In General, we are a regionally-focused organization (Lehigh and Northampton Counties) that …
- Studies regional veterans and military service member issues and problems and seeks solutions.
- Promotes awareness of our military history and of the local veterans and military scene and its issues.
- Works with and assists others when their programs benefit military service members and veterans.
- Organizes or helps organize needed programs, when they do not exist.
- Facilitates networking and coordination of the public and private sectors to improve veterans’ and military services.
- Advocates for meaningful veterans and military legislation having an impact regionally.
In Other Words: Awareness, assistance and advocacy for our local military-veteran family.
A Summary of Some of Our Efforts
- Armed Forces Week Celebrations: A program of events to increase public understanding of the role of the military in a democratic society as well as to honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States. The events list includes a major, community-lead parade in Bethlehem; followed by a banquet honoring those who have and are serving in Allentown.
- Speakers Program: A program designed to assist Lehigh Valley communities in locating speakers conversant on military and veterans’ topics of interest with the object of developing better understanding of the role, sacrifices, and needs of the military and veterans’ community.
- Unit Welfare Program: A program to provide support our local military units and those deployed servicemembers from the Lehigh Valley. The intent is to involve the community in supporting their military community and recognizing the need for such support. Efforts include working with member organizations for care package efforts, providing phone cards to units, supporting deployment and homecoming ceremonies, and contributing to unit welfare funds.
- Scholarship Program: A program to support our local troops and their families by alleviating some of the extra financial burden that these families endure during their loved ones’ deployment, and to encourage military service. See the LVMAC Scholarship Brochure for 2011 .
- Clinic Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN) Program: A program to ensure that Lehigh Valley veterans seeking VA clinical and hospital medical services have adequate, prompt, and reliable transportation for medical services at the distant Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center (and occasionally other VAMC’s), when they cannot rely on private or public transportation. To date, LVMAC and its members have contributed both the funding and drivers for two volunteer-driven vans at the Allentown VA Outpatient Clinic, which had none previously despite its being one of the busiest outpatient clinics.
- Veterans Awareness Information Program: A program to raise the awareness of our Lehigh Valley veterans, their families, and others of the benefits, entitlements, and available services in the local community useful to veterans and their families using any available communications means. Currently working with the Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley on their Valley Wide Helpline to improve the information for veterans, local military, and their families. See also RESOURCES on this site.
- Veterans Mental Health Treatment Program: After analyzing the current situation in military and veteran mental health, LVMAC has pursued a full-fledged VA Veterans Center in the Lehigh Valley working with our U.S. legislators. In addition it has worked with one of its member organizations to establish a treatment facility to treat dual occurring diagnoses (PTSD, TBI, alcohol or drug addiction, or a combination of these) in a local, residential, therapeutic setting.
- Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing: A program based upon Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. model but also intended to provide outreach to any veteran in need. See the LVMAC PHWFF Brochure .
- Veterans Homeless Program: A program to bring Lehigh Valley veterans homeless services up to Philadelphia standards of assistance (example: Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Services and Education Center, which includes high, direct VA involvement from two VA hospitals). Through partnering we are trying to ensure the local community programs do not overlook the VA’s services available to homeless veterans and vice versa. We support a local network of organizations that when put together provide a continuum of care locally. These include Victory House, the only VA supported provider of veterans homeless services in the valley, the Lehigh County Conference of Churches, which provides a major portion of the outreach efforts in the valley, and Treatment Trends (referred to under Veterans Mental Health Services). We also participate on Allentown’s Commission to End Chronic Homelessness (a HUD-based concept).
- Homes Visitation Program: A program that works with member organizations and non-member organizations to increase the number of personal care and nursing homes visited, the number visits per year for the purposes of improving the quality of life of veterans in residence and of increasing the community’s awareness of their veterans and their contributions to our society.
- Legislative Affairs Program: A program to promote through education and studies responsible, useful legislation and regulations – whether local, state, or federal – intended to improve the welfare of the Lehigh Valley veteran and military population.
As an example, after conducting a study on a portion of the existing system and the poor utilization of veterans’ benefits in the Lehigh Valley, LVMAC has briefed its local state legislative representatives and strongly advocated for the creation of a cabinet-level secretary in charge of an independent state department of veterans affairs. The current arrangement places veterans affairs under the military and under a deputy, unlike in most other states. It has assisted in the writing of legislation to assist the state’s legislative prime sponsors, coordinating its efforts with those of other veterans service organizations.
- Military Family Support Program: The purpose of this new program is to assist families of deployed and returning military service members from the Lehigh Valley in dealing with issues associated with deployment and ultimately redeployment home. Current efforts are focused on locally accessible family activities and education of families and extended families on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how to deal with it.
- Veterans Employment Program: A new program to assist veterans in finding local employment. Its particular focus is on the needs of the average, returning young ex-servicemember. The program will involve individual assessment and job plans, re-credentialing, developing job seeking skills, using networks of contacts and employers, Internet tools, interaction with other organizations and agencies involved in employment, education, healthcare, and financial assistance; and referral for continuing education as needed. See the brochure for more more details. Program is being revised.
