Veterans
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Air Force Airman Alejandro M. Valenzuela Jr. graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Valenzuela is the son of Rosa Valenzuela of Kelseyville.
He is a 2011 graduate of Clear Lake High School, Lakeport.
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California receives more grant funds from U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) than any other state in the nation to help address the issue of veteran homelessness.
The state got nearly $16 million, about 25 percent of the grant money going to local public housing agencies across the country.
Florida was the second highest state with about $6 million, followed by Texas with about $5 million.
The supportive housing assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by USDVA.
Since 2008, a total of 48,385 vouchers have been awarded and 42,557 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes because of HUD-VASH.
“Caring for veterans who served and sacrificed to secure and preserve the freedoms we enjoy is our duty as a nation,” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “Providing the basic necessity of shelter is the very least we can do to ensure veterans live with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
HUD-VASH is a critical part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to end Veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015.
Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local communities to confront the root causes of homelessness, especially among former servicemen and women.
HUD’s annual “point in time” estimate of the number of homeless persons and families for 2012 found that veteran homelessness fell by 7.2 percent (or 4,876 people) since January 2011 and by 17.2 percent since January 2009. On a single night in January 2012, 62,619 veterans were homeless nationwide.
The grants announced yesterday are part of $75 million appropriated this year to support the housing needs of homeless veterans.
Local public housing authorities provide rental assistance to homeless veterans while nearby VA Medical Centers (VAMC) offer supportive services and case management.
This is the first round of the 2013 HUD-VASH funding. HUD expects to announce more HUD-VASH funding this summer.
Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.
VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.
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In partnership with Walmart and the VetFund Foundation, CalVet will host the Women Veterans Leadership Conference Sept. 25-27 at the Mission Valley Marriot Hotel in San Diego.
Online conference registration is now available at http://www.calvet.ca.gov/Women/Conference.aspx .
The Women Veterans Leadership Conference will provide information and resources that encourage and empower women veterans to become self-sufficient, active members of their communities.
Conference participants will learn how to start a business or nonprofit organization and how to become a community leader, activist or volunteer.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about their veteran’s benefits, enroll in health care, file disability claims and speak with employers, college representatives, and veteran service organizations at more than 40 information tables.
The conference also will include an evening reception to honor exemplary women veterans. Award nominations will be available to submit from May 21 until July 19 for the Woman Veteran Leader of the Year Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Volunteer Award.
Nomination forms may be downloaded at www.calvet.ca.gov/women/Conference.aspx .
The honorary co-chairs of the Conference are California Assembly Majority Leader, Assemblymember Toni Atkins and Assemblymember Rocky Chávez.
Assemblymember Chávez serves as Vice Chair of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee and Assemblymember Atkins serves as a member of the Committee.
The conference is made possible by private donations made through the VetFund Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation that promotes the interests and raises money in support of California veterans and active duty service members as well as assisting selected programs and services of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
For more information, please email
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The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the progress made to date on initiatives called for in President Obama’s Aug. 31, 2012, Executive Order to Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and their families.
“We have made strong progress to expand veterans’ access to quality mental health services, and President Obama has challenged us to do even more,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Our ongoing, joint efforts reflect our commitment to the health and well-being of the men and women who have served the nation.”
“One of the great challenges we face as a nation is how to provide quality, accessible, long term, mental health care for service members, veterans and their families. Using the combined resources and expertise from across the government we are advancing services for those who have sacrificed so much for our nation,” said Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
President Obama’s Executive Order directed VA, DoD, and HHS, in coordination with other federal agencies, to take a number of steps to ensure that veterans, service members, and their families receive the mental health services and support they need.
“There’s no more important work than taking care of those who protect our nation,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “By working together, we can make sure our service men and women, our veterans, and their families have the behavioral health services they need to build healthy and fulfilling lives.”
The departments released an interim report, found here, outlining progress on this initiative, including:
- Increasing the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line by 50 percent to help ensure that Veterans in crisis can readily reach help.
- Establishing 15 pilot projects in seven states where VA is working with community-based mental health providers to help Veterans access mental health services in a timely way.
- Increasing VA mental health services capacity through VA hiring of nearly 1,400 mental health providers and 248 new peer specialists.
- Implementing a national suicide prevention campaign to connect veterans and service members to mental health services.
The departments are actively working on additional deliverables called for in the executive order, including the development of a National Research Action Plan.
Federal department actions to date include:
Suicide prevention: VA and DoD jointly developed and are implementing a national suicide prevention campaign to connect veterans and service members to mental health services. This year-long effort began Sep. 1, 2012. The program continues to save lives and link veterans with effective ongoing mental health services on a daily basis.
As of March 2013, the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, press 1) has received over 814,000 calls, over 94,000 chats, as well as over 7,200 texts, and has helped more than 28,000 veterans in imminent danger. VA has also completed the hiring and training of additional staff to increase the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line that were called for in the executive order.
In addition, the DoD has initiated a thorough review of its mental health and substance abuse prevention, education and outreach programs informed by the expertise of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Enhanced partnerships between the VA and community providers: VA worked with HHS to help identify potential local community resources to improve veterans access to mental health services. VA has enhanced access to mental health care by establishing 15 VA pilot agreements with clinics in local communities to improve access to mental health service.
Expanded VA mental health staffing: As of May 7, 2013, VA has hired a total of 1,360 mental health clinical providers towards the goal of 1,600 new mental health professionals outlined in the executive order. Additionally, VA has hired 2,036 mental health clinical providers to fill existing vacancies.
VA has also hired nearly 250 new peer specialists in support of the specific goal of 800 peer specialists outlined in the Executive Order. The interim report indicated that as of Jan. 29, 2013, VA had hired 1,058 mental health clinical providers in support of the specific goal of 1,600 mental health professionals, and over 100 peer specialists in support of the specific goal of 800 peer specialists.
Improved research and development: The development of a National Research Action Plan to better understand and develop treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and co-occurring conditions; and identify strategies to support collaborative research efforts to address suicide prevention is underway.
VA, DoD and HHS and the Department of Education have collaborated and submitted the plan on time. DoD and VA are investing more than $100 million in new research to improve diagnosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They have launched two initiatives to establish joint DoD/VA research consortia with academia and industry partnerships to study the chronic effects of mild TBI and PTSD.
Working together, the departments will continue to expand the public health approach to providing optimal support for the mental health needs of veterans, service members and their families. They also will continue to provide updates on their work as it progresses.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and The American Legion announced a new partnership to help reduce the compensation claims backlog for veterans.
The effort – the Fully Developed Claims (FDC) Community of Practice – is a key part of VA’s overall transformation plan to end the backlog in 2015 and process claims within 125 days at 98 percent accuracy. VA can process FDCs in half the time it takes for a traditionally filed claim.
“VA prides itself on our ongoing partnership with organizations that represent veterans throughout the claims process,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “A Fully Developed Claim is the most effective way to ensure a veteran’s claim never reaches the backlog – and is the basis for this new initiative between VA and what we expect will be an ever-increasing number of veterans service organizations (VSOs) and others who represent veterans at various points of the claims process. ”
“This new initiative takes a common-sense approach to working smarter to better serve our injured and ill Veterans,” said DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director Barry Jesinoski “DAV is pleased to be working with the VA to help improve the disability compensation system.”
“We have been working with VA since last December on its fully developed claims process,” said James E. Koutz, national commander of The American Legion. “Teams of our experts have already gone to VA regional offices in Denver, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and other cities to help identify best practices for FDCs, and to further train our own service officers.”
Koutz said the Legion’s next visit in support of the FDC program is planned for June at the VA regional office in Reno, Nev.
Claims are considered to be “fully developed” when veterans submit all available supporting evidence, like private treatment records and notice of federal treatment records, to VA at the time they first file a formal claim and certify they have no more evidence to submit.
This is the information that VA needs to make a determination on a disability claim. The FDC program supports the sharing of best practices across veterans service organizations, who help thousands of veterans each year with their compensation claims, to identify up front all evidence necessary to support a veteran’s claim.
Veterans then certify that they have no additional evidence to submit, and VA can process the claim in half the time it takes for a traditionally filed claim.
VSOs have long played an integral role in submitting veterans claims – often with representatives working within VA regional offices. VA has consulted with them throughout the development and implementation of VA’s plan to end the backlog in 2015 to ensure best practices and their unique insights were incorporated.
The American Legion and DAV are the first to step forward to work with VA on the FDC program, and that program has led to a much more efficient process. Meaningful progress will be felt by increasing numbers of veterans as more VSOs participate with VA in the FDC program.
This initiative is just the latest example of the collaboration between VA and VSOs.
In July, VA held a workshop to obtain the views of VSO representatives and to provide them with information on the effort to eliminate the claims backlog.
The main focus of the workshop was VA’s emphasis on the shared goal of better serving veterans and positive impact of filing Fully Developed Claims. These workshops will be replicated in VBA regional offices across the country.
“VA will continue to work with our VSO partners to provide the world-class health care and benefits that veterans have earned through their service,” said Undersecretary Hickey.
This is the latest effort in support of the Secretary’s plan to reduce the backlog. Last month, VA announced an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer.
On April 19, VA began prioritizing claims decisions for veterans who have been waiting the longest, by providing provisional decisions that allow eligible veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits quickly. With a provisional decision, a veteran has a year to submit additional information to support a claim before the decision becomes final.
On May 15, VA announced that it is mandating overtime for claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices through the end of fiscal year 2013 to help eliminate the backlog, with continued emphasis on high-priority claims for homeless veterans and those claiming financial hardship, the terminally ill, former prisoners of war, medal of honor recipients, and veterans filing fully developed claims.
As of May 17, the paperless claims processing system known as the Veterans Benefits Management System, or VBMS, has been deployed to 46 out of 56 regional office locations, and about 18 percent of VA’s current claim inventory is in an electronic format.
Claims for Wounded Warriors separating from the military for medical reasons will continue to be handled separately and on a priority basis with the Department of Defense through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). On average, Wounded Warriors separating through IDES currently receive VA compensation benefits in 2 months following their separation from service.
Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense-VA web portal eBenefits at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov and find information about filing Fully Developed Claims here: http://www.benefits.va.gov/transformation/fastclaims/ .
Service members returning from active duty in combat theatres are eligible for five years of VA medical care – regardless of the status of any disability claim submitted. Medical care is not withheld while disability claims are under review.
For more information on enrolling in VA health benefits, please visit http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/ .
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Army National Guard Pvt. Anthony Taylor has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Taylor is the nephew of Hope Larnard of Sun Prairie, Wis., and brother of Thomas Cottiero of Upper Lake, Calif.
He is a 2010 graduate of Upper Lake High School.
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WASHINGTON, DC – As part of its ongoing effort to accelerate the elimination of the disability compensation claims backlog, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is mandating overtime for claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices.
This surge, which will be implemented through the end of fiscal year 2013, will be targeted to eliminating the backlogged status of claims.
The additional overtime hours that will be worked during this period will be used to help eliminate the backlog with continued emphasis on high-priority claims for homeless veterans and those claiming financial hardship, the terminally ill, former prisoners of war, Medal of Honor recipients, and veterans filing fully developed claims.
“VA is dedicated to providing veterans with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “This increased overtime initiative will provide more veterans with decisions on their claims and will help us achieve our goal of eliminating the claims backlog.”
This is the latest effort in support of the secretary’s plan to reduce the backlog. Last month, the VA announced an initiative to expedite compensation claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer.
On April 19, VA began prioritizing claims decisions for veterans who have been waiting the longest, by providing provisional decisions that allow eligible veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits quickly.
With a provisional decision, a veteran has a year to submit additional information to support a claim before the decision becomes final.
More information can be found at http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2436 .
“We’re committed to getting veterans decisions on their claims as quickly and accurately as possible,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “We need to surge our resources now to help those who have waited the longest and end the backlog.”
Claims for Wounded Warriors separating from the military for medical reasons will continue to be handled separately and on a priority basis with the Department of Defense through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES).
On average, Wounded Warriors separating through IDES currently receive VA compensation benefits in two months following their separation from service.
Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense-VA web portal eBenefits at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov .
More information about filing Fully Developed Claims is available at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/transformation/fastclaims/ .
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WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced two new grants to support Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s goal of ending veterans’ homelessness in 2015.
Under these new programs, homeless providers can apply for funding to enhance the facilities used to serve homeless veterans, and acquire vans to facilitate transportation of this population.
“Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope,” said Secretary Shinseki. “Homeless prevention grants provide community partners with the opportunity to help prevent and end homelessness on the local level. This is a crucial tool to get at-risk veterans and their families on the road to stable, secure lives.”
Approximately $22 million in rehabilitation funds will be available to current operational grant and per diem grantees as part of the effort to increase the useful life of the facilities previously funded under the program.
VA expects current grant and per diem grantees will apply for funding to rehabilitate their current project location and enhance the safety, security and privacy issues associated with the homeless Veteran populations they serve.
A maximum of $250,000 is available per award and the award will not be more than 65 percent of the estimated total cost of the rehabilitation activity. VA has established funding priorities to support its oldest capitally funded projects.
In addition, approximately $2 million in funds will be available for current operational grant and per diem grantees to assist in the acquisition of vans in order to facilitate transportation of veteran participants to medical appointments, employment opportunities in the community, and facilitate grantees’ outreach activities.
The maximum award for a van will be $35,000. The amount of the award will not exceed 65 percent of the total cost of the van.
Applications for both awards are due to the grant and per diem office by no later than 4 p.m. Eastern time on June 28, 2013.
This funding is available under VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program for current operational grant and per diem grantees.
The Grant and Per Diem Program provides community-based organizations with funding to develop and operate transitional housing and supportive services for homeless Veterans. The Grant and Per Diem Program has more than 15,000 operational transitional housing beds nationwide.
The 2012 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, prepared by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, estimated there were 62,619 homeless veterans on a single night in January 2012 in the United States, a 7.2 percent decline since 2011 and a 17.2 percent decline since 2009.
The AHAR reports on the extent and nature of homelessness in America. Included in the report is the annual point-in-time (PIT) count, which measures the number of homeless persons in the U.S. on a single night in January 2012, including the number of homeless veterans.
Additional information is available at http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp or contact the Grant and Per Diem National Program Office at 877-332-0334.
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Army National Guard Pvt. Anthony Taylor has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Taylor is the nephew of Hope Larnard of Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, Wis., and brother of Thomas Cottiero of Upper Lake.
He is a 2010 graduate of Upper Lake High School.
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