Veterans Parkinson's Support Group

 

Tele Emergency Care

 

Detroit Veterans Day Parade

 

VA Launches Redesigned Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Registry

View Online VA Launches Redesigned Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Registry Aug. 1, 2024 | By David Vergun   Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of the redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.  In response to extensive feedback from veterans and service members, VA's changes to the registry help to greatly reduce the burden of participation, said Terrence Hayes, a VA spokesperson.  Expansion of eligibility criteria and automatic enrollment based on Defense Department records means approximately 4.7 million veterans and service members will now be included, with simple opt-out procedures for those who wish to not participate, he said.    Those enrolled in the registry any time before the launch of the redesign will be automatically enrolled in the new registry, Hayes added.  "This tool is a significant improvement in making data available in a way that better serves all those who were exposed to burn pits and other hazards," said Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "Being part of the registry is a way for individuals to help and improve our understanding of the challenges faced by service members and veterans affected by these exposures."  "The burn pit registry is fueling groundbreaking research and enabling VA's ability to identify and proactively address health challenges that toxic-exposed veterans face," said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA undersecretary for health.     "While the registry does not impact an individual veteran's health care or benefits, it does serve as a catalyst for advancing new and innovative treatments for the veteran population as a whole — including informing decisions related to presumptive conditions, more precise predictive medicine and proactive veteran care," Elnahal said.   "This redesign massively expands the registry and reduces the participation requirements for veterans, paving the way for critical research in the coming years," Elnahal added.    While this research database does not impact individual care and benefits, there are many avenues for veterans to reach VA for the services they deserve. We encourage veterans seeking screening, health care or benefits for toxic exposures to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-698-2411, Hayes said.   Service members, living or deceased, who according to DOD records, served in certain locations in or near the Middle East between Aug. 2, 1990, and Aug. 31, 2021, will be automatically included. The registry website has a complete listing of those nations and the surrounding waters.  The data in the registry lists deployment locations, military personnel information and demographics to include gender, race and ethnicity.    No medical information will be stored in the registry. Veteran and service member data will be accessible only to select VA epidemiologists and researchers and institutional review board-approved researchers, Hayes said.  It will be used to conduct research on the cohort over a period of time. The results will inform the policy decision-making efforts of VA executive leaders, including those related to presumptive conditions, he added.

ABOUT   NEWS   HELP CENTER   PRESS PRODUCTS

Unsubscribe | Contact Us

 

This email was sent to mcclellanjoe80@myyahoo.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of Defense 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1400

VA Downriver Outpatient Outpatient Clinic

 

Detroit VA Offering Tele-Emergency Care

                                                                                                     

Detroit VA Medical Center now offers Tele-Emergency Care services for local enrolled Veterans

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the addition of tele-emergency care services for enrolled Veterans in the Metro-Detroit area.  Enrolled Veterans can access this new service by dialing the Detroit VA Medical Center at (313) 576-1000 and pressing "3," effective immediately.  Medical triage staff are available 24/7 and will guide the Veteran to the appropriate level of care, including tele-emergency care. 

Tele-emergency care (tele-EC) offers Veterans many of the same services they can receive in a traditional emergency room, but from the comfort of their own home.  This helps prevent the Veteran from having to drive in, potentially wait for hours in a waiting room, minimizes exposure to illnesses from other patients, etc.  There is also no co-pay for these services.  Further, choosing to utilize the VA for emergency care, whether through the tele-EC or in-person services, ensures a smooth continuity of care as the Veteran's medical providers will already have access to the Veteran's full medical record. 

While Veterans with life-or-limb-threatening injuries or illnesses should go to an in-person emergency room or call 911, tele-EC can serve Veterans with a wide variety of conditions, including:

 

• Cough, cold, flu, and COVID symptoms
• Sore throats
• COPD and asthma flares
• Eye redness and irritation
• Tick and other insect bites
• Skin infections
• Minor allergic reactions
• GI illnesses
• Urinary tract infections
• Gout flares
• Muscle sprains/strains

 

###

 

Department of Veterans Affairs

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. You recently signed up to receive communications from one of our properties at VA. We've highlighted some of our topics below to give you a better idea of what we have to offer. My HealtheVet My HealtheVet lets you refill prescriptions online, manage VA appointments as well as send and receive Secure Messages with your health care team. Subscribe and learn more today. Sign Up Make the Connection Make the Connection provides information about life experiences you can relate to. You also can explore information about signs, symptoms and conditions that are related to mental health and well-being. Sign Up Inside Veterans Health Inside Veterans Health focuses on the intersection of Veterans and health care, covering VA programs, benefits, innovations and Veterans' stories. Sign Up Take a moment to update your subscription preferences to see our full list of topics and to tell us more about you. Update Preferences Keep updated & let us know how we're doing. You have received this message because you are subscribed to Veterans Health. Access your Subscriber Preferences to make changes to your subscription or Unsubscribe. Get this as a forward? Sign Up to receive updates from Veterans Health. Having questions or problems? Please visit Subscriber Help for assistance.

Rodney Gasaway First Responder Program

District 4 VFW Riders Chaplain founded the Veterans First Responder support group called Pro Allies. Rev. Rodney Gasaway is an ordained Clergy in the United Methodist Church. He serves at two congregations and is a volunteer chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Chelsea Area Fire Authority. His expertise is in community engagement, missions, and outreach. Rev. Gasaway is completing TSD counseling certifications at Michigan State University.  Pro Allies provide verbal support to the participates and referrals to other organizations if required. This group is registered as a Michigan non-profit, and the organization's Directors are applying for a 501 c3 designation. Today, support meetings are held in Chelsea, Michigan, and American Legion Post 32, located in Livonia. Pro Allies maintains a website: www.proallies.org. Check out this site to get more details about their program.

The American Legion Announces Partnership with Wellcare

Wellcare to serve as the official Medicare provider of The American Legion   The American Legion Announces Partnership with Wellcare   The American Legion is excited to announce a new partnership with Wellcare, the Medicare brand of Centene Corporation. Through the multi-year partnership, Wellcare will serve as the Official Medicare Provider of The American Legion, connecting Medicare-eligible veterans, their spouses and the greater military community with innovative products and solutions that complement the benefits eligible veterans receive through their Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare, as well as host joint events at Legion Posts nationwide and virtually to connect and educate about opportunities for Medicare Advantage Plans. Wellcare will also support The American Legion's Be the One initiative, a long-term priority to destigmatize asking for mental health support, provide resources to save veterans, and ultimately, eliminate veteran suicide. Today, veteran suicide rates are more than 50% higher than that of non-veteran adults, and nearly 6,000 veterans or servicemembers take their lives each year (National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 2022). Wellcare and The American Legion are committed to driving awareness of this critical work through leadership and event activations. U.S. Navy Veteran, military spouse, and Chief Marketing Officer for Centene, Suzy DePrizio (LT, USN), kicked off the partnership by speaking to military leaders and Legionnaires at the 104th National Convention. "Our organizations share a deep commitment to improving the whole health of the veteran community, and to working together to reduce the rate of veteran suicide," she said. "I look forward to the opportunity to combine forces in support of this important initiative." As part of this new partnership, Wellcare and The American Legion teamed up at the Texas Motor Speedway on September 23-24, 2023 for the NASCAR Playoffs weekend, to connect with service members, veterans and race fans. This was the first in a series of events at Speedway Motorsports tracks throughout the 2023 and 2024 racing season which promoted the Be the One initiative.  "The American Legion is proud to partner with Wellcare to connect Legionnaires and veterans across the country with meaningful medical and supplemental benefits," said American Legion Chief Marketing officer, Dean Kessel. "We also look forward to working with Wellcare on our Be The One platform as, collectively, we have a shared mission to end veteran suicide."  Legionnaires will receive additional information about current products, events and offerings in the Legion magazine, through Be The One outreach efforts and at local community events. Additional product details will be available after October 1, 2023, at Wellcarenow.com. We hope you're as excited about this new partnership as we are. 'Ohana Health Plan, a plan offered by WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona, Inc. Washington residents: Health Net Life Insurance Company is contracted with Medicare for PPO plans. "Wellcare by Health Net" is issued by Health Net Life Insurance Company. Washington residents: "Wellcare" is issued by Wellcare of Washington, Inc. Washington residents: "Wellcare" is issued by Wellcare Health Insurance Company of Washington, Inc. New Mexico (NM) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (DSNP) Members: As a Wellcare by Allwell D-SNP member, you have coverage from both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid services are funded in part by the state of New Mexico. NM Medicaid benefits may be limited to payment of Medicare premiums for some members. Louisiana D-SNP prospective enrollees: For detailed information about Louisiana Medicaid benefits, please visit the Medicaid website at https://ldh.la.gov/medicaid or https://www.louisianahealthconnect.com. To request a written copy of our Medicaid Provider Directory, please contact us. Notice: TennCare is not responsible for payment for these benefits, except for appropriate cost sharing amounts. TennCare is not responsible for guaranteeing the availability or quality of these benefits. Any benefits above and beyond traditional Medicare benefits are applicable to Wellcare Medicare Advantage only and do not indicate increased Medicaid benefits. https://wellcare.trilliumadvantage.com/legal/nondiscrimination-notice.html Arizona Non-Discrimination and Language Assistance       The American Legion 700 N. Pennsylvania St. P.O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, IN 46206 View Online

Manage preferences | Unsubscribe

Free Veterans Dental Care Day

 

Air Force To Review Thousands of Discharges For Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSDRe: Michigan Veterans News & Resources for Oct. 3, 2023

How the MVAA and our partners are supporting veteran employment MVAA Director Adam Hollier discusses the benefits of hiring veterans at the Veteran-Friendly Employers Innovation Conference in Traverse City. Our third annual Veteran-Friendly Employers (VFE) conference brought together more than 75 business leaders and veteran stakeholders with a vested interest in hiring and retaining veteran talent. The event, held Sept. 26-27 in Traverse City, featured sessions on how to hire veterans right now, employing veterans with different abilities and more. Employers can learn more about the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency's VFE program and other resources for hiring veterans on our employer's webpage. Veterans seeking help with employment, entrepreneurship, licensing and credentialing and other job-related resources can visit our veteran employment page or call 1-800-MICH-VET to be connected to the appropriate resources. Here is a sampling of coverage and resources from the MVAA Veteran-Friendly Employers Innovation Conference '23 ... How our Gold-level employers go above and beyond Kerrie Kornexl (center), of Atlas Space Operations, talks about hiring veterans. At left is Emily Rissman of the Michigan Department of Corrections; at right is Melvin Durnell of the Michigan Department of Transportation. Atlas Space Operations, Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer, Traverse City Last summer, Kerrie Kornexl, community outreach coordinator for Atlas Space Operations, got a resume from a young Marine Corps veteran that piqued her interest. "It was clear from his email that he was exactly the kind of person we wanted on our staff," Kornexl said. Unfortunately, she added, "his resume was just garbage." So Kornexl, an Air Force veteran, wrote him back, suggesting he give it another shot and pointing him to some resume-building websites, including the Purdue Online Writing Lab's. The next morning, a revised resume was sitting in her inbox—much better, she said, but still needing a lot of work. Kornexl went to her supervisor. While she was supposed to be looking at government contracts for Atlas to bid on, she knew this "22-year-old young man was worth my time." Her boss agreed, and Kornexl would spend the next several days meticulously helping the veteran improve his resume, cover letter and overall presentation. After a week, the veteran formally re-applied for the job, this time with a superb resume, but in the end, it didn't work out because he couldn't afford housing in Traverse City. But Kornexl pointed him to openings with other companies and helped him land a job after all—a great example of one veteran helping another. "I did all of this while I was not doing the job that made money for Atlas, and I had the full support of my supervisor," said Kornexl, who notes that three of Atlas' four founders are Air Force veterans. "I think that sort of support from the top all the way down is really remarkable." Learn more about working at Atlas Space Operations, which supplies high-tech communications to the aerospace industry. John Gardner of Roush Industries says he strives to get veterans promoted from within the company. Gardner is an Air Force veteran. Roush Industries, Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer, Metro Detroit When a leadership position came open at Roush Industries, John Gardner, the company's manager for veteran initiatives, knew just the veteran for it. This particular veteran had worked at Roush for seven years and definitely had the skillset to move up. But he was satisfied with his job and hesitant to apply. Gardner, who had gotten to know the veteran through the company's Veteran Employee Resources Group (ERG), talked to him about the benefits. The job included more pay and was located at a Roush location much closer to the veteran's home. He was then driving an hour to work each way. So the veteran went for the job—and got it, Gardner said, adding that it came with a $40,000 raise. "And he is very, very happy, as you can imagine," Gardner said. Not only that, but Gardner was able to hire another ex-service member from outside the company to fill the veteran's former position. "So it was really two for one," he said. "Basically, we hired two veterans." Gardner, an Air Force veteran, said he loves recruiting from within the company. "When I see leadership opportunities," he said, "I'm reaching out to our veterans through the ERG group to tell them about these opportunities. To let them know they can do more than they're doing now." Roush Industries provides engineering, testing, prototyping and manufacturing services to the automotive, aerospace, defense and theme park industries. Learn more about the Roush VIP (Veterans Initiative Program). Employment resources for veterans, transitioning service members, spouses and employers From left, Sam Dougherty of Helmets to Hardhats-Michigan, Don Wright of Rocket Companies, Bob Hogan of Bridge My Return and Pat Muoio of Veterans' Employment Services. Helmets to Hardhats - Michigan. Veterans interested in a construction career or skilled-trades training and registered apprenticeships can look to Helmets to Hardhats, a nonprofit organization with a growing Michigan presence. Apprenticeships come at no cost to the veteran and they can use Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits to supplement their income. Sam Dougherty, the organization's Michigan representative, noted that employers can post job openings for free at helmettohardhats.org.   SkillBridge. The U.S. Department of Defense's SkillBridge program gives service members an opportunity to gain civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships during the last 180 days of service. SkillBridge connects transitioning service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences. Don Wright of Rocket Companies said SkillBridge "is one the best ways we can attract transitioning veterans into our companies right now." Wright also noted that the SkillBridge team is small, so employers looking to register with the program need to be persistent. Wright is senior talent relationship manager for Rocket's Veteran Hiring Program. Job Accommodation Network (JAN).  A service of the U.S. Department of Labor, JAN provides free, one-on-one practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. Bridge My Return. Bridge My Return (BMR) gives transitioning service members, veterans and their spouses and caregivers real-time matches to jobs with military-ready employers, real-world coaching advice and a professional resume—all at no cost. BMR founder Bob Hogan said he created the company to attack the persistent problem of veteran underemployment—or veterans working in typically lower-paying jobs that don't match their advanced skillets and abilities. It takes about 20-30 minutes to complete a BMR profile; after that, the BMR software works for the veteran 24/7. As new jobs are added, the veteran is matched to new opportunities. Plus, the BMR application automatically creates a personalized resume you can immediately share with BMR employer partners or other employers you approach separately. Veterans' Employment Services (VES). A division of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, VES helps veterans and their families secure meaningful careers in Michigan. The concept of veterans helping veterans is a trademark of the VES team and one of the keys to its success. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning out of the military – finding meaningful employment should not be one of them. Veterans in need of employment assistance should contact the nearest Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visiting MichiganWorks.org. More information about Veterans' Employment Services is available at Michigan.gov/VES. Register today and start your job search at Pure Michigan Talent Connect at MiTalent.org. Veterans to get extended postpartum care services Veterans will soon have vastly expanded access to maternity care coordinators who provide a range of supportive services, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The announcement is part of the Biden administration's efforts to tackle the country's maternal health crisis and seeks to help a population that may be at heightened risk of pregnancy complications. Under the extended service, which went into effect Sunday, maternity care coordinators will be available to veterans a full year after birth, up from eight weeks currently. Veterans can receive coordinator services as soon as they have a positive pregnancy test, according to a VA spokesperson. Coordinators touch base with veterans every three months throughout the pregnancy. The new expansion extends the scheduled contacts for another twelve months after delivery. Read the full story in Axios. Air Force to review thousands of discharges for traumatic brain injury, PTSD Thousands of Air Force veterans who received less-than-honorable discharges due to post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or other mental health conditions, as well as sexual assault or harassment, will have those separations automatically reviewed due to a new legal settlement. The service consented to the reviews as part of a settlement in a nationwide class-action lawsuit -- Johnson v. Kendall -- brought by two airmen in 2021. The lawsuit took aim at the Air Force Discharge Review Board, or AFDRB, for wrongly discharging troops over misconduct linked to a military trauma, such as a combat- or training-related head injury or sexual assault. Read the full story in Military.com. MVAA Director Adam Hollier: Homeless veterans served our country. Now we should serve them From the rural communities of the Upper Peninsula to the urban corridors of Metro Detroit, thousands of Michigan's military veterans are living in shelters, on the streets or crashing on friend's couches and it is completely unacceptable. These veterans put their lives on the line for our country and now they're homeless. It's a longstanding and widespread problem. Today, according to the best available data, there are 21 homeless veterans living in Dickinson County in the western U.P., 173 homeless veterans in southern Michigan's Calhoun County and 600 homeless veterans in Wayne County, home of Detroit.   In all, 2,443 Michigan veterans—many with families—are homeless, according to the Homeless Management Information System. But this figure represents just those homeless veterans who have sought out services. As just about every expert and veteran advocate knows, that number is much higher based on the fact that so many of our homeless veterans go uncounted. While some progress has been made over the past few years, veteran homelessness remains a persistent and complex challenge spanning the demographic groups. Veterans of color continue to be over-represented in the homeless population. We've seen a huge increase in the number of older veterans experiencing homelessness. Women veterans are twice as likely to become homeless as non-veteran women. Under the Whitmer administration, the state of Michigan invested $2 million this year to combat the problem through the Michigan Veteran Homelessness Prevention Grant. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) will distribute these funds, in the form of $150,000 grants, to entities around the state that serve homeless veterans and their families. In particular, the MVAA is looking for innovative approaches to supporting homeless veterans from all backgrounds and eras. To fully attack the problem of veteran homelessness, we must address the underlying factors, starting with an overall lack of affordable and safe housing. Substance abuse, mental health challenges and financial insecurity also play a role. Importantly, too many of our veterans experience social isolation after rejoining civilian life and fail to get connected to a meaningful support network. But help is out there—throughout the state of Michigan. At the MVAA, our mission is to connect Michigan veterans to the local, state and national resources that can help them thrive in all facets of life and avoid the crises that can lead to homelessness and suicide. Whether it's connecting a veteran to a Veteran Service Officer to help them file a VA disability claim, lining them up with a peer mentor through our Buddy to Buddy program or linking them to emergency assistance or employment, education and health care benefits, we're here for all veterans and their families. As we prepare to recognize World Homeless Day on Oct. 10 and Homeless Awareness Month in Michigan in November, it's important to remember that those veterans who are sleeping in their cars and asking for help on street corners once put their lives on the line to serve our country. We should do everything within our power to help them thrive as civilians. How can you help?  Veterans. Call us at 1-800-MICH-VET or visit Michigan.gov/MVAA for assistance.  Organizations and businesses: Join our Michigan Veteran Connector program to better reach and serve your customers and clients who are veterans. All of us: Volunteer time at food banks, community kitchens, homeless shelters or VA medical facilities. We can also volunteer at Veterans Stand Down events, which provide supplies and other services to homeless veterans. Or we can donate to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ARE IN CRISIS: The Veterans Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified crisis responders who are there to help. Many of these responders are veterans themselves. Online Resources LEAN ON US: Call 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) Visit Michigan.gov/MVAA      Follow Us on Social Media

If you wish to no longer receive emails from the MVAA,
please update your preferences here:
Manage Preferences | Subscriber Help

Need further assistance? Contact Us

Visit us on our website: Michigan.gov/MVAA

---

This email was sent to jmc001@ameritech.net using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs · 3411 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Lansing, MI 48906