“Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864
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Transcript of “Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864
“Serving Those Who Served”Since 1864
Public Act 13-34
Requiring Cities and Towns to Designate a Veterans Service Contact Person. Effective 1 Oct 2013
Cities or Towns may form a local Veteran’s Advisory Committee…OR
Appoint an employee to serve as a Veterans Service Contact Person and complete an annual training course conducted by CT-DVA, OAA
Public Act 13-34 Duties & Responsibilities
Reemployment
Education
Rehabilitation
Adjustment to Peacetime Living
Coord w/Local, State & National Govt & Private Agencies to secure benefits
Coord Vocational Training Services
240,000 Veterans in Connecticut
CT VETERANS ARE:
10% of the Population45% over 65
17% are 55-59 years of age8% are Women
17% use VA Connecticut Health Care10% have Service Connected
Disabilities
Over 20,500 Connecticut citizens have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan
Connecticut
Department of Veterans Affairs
The First Home for Veterans in the Nation – Est. 1864
The Fitch HomeThe first home for disabled war veterans in the United States.Founded on July 4, 1864, it was known as Fitch’s Home for Soldiers and their Orphans.Benjamin Fitch establish the home for Civil War veterans and for Children whose fathers were killed in that war.From 1864 to 1940 the Fitch home served the needs of hundred of orphans and thousands of men who served their country in various wars.In 1940 the Fitch Home became the Connecticut State Veterans Hospital and relocated at Rocky Hill.
CONNECTICUT VETERANS HOME AT ROCKY HILLESTABLISHED 1940
ROCKY HILL VETERANS HOME“Serving those Who Served”
Over 400 veterans live at the Ct Veterans HomeFrom all of our nation’s conflicts WWII Korea Vietnam Era Gulf War Iraq & Afghanistan
World War II
Vietnam Korea
Gulf War
Iraq
Veterans’ Home at Rocky Hill, CT
Health Care Facility, 125 Beds
Residential and Rehabilitative Services, 350 Beds
Substance Abuse Program, 50 Beds
Must be a Connecticut Resident
Have An Honorable Discharge
Fee for Services Provided
RESIDENTIAL FACILITY
Focus on Homeless and Needy Veterans
BASIC SERVICES:* Food, * Clothing* Medical Care
Veteran Improvement Program * Residential Services
* Vocational Counseling and Job Placement
* Recreational Activities
* Case Management Services
* Educational Opportunities
Residential & Rehabilitation Services
Room and BoardSubstance Abuse Treatment and CounselingTraining and EducationTemporary EmploymentInteragency Work ExperienceJob Placement and AssistanceRecreational ServicesSocial Work ServicesSupportive Housing for Working Veterans
VETERANS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMSubstance Abuse Recovery at Fellowship House
* Professional Staff Program to Assist Veterans with drug and alcohol abuse problems.
* 6 months Intensive Clinical Treatment
• 6 months Residential Treatment and Support
• Vocational and Employment Support Services during treatment
• Collaboration with VA Connecticut and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Homeless Veterans In Connecticut
1/3 of Homeless Adults are Veterans
900 in CT, 200,000 Nationwide
½ Have Mental Issues
70% Have Alcohol and Substance Abuse Problems
Poor Economy Has Increased Homeless Numbers
VA Homeless Programs
Homeless Outreach & Engagement (Find em and Fix em)
Transitional Housing
(Grant & Per Diem)
Permanent Housing in the Community
HUD-VASH Housing
Veteran Justice Outreach
Patriot’s Landing
Provides Temporary Housing, NTE One Year(5) Fully Equipped Houses, (16) BedsOIF, OEF, OND Veterans PriorityAll Other Veterans, Space AvailableCT ResidentHonorable DischargeIndependent LivingSingle VeteransFee For ServicesSmoke, Alcohol and Drug Free EnvironmentResidential Programs and Services
Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center opened Oct 2008
State of the Art Long Term Healthcare
125 Bed Facility
Infrastructure improvementsAlzheimer’s Wing
Respite CareHospice Care Therapy AreasFamily Areas
Recreation AreasInternet Café
Gov Rell Room
$11,838,343 State Funding
$21,985,494 Federal Grant
PROJECT TOTAL $33,823,838
Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center opened Oct 2008
Connecticut Veterans Cemetery System
Darien, SPRING GROVE CEMETERY Established 1884 CLOSED
Rocky Hill, COLONEL RAYMOND GATES Established 1959 OPEN
Middletown, STATE VETERANS CEMETERY Established 1984 OPEN
CT DVA OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE“Connecting Connecticut’s Veterans to the Benefits They EARNED”
8 Service Officers authorized to assist veterans and their families to access Federal, State or Municipality Services and Benefits
CO-LOCATED with the Federal VA Regional Office in NEWINGTONAnd in EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
WATERBURY, BRIDGEPORT, NORWICH andMILFORD
CALL Vets INFO LINE 1-866-9CT-VETS or www.ct.gov/ctva
We have obtained over $45 million in new Pensions, Disability Compensation, Educational, Home Loans, Healthcare and Burial
Benefits for Connecticut Veterans and their Families
Connecticut Veterans BenefitsMunicipal Property Tax Exemptions
Education Benefits, Tuition Waiver
Financial Assistance – Soldiers’ Sailors’ Marines Fund, Temp Emer Asst Fund
Employment Benefits, Veterans Preference Points
State Employee Retirement Benefits
DMV Registration & License Fee Exemption
Honorary H.S. Diplomas for WWII, Korea and Vietnam Veterans
Connecticut Veterans Benefits
Burial in State Veterans Cemetery
CT Wartime Service Medal
Housing Preference & Home Loans
CT Veterans Registry
Military Support Program
Flag on Driver’s License, Vet’s ID
The Connecticut Wartime Service Medaland the Veterans Hall of Fame
Gov. Rell presents the Hall of Fame Medal to Navy Veteran Dr. James Sedalia Peters II
To Date over 28,000 Connecticut Wartime Medals have been awarded to our veterans
Partners in Service to Veterans
“Heroes for Hire” Veterans Job Fairs
Co-Sponsored by CT Dept of Labor and CT DVA
Thousands of Veterans meet with 200+CT companies about employment & training opportunities
Gov Rell’s Veterans OASIS Program Operation Academic Support for Incoming Servicepersons
A Public/Private Partnership Each Public College and UniversityDrop-In Room for Returning VeteransResources, Renewal, RelationshipsVeteran to Veteran17 OASIS Centers are open
CT Military Support Program
Call Center: 866-251-2913A Joint Program of CT National Guard, Dept of Veterans’ Affairs & Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Servicesoffers free and confidential counseling for:
Relationship and family issuesDepression, stress and anxietyChild and youth issuesSubstance abuse
Who is eligible for support?Connecticut Veterans of all warsand their Spouses or Significant others, Teens, Kids, Siblings, Parents, Grandparents
Veterans Administration
Veterans Health Administration, VHAVeterans Benefits Administration, VBA
West Haven and Newington Campus
Outpatient Clinic Locations:Danbury
New London
Stamford
Waterbury
Willimantic
Winsted
Veterans Readjustment Counseling Centers, (Vets Centers)
Danbury
Norwich
Rocky Hill
West Haven
VA Healthcare
Establish eligibility, VA Form 10-10EZ
Priority Groups 1 through 8 based on disability and level of income. (See Ch 1,Fed Benefits Book
OIF/OEF 5 yr VA Healthcare
Filing a ClaimContact a Veterans Service Officer
Provide all Supporting Medical Documentation
Complete a Comp and Pen Exam
Backlog, 2 yr, 1 yr,
125 day goal, End 2014
VBMS, FDC, e-benefits, My Healthevet, PMC
Be Patient
Today America has deployed over 2.4 million Armed
Forces in the current conflicts
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Connecticut has sent 20,500 to
war since 9/11/01.
Connecticut will be ready when
they come home, just as we always
have been.
Questions ???
Connecticut Veterans Website
www.veterans.ct.gov
CT Dept of Veterans Affairs
www.ct.gov/ctva
Veterans Administration
www.va.gov