The Wealshire Center of Excellence’s Post

The Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting a FREE virtual Veterans Experience Action Center (VEAC) May 7th – 9th, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST. This event is exclusively for residents of the following states: ME, NH, VT, NY, PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MO, DC, MD, DE, NJ, CT, RI, MA The event is open to Veterans, service members (active/reserve/transitioning), families, caregivers, and survivors to connect them with valuable resources and speak 1-on-1 with VA experts. While this event is geared toward recently separated and transitioning service members, it is open to ALL Veterans, service members, families, caregivers, and survivors in the identified region. In the coming months, VA will host three additional virtual VEACs that will include the remaining US states and territories. Available Services: -VA Disability Compensation and Pension claims filing and Veteran and Widow benefits assistance. -Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits (VRE). -VHA Health Care benefits and enrolment. -VA National Cemetery Administration Memorial Benefits. -Mental health counseling resources. -Homeless, low-income housing, vocational support services, and more. #m4lnetwork #varesources #veteranresources #marineforlife #marineforlifenetwork #departmentofveteransaffairs #va #veteransaffairs https://lnkd.in/g3Ufhrrb

I will be hosting the next Green Beret Foundation VA Benefits and Disability Claims Seminar at the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Winter Warfare Locker (classroom A) starting at 0900 on 15 November, 2024. #planyourfuture Although primarily intended for active duty or reserve personnel separating within the next 24 months, seminars are open to all active duty or Veteran members of the Special Operations community, as well as reservists and spouses, Gold Star and Surviving Families. #10thgroup #northcom #socnorth #19thgroup **REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND** The seminar will cover what you need to know about VA benefits, including actions required of you prior to your separation. Other topics will include filing your VA claim, the appeals process, benefits, and more. The Green Beret Foundation is the only SOF nonprofit that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to prepare, file, and appeal VA disability claims and benefits. Green Beret Foundation VA Benefits & Disability Claims Seminars are FREE and the preparation, filing, and appeal of a VA disability claim by the Green Beret Foundation is FREE. #greenberetfoundation #specialforces #veterans #vabenefits #10thspecialforcesgroup #theoriginals #sof #transitioningmilitary #dol

World is WAY too small!! Worked with Babs Chase at Heroes MAKE America and now she’s at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation working on the #CampaignForInclusiveCare and specifically, Face The Fight, serving our #veterans. The realities of veteran suicide are shocking. Through Face the Fight, Babs and team are working to break the stigma surrounding suicide in the military community by raising awareness and fostering real, open conversations around support and hope. The inclusive care initiative is focused on inclusive care across the VHA, organized into three phases: 1) Understand the challenges and opportunities within the VHA landscape. 2) Organize the response by forming a Solutions Team of VHA clinicians, caregivers, and system change experts to create a toolkit for addressing the changes necessary to achieve success. 3) Establish The Academy for Inclusive Care, a curriculum and learning management system for VHA providers. #veteranhealthcarejourney Operation Stand Down Tennessee Chris Lancia Eden Murrie Douglas Slakey, MD,MPH #healthsystemsscience Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine Duke University Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business Duke University Health System #veteransuicide

Honoring Those Who Serve! 5 ways to aid military families during Military Appreciation Month, and every day: 👉Financial Assistance Programs: Providing grants or loans to military families facing financial hardships, assisting with housing, education, or medical expenses. 👉Educational Support: Providing scholarships, tutoring programs, and educational resources for military children to ensure access to quality education despite frequent relocations. 👉Childcare Services: Establishing affordable and reliable childcare options to support military families, particularly during deployments or when both parents are serving. 👉Healthcare Programs: Ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare services for military families, including medical, dental, and mental health care, either through military healthcare facilities or subsidized programs. 👉Community Outreach and Networking: Facilitating social connections and community support networks for military families, organizing events, support groups, and peer mentoring programs to foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Did I miss anything? Mention in the comments below! #militarytransition #militarysupport #militaryappreciationactions #veterancommunity

#DidYouKnow that you may still be eligible to receive Paid Family Leave (PFL) even if the qualifying military event does not take place in California 🤔? A qualifying event may include arranging childcare during deployment, attending counseling, assisting a military family member during recovery, and more. Learn more about how PFL supports military families at edd.ca.gov/PaidFamilyLeave. #PaidFamilyLeave #PFL #MilitaryFamilies

For the first time in my spouse's career, we have to pay more than BAH to live in a modest, inexpensive-for-the-area rental home that's reasonable commuting distance to his workplace. Against the odds, we happen to be a two-income household. Many military families can't do this— and shouldn't have to. Please take this survey (and every other military family experience survey you come across by reputable organizations like BSF). This is how we produce the data needed to draw attention and enact change.

Today we wanted to highlight some grants that are available for disabled veterans. The government has assistance programs that help with housing support and home modifications, We appreciate your sacrifices and want to help you live a comfortable life in your home. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates many programs, including the ones we will highlight below: The SHA grant offers help with modifying a house to meet your needs so you can live more independently. More information here: https://lnkd.in/e7biDSdh. The HISA grant provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations. More information here: https://lnkd.in/e7biDSdh. #Veterans #VeteranAffairs #disability #disabilityrights #disability #stayinghomesafely

As out-of-pocket housing costs increase, the likelihood of active-duty family respondents recommending military service dips, according to our 2023 #MFLS. 📣 BAH and off-base housing concerns not only decrease the service recommendation, but put financial stressors on our #MilitaryFamilies. #BSF is pushing for: ✏️ Revision of BAH calculation to align more quickly with fluctuating housing markets, considering evaluating at shorter intervals ✏️ Increased lead time given to families prior to a PCS move to ensure families have enough time to evaluate their housing options ✏️Address toxic conditions and safety concerns in military housing We’re working to provide better quality-of-life solutions and you can, too. When we advocate, inspire, and inform decision-makers, change is made. Take the 2024 Military Family Lifestyle Survey today: https://bit.ly/3TDtHaO Military Housing Coalition Military Housing Association Safe Military Housing Initiative Operation Homefront Fisher House Foundation Gary Sinise Foundation Yellow Ribbon Fund Hiring Our Heroes Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF

If you've dedicated your career to helping disabled veterans like I have, then you know that Camp Lejeune in North Carolina isn't the only domestic military base where veterans were exposed to toxic contamination.   I've spoken to countless veterans struggling to come to terms with a cancer diagnosis, who have no family history or discernible risk factors for cancer. After investigative research, our team frequently identifies a potential cause: exposure to contamination while serving at a military base *in the United States.* We've learned that Camp Lejeune is not rare; it is only the tip of the iceberg of over 130 military bases impacted by contamination. 📣 ANNOUNCEMENT 📣 Rob Levine Law is proud to announce the launch of our Domestic Military Base Exposure Map -- an interactive tool on our website providing access to our library of research on military exposures in the United States. Over nearly a decade, our team has worked tirelessly to uncover EPA reports, declassified DoD documents, and other reputable sources-- showing that many veterans have been exposed to hazards during their domestic military service.   VA regulations make it easier for veterans with qualifying service to service-connect disabilities related to Agent Orange, burn pits, and Camp Lejeune water contamination. But for millions of others, the success of their VA disability claims hinges on the ability to submit evidence of *actual* exposure. With the Rob Levine Law Domestic Military Base Exposure map, it is our hope that more veterans can not only get the VA disability benefits that they deserve, but they can also make more informed healthcare decisions based on prior exposure(s).   If you have any questions or feedback, please email me at kcraveiro@roblevine.com. With your help, we'll continue to improve this map over time as we uncover new evidence of military exposures in the United States.   Check out the Rob Levine Law Domestic Military Base Exposure Map here: https://lnkd.in/dy77hnMr #veteransdisability #veteransbenefits #research #contamination #camplejeune #military

The gap between #BAH and #costofliving for military families including ours, has been increasing at a faster and faster rate. The same is true for the base military salaries, but the BAH gap is more significant, and more impactful day-to-day. Most #privatizedhousing management companies (who manage on base housing at most bases) take all or almost-all of the member's BAH, but require residents to pay for utilities. Based on information I gathered at our last assignment, the so-called utility allowance did not cover all (or even most) of the utility costs, even when averaged over the course of a year. If you are a #militaryspouse or #militarymember, please take the Blue Star Families survey linked below. Organizations like this can only successfully advocate for our Active Duty Military families if they have our support and our numbers!