Veterans Innovations Program

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Veterans Innovations Program

The Veterans Innovations Program was created to provide assistance to veterans and their families.

Funds are provided to veterans and families in need through three separate programs within the Veterans Innovations Program.

1) Defender’s Fund

2) Competitive Grant

3) Veterans Family Fund (funding to become available in Spring 2008)

We work with the veteran and/or their family to match their individual needs with the appropriate Veterans Innovations Program fund and other veteran or non-veteran programs and services. Our goal is to make sure the veteran and their family has access to all veterans benefits and the tools they need to provide for themselves and their families.

Money comes into the Veterans Innovations Program from several sources:

1) Original funding was provided by the Washington State Legislature for the Defender’s Fund and the Competitive Grant

2) Individuals and businesses may purchase Veterans Family Fund CDs which directs a portion of interest to the Veterans Innovations Program, Veterans Family Fund.

3) Individuals and businesses may make direct donations to the Veterans Innovations Program

<H3 class=style25>Defenders' Fund</H3>

You may be eligible for a one time emergency grant of up to $1000.00

• If you are a current or former WA National Guard or Reservist;
  
• Served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or Noble Eagle and;
  
• Are experiencing financial hardships in employment, education, housing, health care or other areas due to extended deployment.
  
  
  Payments will be made to creditors such as landlords or utilities to directly resolve the financial hardship.
  
  The Defenders' Fund is meant to supplement other funding opportunities such as: County Veterans Assistance Funds, Minuteman or other private organization funds.
  
  Click here for an Application
  
  Contact your retention NCO or
  
  
  • National Guard Annie Deandrea
    at 253-512-8722
    
  • WDVA at 1-800-562-2308
    
    The Competitive Grant Program goes beyond the initial emergency assistance provided through the Defender’s Fund, and focuses on activities that will help veterans and their families obtain sustainable family-wage employment.
    
    Applicants must have served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary or Service Medal.
    
    Individual grants are tailored to meet the needs of the veteran or their family. Below are examples of how a grant could be used:
    
    
    • Supplement wages for on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs;
      
    • Tuition payments for education or certification programs; and/or
      
    • Supportive services such as transportation assistance, housing, child care, or other needs-related payments necessary to enable an individual to resolve crisis situations, enter training or employment, and/or retain employment.
      

    Click here for an Application

    Veterans Family Fund

    Available Spring 2008

    The Veterans Family Fund will provide direct grants for emergency financial assistance and activities that promote long-term financial stability.

    This is a new program that will be funded with interest earned by Veterans Family FundTM Certificates of Deposit. Grants will be made beginning in 2008 as the fund receives the interest from CDs that have matured. If you are a veteran or immediate family member and currently in need of assistance, please contact WDVA at 1-800-562-2308.

    Please visit the Veterans Family Fund website for more information on the certificates of deposit.

    Veterans Innovations Program Goal: Develop a results oriented program that considers the long-term well-being of the veteran and their family and focuses on employment or financial stability, education/training, health care and housing.

    Veterans Innovations Program History: The 2006 State Legislature passed Second Substitute House Bill 2754, the Veterans Innovations Program. The bill does the following:

    [*]Creates the Veterans Innovation Program (VIP) for the purpose of providing veterans who served in recent military action with crisis and emergency relief, as well as education, training, and employment assistance.

    [*]Creates two separate programs within the VIP: Defenders' Fund Program and the Competitive Grant Program, and terminates the VIP on June 30, 2016.

    [*]Create the Veterans Innovations Program Account in the state treasury.

    [*]Gives Washington National Guard and Reserves returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, their spouses, and dependents priority in the Washington basic health plan.

    Visit the Health Care Authority website for more information and to apply for coverage.

    $2 Million was appropriated in the 2006 supplemental Budget and WDVA was given the authority to use funds to staff the program.

    For Information on Tramatic Brain Injury click here

    Source:

    http://www.dva.wa.gov/Vet_Inn_Pro.html