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As a Veteran, your financial resources may already include benefits you earned through your service, such as your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account or, if you retired from the military, your retired pay and perhaps the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). But what about life insurance? When you separated, your Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) terminated. Did you replace it with Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI)? If you didn’t replace your SGLI with VGLI or another life insurance policy, you should do so as soon as possible. But how do you know how much you need? And if you already have some coverage, why should you consider getting more? Ensuring you have adequate life insurance for your situation is crucial if you have family that depends on your financial contributions and that would suffer financially if you were no longer there. Generally, you want to have enough life insurance so that the policy’s death benefit covers your outstanding debts and replaces your income for some amount of time. This ensures that your family members have the finances necessary to carry on with their lives as planned, including things like staying in your family house, paying the bills, sending kids to college and your spouse retiring. To help decide how much life insurance will cover you, consider these three factors: Your financial situation. Take the time to assess where you are with your investments, savings, level of debt and your household’s annual expenditures. This includes mortgage payments, utility bills and other living expenses. With this information, you’ll be able to determine how much it will cost to maintain your family and lifestyle when you are gone. Additionally, consider your financial goals, such as supporting a charity or establishing an estate. Your family circumstances. Are you single or married? Do you have dependent children or a spouse? If you do have kids, are they planning to attend college? Make sure you’re prepared to cover all of your family’s needs and your life’s big picture. Your age. The younger you are, the longer your working life will be. Being younger also means you have more time to incur debt and other obligations. Keep in mind that life insurance is cheaper to obtain the younger you are. It becomes more expensive as you age, since your health may become a bigger issue later on. Want to get a better idea of just how much life insurance you need? AAFMAA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association, has a free Life Insurance Calculator you can use to find out. For this and more helpful information, visit www.aafmaa.com/subscribe to sign up for free access to premium content from the oldest nonprofit military association — AAFMAA. View the full article

Veterans face unique challenges when returning home and transitioning back to civilian life, and our mental health professionals spend every day empowering Veterans to take charge of their well-being. “VA recognizes that mental health should always be a top priority,” explained Mike Owens, a national recruiter and host of our Talk About It Tuesday weekly livestream on LinkedIn, in a recent episode discussing mental health careers. “We want our Veterans to be healthy, and we want to make sure they’re getting what they need from VA.” These trained experts—psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and more—play an integral role in the care we provide Veterans. Physical challenges are one thing, but mental challenges can take many forms, and may otherwise go unrecognized if not for these talented professionals. “VA is committed to Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors,” said Jennifer Silva, licensed clinical social worker and National Social Work Program Manager at VA. “We’re really working hard to make sure that our Veterans have the best experience possible. Work at VA If you’re a trained mental health professional, there are numerous opportunities waiting for you at VA. Visit VA Careers today to learn more about our roles and our mission to care for Veterans. View the full article

Each year on Dec. 1, VA marks World AIDS Day by joining with people around the world to show support for those living with HIV and to remember those we’ve lost due to AIDS-related illnesses. This year marks the 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day, with its theme “Remember and Commit” aligning closely with the federal goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. VA is the single largest provider of HIV care in the United States. During Fiscal Year 2023, more than 31,000 Veterans living with HIV received state-of-the-art, personalized treatment from VA regardless of where they were located. Every VA health care facility provides universal HIV testing to all Veterans enrolled in VA care and HIV prevention services to at-risk HIV-negative Veterans. In addition, VA offers integrated health care to Veterans who have HIV, including all-inclusive telehealth care. This means Veterans with HIV who live in rural areas who may relocate for part of the year and those who are traveling have the same HIV services available at larger VA facilities. Since VA makes every HIV treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration available, it can provide the latest recommendations on HIV treatment more rapidly than other providers in the U.S. As a result, survival among Veterans with HIV in VA care has increased so dramatically over the last 35 years that almost a quarter of Veterans in VA care who are living with HIV are now 70 years of age or older. Medications turn HIV diagnosis from death sentence to manageable condition “These treatments didn’t even exist 35 years ago,” said Dr. Lorenzo McFarland, deputy director of VA’s HIV, Hepatitis, and Related Conditions Programs. “HIV used to be one of the most terrible diagnoses someone could receive, and now we have the tools and medications to help Veterans live a longer and fuller life. These medications have turned an HIV diagnosis from a death sentence to a manageable chronic condition that lets Veterans live their lives.” VA is at the forefront of HIV prevention efforts, using HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) with anti-HIV drugs to protect HIV-negative Veterans at increased risk of HIV infection. Dr. McFarland explained that, “PrEP medications allow us to prevent at-risk HIV-negative Veterans from acquiring the HIV virus in the first place.” In addition to PrEP, VA is implementing proven harm reduction strategies, such as Syringe Service Programs to protect Veterans against the spread of HIV, viral hepatitis and other bloodborne pathogens. VA has the experience, expertise and resources to help Veterans living with HIV and those who are HIV-negative but are still at-risk for acquiring HIV. We cannot move forward without recalling the millions affected by HIV whose deaths we mourn by remembering their legacies and creating memorials such as The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt conceived in 1985 by human rights activist Cleve Jones. By advocating and implementing strategies to educate and protect Veterans and our communities through outreach, education, research and treatment, VA is a committed leader in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. To learn more about how VA is working to eradicate HIV and serve Veterans. View the full article

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program (ATDM) in Danville, Virginia, provides training in high-demand skills that lead to well-paying jobs with military suppliers. During this four-month program, students earn credentials to work in trades that bolster the U.S. defense industry, such as additive manufacturing, CNC machining, non-destructive testing, quality control inspection (metrology) and welding. Defense manufacturing jobs offer a thriving new career path. ATDM offers not just a solution, but a promising path forward in the transition to civilian life. A shining example of the program’s success is Virginia National Guard Veteran Jacob Lease, who worked in construction for four years after his service. But as a Veteran, he still wanted to support the military in some capacity. He found his answer at ATDM. Lease chose the additive manufacturing program because of the advanced technological training available at ATDM and the growing job market for that field. “The full scholarships covering tuition and housing available for Veterans at ATDM allowed me to be fully immersed in my experience and absorb and learn so much in a very short amount of time,” Lease said. “All of the facilities there are top of the line; I couldn’t ask for more.” The Veteran support at ATDM allowed Lease to earn his certifications and qualifications for his new career at no cost to him or his family. Before graduation, Lease was offered employment from his cohort this spring and now works as a CNC machinist at Curtiss-Wright in South Carolina, directly applying all of his training from his time at ATDM. “I love everything about it, because I know everything I’m producing is directly supporting the Navy,” he said. “It’s quite an honor to be able to do that.” How to Apply to ATDM Visit www.atdm.org. Select “Apply.” Complete the easy enrollment application. Select “Submit” and step closer to new opportunities. View the full article

VA is committed to protecting the benefits of our nation’s heroes. The holiday season is an optimal time to remind Veterans and their loved ones to remain vigilant, to protect their sensitive information, and to verify the security of websites when shopping online. That’s why VA’s Office of Financial Management teamed up recently with the Federal Trade Commission for a video interview to help warn Veterans to stay safe from digital scammers during the holidays. Beware of these scams There is a spike in digital criminal activity this time of the year, especially with online scammers preying on the generous nature of Veterans with bold charity scams. Charity scammers use deception to steal money from people who believe they are donating to legitimate charities. Scammers often exploit natural disasters and other emergencies to take advantage of donors’ sympathy and their generosity. Click here to learn more about fraud prevention tips for natural disasters or emergencies. Additionally, there is a significant increase in smartphone scams. “Jack Juicing,” for example, is when bad actors hack public USB ports to infiltrate malware or monitoring software. Be extra careful with charging your devices in public places like airports, hospitals, coffee shops, and other popular public recharging stations. The latest scam, known as “smishing,” sends spam SMS text messages to your smartphone. Text messages purport to be from reputable companies, such as your bank, and are sent to obtain passwords or credit card numbers when you click on the link provided. Bad actors are crafty and will contact Veterans pretending to be government representatives, including working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or that they work for utility companies. Never provide your sensitive personal information or passwords to questionable sources. We advise you to hang up and call the company or business directly. https://img.youtube.com/vi/7zz1oM4rk6Y/maxresdefault.jpg Find out more information from the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov. View the full article

Lourdes Tiglao is drawn to work that helps humanity. As the director of VA’s Center for Women Veterans, she understands how important it is for VA to provide assistance and support for women Veterans. But she also has the lived experience of being a woman Veteran who deployed to Afghanistan. On November 2023’s Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast, we were joined by Tiglao and Tracy Emmanuel, the deputy director for the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing Program to better understand homelessness among women Veterans. They spoke about the unique barriers that homeless women Veterans face when accessing services and what VA is doing about it. Statistics show there is room for improvement VA has made a lot of progress when it comes to assisting female Veterans, but in order to create truly equal access to programs and resources, there’s still work to be done. Based on Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data from 2018 to 2022, overall homelessness among Veterans declined by about 12%. However, during that same time period, homelessness among women Veterans actually increased by 7% from 3,219 Veterans in 2018 to 3,440 Veterans in 2022. This increase was mostly among women who experienced unsheltered homelessness. But there is reason to hope. By acknowledging barriers to care, we can help ensure equal access to services. Looking at barriers to care for women Veterans There are many barriers for women who are working to attain equal care, including missing a sense of identity because they didn’t retire, deploy or have a specific occupational specialty. Women often don’t feel like they can be called a Veteran, Tiglao said. There is also the feeling of being dismissed by their health care provider, a problem that isn’t unique to VA. Finally, there are myths around obtaining services, such as the fact that many women Veterans feel like they can’t ask for housing support because their children will be taken away. Tiglao noted that it’s crucial for all women who have served to feel validated as a Veteran and to combat these myths that continue to circulate. What VA is doing to improve the situation One of the ways we can overcome barriers to care is by making VA more welcoming for women Veterans. “Women Veterans need to see themselves reflected in the spaces and places they seek help,” said Tiglao. “They don’t come to VA because everything’s all great and well. They’re coming because they need something.” Another way VA can help is to provide services to Veterans who would prefer a home visit. “We might have women Veterans who don’t want to come to a VA location for their care,” said Emmanuel. “Our program does home visits, whether you’re a female Veteran or not. We can come into the home. We can help Veterans come up with their treatment plan.” Learn about VA programs If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit VA’s Center for Women Veterans website to learn more about how the Center coordinates VA health care, benefits, services and programs for women Veterans. Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness. Check out the Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast to learn more about what VA is doing about Veteran homelessness. Learn how to get involved with housing homeless Veterans. For more stories like these, subscribe to the Homeless Programs Office newsletter to receive monthly updates about programs and supportive services for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. View the full article

Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks and Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System hosted a faith-based outreach event for faith-based community members to combat Veteran suicide. VA Secretary Denis McDonough came to endorse the mission and vision of the event. The all-day suicide prevention training held at the Global Campus Professional and Workforce Development facility accommodated both in-person and virtual attendees. Presentations from VA experts included suicide prevention awareness training, VA mental health care and VA substance abuse and addiction treatment programs. Other trainings included Moral Suicide, Intimate Partner Violence and handling crisis situations. “It takes groups working together to save lives and change the narrative that says a Veteran who seeks help is a victim, broken or weak,” said McDonough. “There is an enormous power of reaching out. That is why VA is reaching out to faith-based community members to work together to end suicide.” “I have more confidence when talking to Veterans in crisis.” “After participating in this training, I feel like I have more confidence when talking to Veterans in crisis,” said Beau Gage, president of Blind Faith Outdoors. “This training gave me a better understanding of Veteran culture.” Gage runs a nonprofit ministry that focuses on bridging church with the outdoors. First responders and Veterans are the primary groups that attend. “Blind Faith Outdoors’ goal is to connect nature and God by providing a relaxing environment so people can unwind and join in fellowship.” This event occurred during Suicide Prevention Month, but suicide prevention among Veterans is VA’s top clinical priority, every day. “We need our community leaders, faith-based leaders, our Veteran Service Organizers, and our neighbors and caregivers to engage with us so we can stop suicide from occurring,” said Medical Center Director Dr. George Velez. “Suicide prevention is every day of the year.” Veterans can call 988 Press 1 or text 838255, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to be connected to trained crisis counselors. View the full article

The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States’ highest award for military acts of valor. The President of the United States, as the commander in chief of the armed forces, awarded the first MOH in 1863, and as of Sept. 5, 2023, there have been 3,536 Medals of Honor awarded across military branches. Those who perform such acts of valor may have unique health challenges that need special assistance. VA recently collaborated with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS) to develop a pilot program providing direct and specialized assistance for the 65 living MOH recipients nationwide. https://news.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/puckett-medal-of-honor.pngU.S. Army Veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Ralph Puckett (seated). Medal of Honor pilot The MOH program pilot launched in May 2023. VA identified seven initial pilot sites that have a recipient with urgent needs. Based on VA’s Veterans Experience Office and the Veterans Health Administration’s National Social Work Program recommendation, these sites began establishing an MOH Recipient Care Coordination Team, with a facility-based clinical social worker serving as the designated point of contact. Other team members may include a social work chief, traveling Veteran coordinator, Community Care specialist, emergency/urgent care supervisor and administrative specialist. These teams are dedicated to ensuring MOH recipients have access to VA and community provider services and a guide to walk them through the VA health care and benefits they have earned, whenever and wherever they need it, including coordinating warm transfers between care coordination teams for traveling MOH recipients. VA also is reaching out to MOH recipients to inform them of resources and benefits available to them. Some MOH recipients have been invited to visit with VA leadership and the director of CMOHS Healthcare and Advocacy as they travel across the country. MOH program outreach and in-home visits have resulted in referring more recipients to relevant services, such as the VA Eye Clinic, Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, Veteran Directed Care and Caregiver Support Program. For easier physical accessibility, the VA pilot sites designated a VIP parking space for MOH recipients’ visits and medical appointments. Immediate impact to Medal of Honor recipients The pilot program has already positively impacted several MOH recipients. For example, four MOH recipients enrolled in VA health care were assigned to a Patient Aligned Care Team, eight had their service-connection information updated, and four received a service-connection increase. Another example of immediate impact is when Debi Bevins, VA’s Office of Client Relations director, met MOH recipient Edward Byers on the plane as they traveled to the 2023 CMOHS Convention in New Orleans. The coincidental encounter gave Byers an opportunity to share his challenges with Bevins, who in turn relayed the issues to her team and helped resolve Byers’ issues within a day. When VA Secretary Denis McDonough spoke at the convention, Byers took the floor to publicly commend Bevins and her team for helping him quickly resolve his concerns. Along with providing MOH recipients with services, VA is honoring those awarded with the nation’s highest military honors with due reverence. The Central Alabama Health Care System hosted a ceremony to honor U.S. Army Veteran and MOH recipient Ralph Puckett on Sept. 5, 2023. During the event, Puckett was photographed in uniform, and his portrait is now displayed in the Central Alabama Health Care System’s new Poydasheff VA Clinic so visitors can learn about their local hero. Many VA facilities are named for MOH recipients, including the VA medical center in Huntington, West Virginia, which is named after U.S. Marine Corps and WWII Veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams. After his military service, Williams served at VA as a Veterans Service Representative. Expanding the Medal of Honor program The VA MOH team is building on the initial pilot’s success and is well on the way to expanding the MOH program. Based on feedback from MOH recipients, their family members and caregivers, CMOHS and VA employees, VA’s National Social Work Program is expanding the MOH program to 39 additional sites. Did you know? 3,536 Medals of Honor have been awarded across military branches. There are 65 living MOH recipients. 15% receive VA care exclusively. 10% receive Department of Defense care primarily. Approximately 50% use a hybrid VA-DoD care model. Medal Of Honor Program pilot sites VISN 1: VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, CT VISN 7: Central Alabama Health Care System, Montgomery, AL VISN 12: Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI VISN 15: VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, Leavenworth and Topeka, KS VISN 16: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX VISN 22: VA San Diego Health Care System, San Diego, CA VISN 22: Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center – VA Phoenix Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ View the full article

Nurses are the backbone of VA, and with all that they do for Veterans, we’re proud to embrace the next generation of nurses as they join us in our mission of serving those who have served. From emergency departments to intensive care units, from Community Living Centers to outpatient clinics (and everywhere in between), our nurses stand ready to offer support, concern and care. Since we are the largest employer of nurses in the nation, VA is the place for you to begin your nursing career. Part of our commitment to training and developing the next generation of nurses begins with our academic affiliations. These collaborations between VA and the country’s finest nursing schools provide students with clinical experiences that specifically address the unique needs of Veteran population and prepare them to excel in careers at VA. VA also offers numerous opportunities to help you learn how to care for Veterans and join our ranks. Whether you need a scholarship to help you pay for school, training to learn the VA way, or support to further your career, we’re here to help. Work at VA The path to a rewarding, fulfilling job as a VA nurse starts at VA Careers. Learn more about what we have to offer and how you can make the most of your training on our team. View the full article

Oklahoma City VA recently launched a new app called “VA Health Chat” to help Veterans “chat” directly to health care professionals. VA is constantly developing new ways to improve communication with primary care doctors, pharmacy and all communication services provided to Oklahoma City Veterans. The goal of VA Health Chat is to improve Veteran satisfaction and improve timeliness of getting Veterans scheduled for their appointments with providers outside VA with Community Care appointments. “VA Health Chat provides a more convenient method to contact VA’s Community Care,” said Martha Tichenor, community care manager. “It provides flexibility in how to communicate, and allows us to add that personal touch for us to reach out and ‘chat’ with Veterans. “We leave a lot of voicemails and have difficulty reaching some Veterans to get their preferences for different providers, find out if they have an appointment scheduled or attended their appointments. With VA Health Chat, we can offer another way for Veterans to return that critical information and move forward with their consult quicker and easier.” App connects you with online messaging or text “The VA Health Chat app connects you with online messaging or text with a VA health care professional who can assist you, sometimes within minutes of sending the message,” said Erica Love, connected care specialist. “If a provider from your assigned care team needs to be contacted, the health care professional can send a message on your behalf and relay the messages.” Another communication tool is the Annie app for Veterans, which sends automated text messages such as medication reminders and tips for reducing stress. VA Health Chat is Oklahoma City VA’s newest digital app developed to improve communication, have real time responses, and the goal of this team is to continuously improve upon the support provided to Veterans health care needs. View the full article

After serving 21 years in the Navy, Nigel Thomasford wondered what he’d do next. As the days grew closer to retirement, his career counselor told him about the DoD Skillbridge program, which is designed to give transitioning service members the opportunity to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships. Thomasford (pictured above) looked at the DoD Skillbridge website to see all of the companies and organizations that were offering internships. He noticed a cook position at Audie Murphy VA. “I’d been to culinary schools and college universities while in the Navy, so I was very fond of that and that’s why I chose to pursue that position,” he said. “I chose the culinary field because of the fond moments I had with my parents, who were nursing and medical professionals but loved cooking.” Thomasford contacted Maria Worley, chief of the Nutrition & Food Service for South Texas VA. “From the first email, I could tell he was positive and enthusiastic and would be the type of personality that we are looking for as a team member,” Worley said. Nutrition & Food Service served as a part of a pilot program as a business partner with the DOD Skillbridge program. “It’s not just a job because I get to give back to the Veterans.” Fast-forward to today. Thomasford has successfully completed the DoD Skillbridge internship and accepted a full-time position as a senior cook at Audie Murphy VA, the first site in VA to graduate and hire a DoD Skillbridge applicant. “I highly recommend the Skillbridge program,” he said. “It was so beneficial to me because, after being in the service for 21 years, it allowed me to see I was capable of working with civilians after the military. It also showed me that the skills I learned in the military translated into the civilian sector and boosted my confidence. I love working for VA because every day I come to work, it’s not just a job because I get to give back to the Veterans. As a Veteran, I have stock in it, so I take a lot of pride in what I am doing.” South Texas VA congratulates Nigel Thomasford on completion of his internship and accepting a position with VA. Special thanks also to the DoD Skillbridge program for partnering with Nutrition & Food Service at Audie Murphy VA. The DoD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for active duty service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships during the last 180 days of service. View the full article

When America joined the fray of World War I in 1917, more than 12,000 Native Americans stepped forward and served on the frontlines as snipers, scouts, and in other military roles. Many Americans don’t know that these service members risked their lives for a nation that had not yet granted them citizenship, which they hoped to gain through military service. Native Americans have defended America from the Great War through every conflict since, and more Native Americans per capita continue to serve than any other group. National Native American Heritage Month honors them, and it also provides an opportunity to renew VA’s commitment to improving the lives of Native Americans who served in uniform. The Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Loan Guaranty Service (LGY) helps address the needs of Native American Veterans through the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program, a special initiative that supports Native American Veterans who want to buy, build or refinance a home on federal trust land. “We owe it to Native American Veterans to do everything we can to open the door to the American Dream for them and their families,” said John E. Bell III, executive director of LGY. “We will remain steadfastly committed to informing all tribal nations about the NADL benefit.” Created in 1992, NADL has steadily grown, opening the doors for more Native American Veterans to own homes. Some of the benefits Native American buyers receive through the NADL program include not having to provide down payments or secure private mortgage insurance, in addition to paying limited closing costs and receiving low interest rate loans. For Native American Veterans to apply to NADL, their tribe must have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with VA. LGY has worked closely with tribal leaders to sign 111 MOUs. The NADL team embarks on a vigorous engagement schedule each year, visiting as many tribal communities as possible, either in-person or virtually, to raise awareness on NADL benefits, and to help draft MOUs with tribal nations not yet participating in the program. In March, LGY reduced the NADL interest rate to 2.5% through March 2025 to address the greatest barrier to program utilization on federal trust land—affordability. To learn more about VA’s Native American Direct Loan program, please visit VA.gov/Housing-Assistance/home-loans/loan-types/Native-American-Direct-Loan. View the full article

How grateful are you? Gratitude is important for physical and emotional well-being, but let’s consider two aspects of gratitude that may be overlooked: appreciating the struggles you’ve experienced, and sharing your gratitude with others. There was a study that asked 2,000 Americans whether they had experienced any of 37 different negative life events over the course of four years. It looked at depression, health problems and life satisfaction. The outcome may surprise you. Those who had the most and those who had the least struggles suffered more than the others. In other words, the study showed that going through some hard times resulted in better physical and emotional health. While multiple negative events can be bad for us, so can the lack of negative events. Is it true for you? Think about your own challenges. Hard times can build your coping skills, help you recognize what’s important to you, and give you confidence to tackle future problems. You’re probably not grateful when you are in the middle of hard times, but looking back you might be grateful for what you learned from them. Gratitude helps! Think of the people in your life who have made a positive difference. Family members, teachers, friends, fellow service members and Veterans, your health care team, religious leaders—anyone whose presence has made your life better. There was a study on how to increase happiness and it found that an effective strategy was to write a letter to one of these people and then read it to them. Writing a letter allows you time to reflect on what this person means to you and draw out the details. Reading it allows them to hear the impact they had on your life. This action has enormous benefits for both the reader and the listener. You may want to start this process with a five-minute meditation process on gratitude: https://img.youtube.com/vi/o7DhHcj1jE4/mqdefault.jpg Putting Gratitude into Practice During the holiday season—or anytime you want to build gratitude—consider these two ideas: Think about how you have overcome life challenges and what you learned about yourself. Write a letter to someone who helped you in your life and read it to them. Anyone who is experiencing a crisis and needs to talk can reach out—dial 988 then press 1 for immediate support. View the full article

Detective Brendan Dougherty from the Upper Marion Township Police Department recently worked with Montgomery County’s Veterans Response Team (VRT), and came away impressed. Adopted from another community, Montgomery County’s VRT began under the guidance of a Veteran Justice Outreach social worker at Coatesville VA Medical Center. The Veterans who qualify for health care are likely to receive their care at Coatesville VA or one of the other facilities in the area. Having an established Veterans Response Team network isn’t just helping Veterans in crisis. It’s helping the police officers, first responders and the departments who see the value in having trained VRT members in their community and encourage them to sign up. Dougherty has been in constant contact with other VRT members while supporting a Montgomery County Veteran through their 18-month wellness journey, and it has opened the detective’s eyes to what this team can accomplish when they all commit to being accessible and helping the Veterans in their community. What is the Veterans Response Team? “The VRT is a network of people who already serve the citizens of Montgomery County and who work together to connect Veterans with the many programs and services available to them at the county, state and federal level. The team is designed around the current trends in the county’s Veteran population, the needs of first responders in the field and the resources available from our all our partners,” explained Anna Trout, crisis and diversion director for the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health. Benefits beyond the Veteran in crisis Even the Law enforcement officers who are Veterans are surprised at how much they have learned since joining. Team members are quick to admit that they were unaware of many of the benefits they are eligible for until they started helping other Veterans. “First responders who have gone through the process of accessing the care and benefits they deserve themselves can better help their fellow Veterans,” said Trout. That’s why every first Veteran responder who joins VRT is encouraged to apply for VA benefits and to sign up with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs registry. https://news.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Speaker-and-audience_r1.jpg?w=324Veterans Response Team trainees in Montgomery County listen as Brendan Dougherty shares the story of his first encounter with a Veteran following VRT training Unexpected benefits Veterans helping Veterans is having unexpected benefits for VRT members. Chief of Police at Lower Providence Township Police Department Michael Jackson said his department was getting called out several times a week to one location for domestic disturbances. During one visit, a police officer saw something that tipped him off there was a Marine Corps Veteran in the home. After confirming that one of them was a Veteran, the officer got permission from the Marine to call in Corporal Justin Hubert, Lower Providence Township officer and Marine Corps Veteran, who has combat experience and recently completed VRT training. The two began talking and Hubert deescalated the situation. He discovered the Marine also had combat experience. The visits went from confrontational to check-ins, and the Veteran told Hubert things he never told anyone else. Hubert connected the Veteran to VA resources and eventually the domestic disturbance calls stopped all together. It’s a no brainer Following that first visit with the Veteran, two things happened. The first was that the Marine Corps Veteran called Jackson (pictured above) and thanked him because he had never had a positive interaction with the police, ever. According to Jackson, the second was that Hubert was overwhelmed by a sense of satisfaction in helping someone who had walked in his shoes, someone he was uniquely qualified to help. Jackson explained why VRT is growing so quickly in Montgomery County. “It’s a no brainer because it costs the department nothing,” Jackson said, when describing the decision to offer officers the opportunity to be VRT members. “It’s another tool in the toolkit for law enforcement to deescalate situations and build relationships.” Jackson explained that having VRT-trained officers is helping his whole department because other officers understand the power of calling in someone who can make that personal connection and have better odds of turning a negative encounter into a positive one. If you are a military Veteran in crisis, service member, their family or caregiver, call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 then Press 1. View the full article

Community Building Art Works (CBAW) is a Veteran service organization that builds healthy and connected communities through free online workshops led by professional artists. Veterans and civilians share creative expression, mutual understanding and support. Our mission is to make sure that no Veteran bears the burden of service alone. In partnership with Blue Star Families, CBAW offers writing workshops two Thursdays a month. Visit our website for a full up-to-date schedule. National Family Caregivers Month: The challenge of caring for Veterans November is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor and support family caregivers. No one knows the struggle of caring for an injured or ill loved one quite like caregivers of Veterans and military service members. The caregiver’s role is challenging and emotionally demanding, often leading to burnout and stress. Providing for the needs of injured Veterans and military service members can be emotionally taxing. The daily stress, physical demands and emotional toll of caregiving can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues among caregivers. Specifically, empirical studies show that informal caregiving for another adult is associated with higher levels of loneliness and social isolation for the caregiver. Loneliness and social isolation are more than just negative feelings. Research demonstrates strong links between loneliness, social isolation and chronic health risks, with impacts on a person’s long-term health as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. https://news.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/PK_forCaregiverMonthBlog.png?w=730 Expressive writing as a bridge to community Expressive writing, the practice of pouring out one’s thoughts and emotions onto paper, has been shown to be an effective tool for improving mental health. For caregivers of Veterans, writing provides an opportunity to reflect on their experiences, process their emotions and release pent-up feelings. Patti Katter knows first-hand how transformational the act of writing and sharing one’s story can be. A caregiver to her husband Ken, who was wounded in Iraq in 2007 while serving in the Army, Katter loved writing since early childhood. She says that keeping a scrapbook and journal while her husband was deployed helped her. “After Ken was wounded, my writing days almost vanished,” she said. “In fact, I almost vanished. I was exhausted dealing with the red tape Ken experienced with his health care.” When she heard about “We Carry On,” a series of expressive writing workshops held by Community Building Art Works in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project, specifically for caregivers of Veterans and military personnel, she was ready to reconnect with her love for the written and spoken word. “It wasn’t like a normal caregiver workshop,” she said. “They focused on helping us write. I unearthed some pretty raw emotions during that time.” While Katter says the experience of writing and sharing her story was raw and emotional, it led her to a place of healing and greater happiness. “I began thinking about all of the hard crap I went through,” she said. “Little did I know [it was] the first step of… being able to actually do what I wanted to do, which was write, [and] was to start giving me that light I needed again.” When practicing writing together with others coming from similar experiences, however, caregivers can choose to share their words out loud, giving them an outlet to say what might be otherwise inexpressible in their daily lives. Caregivers who write better understand their emotions, develop resilience and maintain their mental health. “I finally took my spiritual, mental and physical health into my own hands” after sharing her story, Katter said. The power of art making in healing Art making is another powerful means of promoting mental health among Veterans and their caregivers. It encourages creativity and self-expression, offering an escape from the stressors of caregiving and the trauma of military service. Engaging in various forms of art—such as painting, sculpture or music—can serve as a non-verbal way to process their experiences and emotions. Art can provide a sense of achievement and self-worth, helping caregivers regain confidence and control over their lives. Art making in community with others can also be an effective tool for relieving caregiver stress and enhancing their overall well-being. Community Building Art Works hosts a weekly visual arts workshop every Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST. In the workshop, military family members and Veteran caregivers can reduce feelings of isolation and connect with others through shared creative experiences. Workshops like this can be a form of self-care, providing respite from the constant demands of caregiving. The importance of supportive communities Incorporating expressive writing and art making into the lives of Veterans and their caregivers is only the beginning. It’s equally essential to foster supportive communities where people can share their creative expressions and receive encouragement and feedback. Caregivers can find solace in peer support groups that provide a safe space to share their writings or artwork. These communities not only validate their experiences but also offer an avenue for building connections and camaraderie. National Family Caregivers Month is a reminder of the crucial role that caregivers play in the lives of Veterans and military service members. Their selfless dedication often comes at a high personal cost, affecting their mental health and well-being. Expressive writing and art making offer a path to healing and self-discovery, allowing Veterans and caregivers to process their emotions, regain a sense of control and connect with a supportive community. As we celebrate caregivers this month, let’s remember that their mental health is just as important as the support they provide. By embracing these creative outlets and nurturing a sense of community, we can help Veterans and caregivers not only survive their challenging roles but also thrive in them, ultimately promoting better mental health for all involved. View the full article

Heritage is valuable to Veterans of every generation, and that can be said of the southwest San Antonio community who showed up in force to celebrate the new Southwest Military VA Clinic Nov. 9. Not only was this a time to see a new clinic, but it was also an opportunity for South Texas VA to honor Veterans Day. In the heart of San Antonio’s southwest side, this new clinic offers Veterans a larger and more modernized space to receive their care—from primary care and mental health to laboratory services and telehealth. South Texas is home to one of the fastest growing health care systems in the United States. John Mendoza, deputy medical center director, showed his appreciation for the community’s support and of all in attendance who came to celebrate the new clinic. “It’s our job, our responsibility, to serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors as well as they’ve served us, as well as they’ve served our country. Not just on Veterans Day but every day, he said. “All Veterans deserve timely access to world-class health care and benefits, and we will never settle for anything less. We consider it an honor and a privilege to provide the care to the Veterans who depend on us for their health care.” The new clinic supports two Patient Aligned Care Teams that assist Veterans with annual health exams, immunizations, chronic disease management and more. This clinic provides additional services, such as women’s health, pathology and laboratory services. Dr. Scott Wise, president of Valor Healthcare, was pleased to see this new clinic already open and staff providing care in the modernized setting. “You are going to meet an incredible staff who runs this clinic. Our folks, because of their professionalism, could work anywhere in this health care community that they choose. They choose to come work with Veterans because they have a passion for what we do. And a passion for giving back to those who served.” Get more information about South Texas Veterans Health Care System. View the full article

Eight VA employees are joining the newest cohort of VHA Innovation Ecosystem fellows this year. Fellows receive resources from the Innovation Ecosystem to further develop or expand their projects that improve Veteran health care and VA employees’ experience. VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellowships are a unique opportunity for VA employees to become catalytic leaders across the organization. These employees will spend a year gaining the experience and skills necessary to make a significant contribution to VA. Last year’s cohort of fellows have made notable improvements to the Veteran experience. The 2023 senior innovation fellow, Melissa Tran, works at Orlando VA. She used her fellowship year to expand access to reproductive health and perinatal services to Veterans through PREPARe and hosted VA’s first ever Maternal Health Summit. The 2023 entrepreneur in residence fellow, Dr. Priya Joshi, works at San Francisco VA. She addressed food insecurity through over 85,000 grocery deliveries to 2,500 Veterans and their families with Food Share. This year saw a marked increase in the number of applications for the fellowship program, with more than double the number of employees who applied. “We witnessed an enormous amount of interest in fellowships this year,” said Suzanne Shirley, director of Fellowships for VA IE. “That increase wasn’t just in application numbers but in the diversity of applicants. Employees from all over the country, from a variety of backgrounds and professions, are pursuing this opportunity to expand their impact and grow in their careers.” Introducing the 2024 fellows Senior innovation fellows: Mary Julius is the quality manager for the National VA-DOD Virtual Diabetes Self-Management Education Program and program coordinator for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support at Northeast Ohio VA. Dr. Rona Relova is a research health scientist at Palo Alto VA. She will be expanding the Pharmacogenomics Initiative, a clinical program that enables the use of a Veteran’s pharmacogenomic profile to assist with medication management. Nichol Salvo is chief of Podiatry and program director of Limb Preservation at Atlanta VA. His mission is to provide basic foot care to patients at increased risk for amputation, improve access and timeliness of care and prevent amputation in Veterans. Entrepreneurs in residence: Dr. Kevin Carroll is a clinical neuropsychologist at Northern California VA. His project will be testing, developing and improving his existing Virtual Rehabilitation Game for use by Veterans in acute, outpatient and home settings. Dr. Jay Gorman is a clinical research psychologist in the VISN 1 New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and director of the Social Reintegration Research Program at the VA Bedford Healthcare System. He will be spreading awareness of the need for increased social reintegration services and programs. Lori Murphy is the Caregiver Support Program senior social worker at Central Ohio VA and has led Compassionate Contact Corps since 2020, an innovative approach to combating Veteran loneliness and social isolation. Elizabeth Dinges and Minh Ho will be partnering to spread harm reduction supplies and services to more VA facilities while ensuring Veterans who use drugs are incorporated into VA care models and decisions. You can learn more about the Fellowships program and the newest cohort of Fellows here. Want to learn more about innovation at VA? View the 2023 State of Innovation Report, visit our website, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, and visit VA Pathfinder to learn more about our opportunities. View the full article

Bay Pines VA became the latest recipient of a new Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) after delivery of the vehicle to the C.W. Bill Young VA campus. Last year, Bay Pines VA helped VA surpass the national goal of permanently housing 38,000 Veterans, with support to 638 local Veterans. The arrival of the MMU allows the organization to build on this accomplishment by strengthening the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team’s ability to conduct outreach to Veterans across Pinellas County who are not enrolled in the healthcare system. “We are immensely proud that Bay Pines VA was chosen to receive the Mobile Medical Unit,” said Social Work Chief Alisha Stanton. “We look forward to meeting Veterans where they live in the community and providing them easier access to basic services that can improve their health care and quality of life.” An opportunity to extend health care services outside our facilities Stanton added that the team supporting the MMU will include a doctor, advanced registered nurse practitioner, registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, and a social worker. https://news.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Mobile-Medical-Unit-Arrives-at-Bay-Pines-VA_r1.jpg?w=540Bay Pines VA staff receive the Mobile Medical Unit VA officially announced the launch of 25 MMUs in August. Bay Pines VA was one of the healthcare systems across the country selected. The MMU teams will provide a variety of basic care services, including treatment for hypertension, diabetes, basic immunizations and wound care. Social work services will also assess social determinants of health and access to mental health support. “We have an enormous opportunity here to extend our health care services and support outside of our facilities,” added Chief of Staff Dr. Amin Elamin. “The MMUs allow our teams to cover a larger area more effectively, which is a huge benefit to at-risk Veterans.” The MMU is a permanent part of the organization’s fleet, and while the teams will be going out once per week to start, they will be exploring options to expand frequency. View the full article

Nurse Joe Herndon is known as Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center’s walking encyclopedia of knowledge and organizational history. And his patients sing his praises. “I love coming to VA to see Joe because it’s more like visiting a friend than coming to an appointment,” said Arthur Finley, Jr., Army Veteran and longtime patient. When you spend 52 years of your life serving service members and Veterans, the unofficial title and comments are well-earned. Herndon started his health care career in 1971 as an Air Force nurse, serving 12 years in Spain, Fort Worth, San Antonio and in California, where he supported NASA and the first eight space shuttle landings with medical support at the Edwards Air Force Base Rodgers Dry Lake facility. Leaving active military service in 1983, Herndon sought a new challenge that would allow him to focus on patient care and the organizational environment—and not just numbers and metrics. He found that new opportunity with VA in Bonham, Texas. “VA health care is about the people.” “Our patients need and require our caring and empathy,” said Herndon. “VA health care isn’t all about numbers. It’s about the people who gave so selflessly to our nation.” During his many years of service to VA, Herndon chose to remain in hands-on patient care and education rather than continue on a senior management career path. His dedication has resulted in many profound coworker connections and a strong organizational environment that has benefited from his knowledge, experience and mentoring. “Joe’s insight and efforts are invaluable to VA North Texas,” said Glenn Creswell, North Texas nurse and Herndon’s supervisor. “When you have decades of experience like Joe, you help the organization move past obstacles and better prepare professional caregivers to deliver the very best health care to patients.” Herndon has changed many lives during his nearly 40 years with VA, including his own. He met his wife Beverly, a 37-year Veteran of Sam Rayburn VA, on the job 26 years ago. After 52 years of military and VA service, Herndon has no plans to retire. “I love what I do and am very content. Why would I retire?” View the full article

I’m starting this article on suicide prevention with a short, simple quiz. Who do you know better than anyone else? Their fears, their hopes and their dreams? Who do you spend all your time with? If you answered “me,” you’re correct. But, how often do you take the time to check in with yourself? It’s easy to get caught up in everyday life and put yourself last, especially around the holidays. In fact, Veterans were trained to put others’ needs ahead of their own. Think back to why you joined the military. It probably had something—or a lot—to do with wanting to be a part of something bigger than yourself. And part of that was relying on others to accomplish the mission. It’s the same once you get out. Everyone faces struggles in life, and no one can get through them alone. To stay mentally and physically healthy, you can’t wait until everything piles up. You can’t wait for a crisis to happen. You have to reach out for support when you need it. The value of finding support With the holidays upon us, you may be in touch with more friends and family than usual. If someone you care about told you they’re struggling and they need your support, would you help them? Even if they’re going through a crisis and thinking about suicide? Most Veterans I know would say, “Yes.” This also goes the other way. If you recognize you need help, reach out to the people around you, or you can contact the Veterans Crisis Line at Dial 988 then Press 1. Some things to look out for are: Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness or mood swings Feeling excessive guilt, shame or sense of failure Increasing alcohol or drug misuse Neglecting personal welfare and appearance You can also take a confidential, anonymous self-check quiz to see if stress and depression might be affecting you. While some Veterans say this would make them feel like a burden—and I can understand why they would feel that way—it’s not true. There are people who want to be there for you. How to find support If you or the Veterans in your life need support, VA offers many resources that can help. And you don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to use any of them: VA Suicide Prevention: Explore suicide prevention resources to build networks of support among community-based organizations, VSOs, health care providers and other members of your community who strengthen protective factors for Veterans. VA’s Resource Locator: This tool can connect you to the nearest resources within 10 miles from your ZIP code. Results will include the type of resource and its name, address and phone number, a link to its website and the distance from the ZIP code you entered. VA Mental Health: VA’s repository of mental health resources, information and data materials. Make the Connection: More than 600 Veterans and family members from across the country have shared their stories of strength and recovery. It only takes a few seconds to find a story just for you. Don’t wait. Reach out.: Get support designed specifically for you. Family members or friends can find resources for the Veterans in your life. Don’t wait to reach out for support I know how hard it can be to ask for help. It’s natural to want to keep pushing forward even when times are rough. But you don’t have to carry the weight alone. The Veterans Crisis Line is a call, chat or text away, and it can help with whatever you’re going through: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255. By staying in touch with the people you care about—including yourself—you can find the hope and support you deserve. Not just during the holidays but all year. View the full article

The words “homeless” and “Veteran” should not exist together, and ensuring Veterans have access to services that can help them with homelessness is amongst VA’s top priorities. Homelessness among Native American Veterans is of special focus for VA as Native Americans serve in the military at higher rates than other subpopulations of Americans. But part of accessing these services is being aware of them. It’s crucial for VA to make Veterans aware of the services they have access to, particularly when it comes to VA’s homeless assistance resources. This month is National Native American Heritage Month which acknowledges the history and critical contributions of Native people along with Native American Heritage Day (November 24) when their rich culture, accomplishments and heritage are honored and celebrated. In honor of that, we’re proud to spotlight our video series From Homeless to Housed: Stories From Native American Veterans Assisted Through VA. This video features the inspiring stories of Native American Veterans in Oklahoma who overcame homelessness after becoming aware of and accessing services through VA’s programs. https://img.youtube.com/vi/urffanQGfzw/maxresdefault.jpg Resources that help Veterans live independently and thrive While many Native American Veterans experiencing homelessness are hesitant to reach out to VA for help, those who do learn about the incredible impact VA can have on their lives. Not only does this support assist Veterans in exiting homelessness but it provides them with access to additional resources that can help them live independently and thrive. There are a full range of VA homeless assistance resources specifically for Veterans, including the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. HUD-VASH provides Veterans experiencing homelessness with intensive case management, long-term rental subsidies that make housing affordable and supportive services to aid their housing stability. While the standard HUD-VASH program serves all eligible Veterans experiencing homelessness, VA identified barriers to serving Native American Veterans (such as jurisdiction issues) who wished to live in the Indian reservation communities where their natural support systems were located. To address these barriers, VA and HUD developed Tribal HUD-VASH in 2015. Tribal HUD-VASH awards hybrid Indian Housing Block Grants to tribes or tribally designated housing entities to provide rental assistance for Veterans and their households experiencing homelessness. Unlike standard HUD-VASH, Tribal HUD-VASH also expands eligibility to Native American Veterans at risk of homelessness. The program also provides them with case management to assist them with obtaining and sustaining housing, and achieving their personal goals. “I would recommend any Veteran to utilize the programs VA offers,” said Scroggins. “They’re not going to leave a Veteran behind.” VA is committed to ensuring Native American Veterans and their families are aware of and can utilize all benefits and services they are entitled to receive. And those who have experienced the impact of these services and programs know how powerfully it can change their lives, moving from a state of uncertainty to one of stability and hope for a brighter future. Learn about VA programs If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Share our brochure on Resources for Native American Veterans Experiencing Homelessness. Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness. Check out the Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast to learn more about what VA is doing about Veteran homelessness. Learn how to get involved with housing homeless Veterans. For more stories like these, subscribe to the Homeless Programs Office newsletter to receive monthly updates about programs and supportive services for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. View the full article

Vet Centers are conducting a survey to assess awareness of their services and barriers to care. Many Veterans and service members the Vet Center teams engage with say they were unaware of them but often remark they wish they knew about their services sooner. Some even say a Vet Center saved their life. VA wants to determine whether Veterans, service members and their families know about Vet Centers and, if they do, what’s preventing them from seeking counseling, engagement and referral services. The more Vet Centers learn the more they can help. Identifying barriers to care Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of no-cost social and psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible Veterans, service members (including National Guard and Reserve components) and their families. Vet Centers are looking to learn from individuals who are not yet connected to them about their awareness of Vet Centers or what prevents them from using their services. A few minutes of your time could help save a life. As a Veteran, service member or family member, your input is very valuable. By completing this online survey, you will help Vet Centers understand how to increase their reach to eligible individuals. By surveying non-Vet Center users in an approachable—and anonymous—way, Vet Centers anticipate that Veterans and service members can feel safe providing their honest feedback and opinions around access to counseling. The information gathered will help Vet Centers reduce barriers to care and provide potentially life-saving services to more Veterans and service members in communities across the nation. About Vet Centers Vet Centers have more than 300 brick-and-mortar locations across the nation, and it offers a variety of counseling services to help Veterans and service members make a successful transition from military to civilian life or heal after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling are offered in addition to referrals and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are Veterans, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma. The organization’s top priority is to reduce Veteran and service member suicide to zero. Taking a few minutes of your time to complete the online survey could help save a life. View the full article