Veterans
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Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment Wayne Arny and Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration David Kelly announced the creation of a new program designed to identify needed research involving recently returned veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and to increase awareness of the importance of safe driving among newly-demobilized veterans.
"VA is committed to helping our returning heroes with world-class health care and educational benefits, home loans, job training and now with a specific safe-driving program," said Secretary Peake. "Together with our partners at DOT and DOD, we will be able to collect and analyze data that will be used to develop a comprehensive outreach initiative to target veterans with specific needs -- and ultimately to save lives."
Experts in transportation safety, veterans' health and medical care, and public health are identifying gaps in current knowledge and developing a strategic plan for addressing key research questions, in fields ranging from epidemiology to psychology and biomechanics.
Participants in the strategic planning process include scientists and policy officials from VA, DOT, DOD and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as non-governmental experts. The resulting strategic plan will lay out research needs and identify priorities for the initiative.
"Our returning combat veterans have already put themselves in harm's way to protect our way of life. Now it's our turn to take action," said David Kelly, Acting Administrator of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). "NHTSA can offer knowledge and expertise to address challenges such as these. Working side-by-side with the Department of Veterans Affairs, we are committed to tackling this problem and reducing the number of veterans killed and injured on our nation's roadways."
The safe-driving initiative strives to increase awareness of motor vehicle crashes among veterans and the importance of safe driving, seatbelt and helmet usage, and other measures.
To reach out to veterans and their families, VA will create a national educational program using the Department's network of medical centers, community clinics, drop-in counseling centers (vet centers), and veterans benefits offices.
The initiative will also include outreach to mobilize national veterans service organizations; the nation's governors and state police, safety officers, and state highway safety officials; and the private sector – including employers; automobile, motorcycle and sports vehicle dealers and manufacturers; the motor vehicle insurance industry; and driving and motorcycle racing enthusiasts' organizations. NASCAR legend and safe driving advocate, Richard Petty, will also be an active partner in the initiative.
"Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) is thrilled to be working with VA, DOT and DOD on such a worthwhile project to save veterans' lives," said NASCAR legend Richard Petty. "We want to bring more attention to the continuing problem of veteran drivers and their safety through our involvement. Last year alone, RPDE operated over 1,100 event days, ran almost 1 million miles on track and had a staff of professional drivers. We have the commitment, the knowledge to teach, and the infrastructure to take this initiative to many markets."
According to the Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans between the ages of eight through 34.
Men constitute about 70 percent of all traffic deaths. In the past decade, both deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes have gone down in the United States, due to increases in seat-belt use and decreases in alcohol involvement, among other factors.
Nonetheless, motor vehicle accidents remain a major concern in the military and among veterans as the greatest cause of accidental fatalities.
Several studies have reported an increase in post-deployment deaths among military personnel who served in a combat zone compared to their non-deployed counterparts, who are in the military but not deployed to a war, after both the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War.
Preliminary evidence also indicates this is the case with veterans from the Global War on Terror.
For more information regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Transportation's safe driving initiative for veterans, please visit www.safedriving.va.gov.
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The post will host the dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.
The requested donation is $7.
American Legion Post 194 is located at Second and Gaddy Lane.
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"This special allocation is the latest down payment on VA's commitment to meet the needs of veterans living in rural areas," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "VA will take to our
rural veterans the health care services they have earned."
Within the last year, VA has launched a major rural health initiative. The Department has already created a 13-member committee to advise the VA secretary on issues affecting rural veterans, opened three rural health resource centers to better understand rural health issues, rolled out four new mobile health clinics to serve 24 predominately rural counties, announced the opening of 10 new rural outreach clinics in 2009 and launched a fleet of 50 new mobile counseling centers.
The extra funding is part of a two-year VA program to improve the access and quality of health care for veterans in geographically isolated areas.
The program focuses on several areas, including access to health care, providing world-class care, the use of the latest technology, recruiting and retaining a highly educated workforce and collaborating with other organizations.
More specifically, the new funds will be used to increase the number of mobile clinics, establish new outpatient clinics, expand fee-based care, explore collaborations with federal and community partners, accelerate the use of telemedicine deployment, and fund innovative pilot programs.
The new funds will be distributed according to the proportion of veterans living in rural areas within each VA regional health care system, called VISNs, for "Veterans Integrated Service Networks."
VISNs with less than 3 percent of their patients in rural areas will receive $250,000.
Those with population of rural veterans between 3 percent and 6 percent will receive $1 million each. And VISNs with more than 6 percent of their veterans population in rural areas will receive $1.5 million.
Special VA funding for rural health
1. Bedford, Mass., $1 million
2. Rochester, N.Y., $1 million
3. New York, N.Y., $250,000
4. Wilmington, Del., $1 million
5. Baltimore, Md., $250,000
6. Durham, N.C., $1.5 million
7. Atlanta, Ga., $1.5 million
8. Bay Pines, Fla., $1 million
9. Nashville, Tenn., $1.5 million
10. Cincinnati, Ohio, $1 million
11. Ann Arbor, Mich., $1 million
12. Chicago, Ill., $1 million
15. Kansas City, Mo., $1.5 million
16. Jackson, Miss., $1.5 million
17. Arlington, Texas, $1 million
18. Mesa, Ariz., $1 million
19. Denver, Colo., $1 million
20. Vancouver, Wash., $1 million
21. Palo Alto, Calif., $1 million
22. Long Beach, Calif., $250,000
23. Lincoln, Neb., $1.5 million
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That is the conclusion of researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) who conducted a six-year study comparing deep-brain stimulation (DBS) to medication, along with speech, physical or occupational therapy, given as needed. The results of the trial, the largest of its kind to date, appear in the January 7 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
"Deep-brain stimulation offers hope for a large number of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who suffer from complications of long-standing medication therapy," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This finding could mean improved quality of life for some of our patients."
The study included 255 Parkinson's patients at seven VA medical centers and six university hospitals. The VA sites were Portland, Ore.; Seattle; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Houston, Richmond, Va.; andPhiladelphia, all members of VA's network of Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers.
The JAMA article also noted VA's nationwide system of hospitals and specialized centers of excellence make the Department uniquely capable of conducting such large, multi-site trials of new therapies and medical devices. VA's patient population is especially suited for trials of treatments for chronic disease in the elderly.
Patients who took part in the study were on medication but are no longer seeing improvements in symptoms such as tremors or stiffness. Many were also developing side effects from the drugs, such asinvoluntary face, arm or leg movements.
Researchers followed the patients for six months, finding:
Patients who received DBS gained an average of 4.6 hours per day of good motor control and few or no involuntary movements, compared with no gain for those on medical therapy alone;
71 percent of DBS patients showed significant gains in motor function, compared with only 32 percent of drug therapy patients; and
Serious adverse side effects were nearly four times more common in the DBS group, but almost all of these effects in both groups were resolved during the six-month study. The most common side effects from DBS were infections, falls, depression, gait and balance problems and pain.
Lead authors and study co-chairs were Frances Weaver, PhD, a researcher with the Center for Management of Complex Chronic Care at the Hines VA Hospital near Chicago, and Dr. Kenneth Follett, a neurosurgeon at the Omaha VA Medical Center and University of Nebraska.
They emphasize that besides the higher likelihood of serious side effects with DBS compared with drug therapy, another drawback of the procedure is that, although it generally improves movement, it does little to help other Parkinson's symptoms such as depression, decline in mental ability, gait and balance problems, and trouble with gastrointestinal, urinary or sexual function.
"The results of the study should not be over- or under-stated," said Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health. "Still, there are many good candidates for DBS among patients with Parkinson's disease whom we treat in VA."
The trial was sponsored by VA's Cooperative Studies Program and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health. Additional support came from Medtronic, which makes the DBS system used in the study.
Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder, affects some 1.5 million Americans, with 50,000 new cases diagnosed annually. VA treats at least 40,000 veterans with the disorder each year. Most patients are over age 50, but some forms of the disease can strike younger adults.
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The nomination process is open to all Guard and Reserve personnel and their families and applications are submitted online to ESGR. A national selection board comprised of senior Defense officials and business leaders selects the award recipients.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.
The award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 whose mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve Service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflicts through mediation.
Secretary of Defense William Perry authorized the first award in 1996 and presented it to Schneider National, McDonnell Douglas, United Parcel Service Central Florida District, Tektronix Inc. and National Life of Vermont.
In the years since, over 100 employers have received this prestigious award. Today, 15 awards are presented each year to employers in three categories, big business, small business and the public sector.
The nomination season is open until Jan. 19. To nominate an employer or to learn more about the Freedom Award, visit www.freedomaward.mil/.
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During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions.
Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.
He is the son of Becky Flaherty of Clearlake.
Melton graduated in 2008 from W.C. Carle High School in Lower Lake.
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Volunteers will gather at 6 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, located on 11th Street in Lakeport.
The group meets on a monthly basis to assemble care packages for local troops overseas.
This month they'll pack Valentine care packages. Community members are invited to contribute special items or greetings.
For more information call Ginny Craven at 349-2838 or visit http://operationtangomike.home.mchsi.com/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html.
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"VA has a track record of success in working with non-profit groups and businesses that have their own programs for veterans, but we can do more" said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "By tapping into the power and resources of NGOs, we can ensure more veterans, families and survivors receive not only VA services, but also other assistance in their own communities."
Under the new NGO Gateway Initiative, launched today with the Veterans Coalition Inc., a non-profit organization formed more than two years ago by several major national veterans groups, the Veterans Coalition is available to assist NGOs in identifying the unmet needs of veterans, families and survivors, working with VA to help minimize duplication of effort and confusion among NGOs with programs for veterans.
In addition, the program will encourage continuous feedback from NGOs on issues such as physical and mental health, employment, and satisfaction with government services and benefits affecting veterans.
"The Veterans Coalition is dedicated to marshaling energy and resources from all communities to better serve service members, veterans and their families,” said Harry Walters, chairman of the Veterans Coalition and former administrator of the Veterans Administration. "Together we can do
a better job than any of us can do alone."
VA will provide a senior-level, career federal employee to serve as an ombudsman to assist NGOs with their programs to serve veterans. To ensure a cooperative relationship, VA's deputy secretary will serve as a non-voting advisory liaison to the group's board of directors.
VA has a long tradition of working with national veterans service organizations on programs benefiting all veterans. VA also has had close relationships with private-sector groups, churches, charities and
other nonprofit organizations that provide housing for homeless veterans. This new gateway initiative is one more way to extend services to our veterans.
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The gathering will be held at Saint Mary Immaculate Parish Hall, 801 N. Main St., Lakeport.
The potluck begins at 6 p.m., with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
This month's topic of discussion will be planning for a Vietnam memorial wall that will visit the county this summer.
Veterans of all eras, their families and friends, and the general public are cordially welcome to attend.
For more information about the group visit its Web site, www.vva951.org.
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