Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) hosted their fourth annual Veteran-Friendly Employers Innovation Conference for Michigan employers committed to the recruitment, training and retention of military veterans. "Military veterans possess a unique set of skills and experiences that have value to the Michigan workforce," says Erik Schreur, MVAA employment analyst. "Many of these employers are attracting transitioning service members and their families to Michigan as they leave the service. It is imperative for Michigan businesses to recruit and retain veterans to join their team to ensure the success of the business and more importantly the success of the veteran and their family."

Come out this weekend to the Camp Liberty Fall Festival! This event will take place from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. with a variety of fun, fall activities for everyone to enjoy. If you wish to volunteer or have questions, call or text 517-206-8633.

Registration for the 2024 MVAA Women Veterans Conference is at capacity and is now closed. Thank you to our 2024 sponsors for making this event possible - Oracle, Daughters of the American Revolution, Consumers Energy and CNS Healthcare!

Presented by veteran-owned Ashley Furniture stores in Grand Rapids, Grandville and Kalamazoo, come out with your friends and family for a veteran celebration! This free event is being held on Saturday, October 5th, at the Hudsonville County Fairgrounds. RSVP by scanning the QR code below.

On September 18th, The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) hosted their first Community Outreach and Regional Engagement (CORE) Symposium at the Kellogg Center on the campus of Michigan State University. The goal of this event is to bring together veteran advocates to establish and strengthen relationships and share what they are doing to impact the lives of veterans and their families in their communities. More than 50 attendees from across the state joined speakers, fellow support organizations and State of Michigan departments to better understand how other communities are supporting their local veterans. "We are excited to bring this group of dedicated veteran advocates together for the first time," says Chelsea Rider, MVAA community analyst. "None of us can do the work of supporting veterans alone. It is vital that we collaborate and see what works in different communities to learn how we can best service veterans and their families. That includes finding the resource gaps around the state so that we at MVAA can work to fill those gaps."

Today is the last day of Suicide Prevention Month, but the conversation doesn't stop here. It's important to continue to raise awareness on suicide prevention and what we can do to help. To learn more about suicide prevention and how to continue the conversation, please visit these websites: https://lnkd.in/eccj8XK https://bit.ly/4gA6TUp https://lnkd.in/gG3Umi2W https://www.samhsa.gov/ If you're a veteran in a crisis, please dial 988 then press 1. We are here for veterans and their mental health. You are not alone.

On National Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, we honor the surviving parents and families of fallen service members and share their grief. We will never forget those who gave their lives in service to our country.

It's ok to ask for help. You're not alone. The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential support available 24/7. Call 988 then Press 1 Chat online by going to https://lnkd.in/gPnB4ED Text 838255

Last week, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) hosted their third annual Veteran-Friendly Schools Innovation Conference for post-secondary institutions to learn how they can best support their military-connected students. "This is the only conference of its kind in Michigan that brings post-secondary institutions together to specifically address the issues that service members, veterans and their families are experiencing," says Joe Saur, MVAA Education Analyst. "It is critical for Michigan's academic institutions to support their military-connected students to ensure their success."

In partnership with the VA Detroit and Frontline Strong Together 5, the MVAA hosted multiple sessions of mental health training for veterans and first responders. The last session took place on September 23rd in Port Huron, where clinical psychologist Dr. Megan Wade covered topics on stigmas around mental health, understanding the cycle of stress, suicide intervention and prevention.