aug. 1, 1986 and chose the REDUX retirement plan.  The REDUX plan gave a $30,000 Career Status Bonus at 15 years of service.  In return for the bonus, those servicemembers agreed to accept reduced retired pay and also a reduced COLA (1% below the normal COLA rate).  They will see a 2.6% COLA.
2. Those who retired after the first calendar quarter of 2011.  Because they are considered to have already benefited from the active duty pay increase of 1.4%  in January 2011, their COLA will be adjusted based upon the quarter in which they retired as follows:

a. Those who retired in the first quarter (January-March) will receive the full 3.6%,

b. Those who retired in the second quarter (April-June) will receive 2.4%,

c. Those who retired in the third quarter (July-September) will receive only 0.4%, and

d. Those who retire(d) in the fourth quarter (1 October and after) will see no increase at all this year.

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As of 12 November 2011

VISN-4′s  (the next higher organization to our Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center) Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)  in Philadelphia is conducting a funded study to understand how war-related psychiatric symptoms may interfere with family reintegration and functioning.   The obvious is not apparent to them.  Nevertheless, there are benefits to such a study.  The means to improving care in the VA is most often  lead through documented study.  The VA has been known to be  loath to move without one.   The benefit we see?  … another step towards a more family-oriented VA.   Therefore, you can help by participating.

The center is now in the process of calling for volunteers to participate.  The focus of the proposed study is military veterans returning from OEF/OIF and their spouses or intimate partners.  It is proposing  to recruit 270 couples (married/living as married), with one partner being an OEF/OIF veteran, from various sources.

If interested in participating,  click here for the informational flyer.

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As of 10 November 2011