LVMAC Tidbits — Veterans Sanctuary: Closed Up for Good?

Treatment Trends Announces Suspension of Operations

It is with profound dismay that the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council informs you of Veterans Sanctuary’s suspension of operations. It was our only local, long-term residential addiction and PTSD services treatment facility exclusively dedicated to military veterans. This important asset to our veterans statewide is no longer accepting clients.

LVMAC Tidibits — Fly Fishing Event

Register for the Latest Lehigh Valley PHWFFI Event

Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua and its partner, LVMAC, are again sponsoring a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Outing.  It is scheduled for May 5th 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bob Saks’ Pond (a private pond).  Donuts and coffee, full picnic lunch and all fishing  materials and equipment will be provided. . Instruction will be provided on fly casting, fly tying and fishing.  For additional details: click here. Previous participants have caught an average of between 5 and 10 trout each. It is limited to the first twenty veterans who preregister.  Alternatively, call 610-924-5481 to preregister.  Final registration and waivers will be required to be signed on site.

###

As of 27 March 2012

Forward Observer

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Veterans Employment

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.

LVMAC Tidbits — VOW … Act, More Details

More on the VOW  to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (H.R. 674)

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:

LVMAC Tidbits

Judith’s Reading Room Helps Veterans Sanctuary

As an extension of one of its ongoing efforts, which is support our troops with books to read,  Judith’s Reading Room is donating to Veterans Sanctuary a custom designed mobile library stocked with books hand picked to help in the recovery of veterans suffering from a dual diagnosis such as PTSD and an addiction.  The Veterans Sanctuary, a division of Treatment Trends, Inc.,  is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.   The dedication ceremony will be held in the auditorium of Veterans Sanctuary at 24 South 5th St., Allentown, PA at 6 p.m.

For the press release, click here.

###

As of 18 Ocotober 2011

LVMAC Tidbits

Trout Unlimited – Hokendauqua Is Having Another Event for Injured Veterans

Trout Unlimited’s Hokendauqua has arranged for its third Project Healing Water Fly Fishing event of the season to occur on 8 October just upstream of the Robin Hood Dell bridge in Little Lehigh Park.  Rain date is 9 October.  This special program is for the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

The stream will be stocked for the event.  Fishing gear, beverages, food, and seating will be provided at no cost.  However, pre-registration is required and a signed waiver is also required before fishing.  For more details and to pre-register, click here.

###

As of 10 September 2011

LVMAC Tidbits

Reminder: Veterans Sanctuary is now open for business

Veterans Sanctuary is accepting referrals as of  July 11, 2011.  Veterans Sanctuary offers moderate to long term (Level 3B – 3C) inpatient – non- hospital treatment for addiction and co-occurring disorders (including PTSD) for male and female Veterans.

For admission or referral information to Veterans Sanctuary please contact Diane Hopkins at 610 – 439 – 8479.

###

As of 11 July 2011

LVMAC Tidbits

Veterans Sanctuary is now open for business.

If you have not heard, as 19 May 2011, Veterans Sanctuary — a new drug, alcohol, and PTSD therapeutic community treatment program for Pennsylvania’s veterans and located in the newly renovated building at 24 S. Fifth St., Allentown –  cleared the last licensing and approval hurdle: it received its MA number from the Department of Public Welfare.  While formal, standing Commonwealth state and county treatment contracts still be laid in, clients now at least be accepted on a fee or nonPAR basis beginning 11 July.

For more information about Veterans Sanctuary, see http://www.treatmenttrends.org/Vets.html  or their Facebook link http://www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-Sanctuary/100709726673541 .

###

As of 20 May 2011, updated 10 June 2011

LVMAC News

Speaker:  Mr. Stephen Lew, the Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program’s Advocate (contractor) for our region spoke to the Council at its 18 May meeting, explaining the program and his role within it.

Not to be confused with the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization, AW2  is “the official Army program that serves the severely wounded, ill, and injured soldiers, veterans, and their families, wherever located and for as long as it takes” – even a lifetime if necessary. It was created in 2004 as part Army Medical Command’s response to a critical need to transform outpatient care and services.

LVMAC Tidbits

Eyeglasses – Another change but an old one

The Veterans Health Administration hospital networks gives eye examinations and provides eyeglasses (and hearing aids) to veterans