Augusta, GA November 18, 2009
Three Central Savannah River Area Wounded Warrior Care Project board members were honored at an Augusta-area Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Jim Hull (President of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project), and board members Clay Boardman and Boone Knox were all recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Augusta area.
Click here to read the article in the Augusta Chronicle:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/18/bus_556176.shtml
Also, MG Perry Smith (USAF ret.) has written another piece for the Augusta Chronicle praising community efforts, including those that have completed the campaign to fully fund Augusta's second Fisher House, the home away from home for wounded warriors' family members. This breaks ground December 9th on the campus of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, and shows the community's total commitment to not only the wounded warriors coming to Augusta for care at our Active Duty Rehab Unit, but also serves as an endorsement of the unique partnership that Eisenhower Army Medical Center has with our VA Medical Center.
To see MG Smith's article, click here: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/18/op__556139.shtml
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
New GI Bill Emergency Funds (apply online)
Note: This is a VA news release with the latest information about emergency funds the VA will release beginning October 2nd, 2009.
Please comment about your experiences with applying for the benefit.
Laurie Ott
Executive Director, CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katie Roberts
Sept. 30, 2009 katie.roberts@va.gov or 202-461-4982
Secretary Shinseki Announces Ability to Sign Up for Emergency Education Benefit Payments on VA Web-Site this Friday
Vans to Help Veteran-Students
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to VA regional benefits offices.
“Our Veterans went the extra mile for their country,” Shinseki said. “One of our top priorities in transforming VA is to be, first and foremost, the advocate for Veterans.”
Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s 57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”
Students without their own transportation can also request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service, Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.” Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.
Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their likely monthly education benefits.
A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.
Applications from approximately 25,000 Veterans are currently being processed for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit payments to students or schools.
Please comment about your experiences with applying for the benefit.
Laurie Ott
Executive Director, CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katie Roberts
Sept. 30, 2009 katie.roberts@va.gov or 202-461-4982
Secretary Shinseki Announces Ability to Sign Up for Emergency Education Benefit Payments on VA Web-Site this Friday
Vans to Help Veteran-Students
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to VA regional benefits offices.
“Our Veterans went the extra mile for their country,” Shinseki said. “One of our top priorities in transforming VA is to be, first and foremost, the advocate for Veterans.”
Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s 57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”
Students without their own transportation can also request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service, Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.” Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.
Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their likely monthly education benefits.
A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.
Applications from approximately 25,000 Veterans are currently being processed for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit payments to students or schools.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Kayak Program at Augusta VA: How to Help
The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia is home to the nation's only Active Duty Rehab Unit located within a VA facility. It's treated more than 640 inpatients since opening in 2004, and was featured on the NBC Nightly News in March.
The Kayak Program, overseen by the Recreation Therapist at the Active Duty Rehab Unit, allows Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen healing at the unit to enjoy this outdoor sport and the beautiful Augusta canal as well as the Savannah River. To volunteer your time or to support the program, contact Eric Gray, Recreation Therapist, Charlie Norwood VA Active Duty Rehab Unit at eric.gray@va.gov or call him at (706) 733-0188 extension 6146.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Mentor program for OEF/OIF combat returnees
The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project hosts a Transition Round Table, providing a venue for networking in order to streamline efforts to help service members, veterans, and their families in transition. A brief overview of initiatives includes an employment and training program in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers (in Archaeological Curation), a collaborative job fair on Fort Gordon for soldiers in the Warrior Transition Battalion and Iraq and Afghanistan-returned veterans, and a computer training collaboration with the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, the Georgia Department of Labor, and the Cristina Foundation. We are also exploring pain management programs (civilian, military, and VA programs)to help Iraq and Afghanistan returned service members and veterans.
Art Robb, US Navy (ret.) is a volunteer with our project, and is helping us develop a mentor training program for the Augusta, Georgia area for combat veterans and service members. This program will complement and aid in coordination of efforts by agencies and organizations as well as assist in the transition back into community from combat. To contact Art, you can email him at arobb25@comcast.net or to read his blog (which will appear soon here on our website), you can see it now at: http://combatwarriormentoringblog.blogspot.com/
We hope you weigh in on the need for this type of program, give us information if you know of an existing combat warrior peer mentoring program, or let us know if you'd like to be a sounding board.
Laurie Ott
Executive Director
CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project
laurie.ott@csrawwcp.org
(706) 434-1708
Art Robb, US Navy (ret.) is a volunteer with our project, and is helping us develop a mentor training program for the Augusta, Georgia area for combat veterans and service members. This program will complement and aid in coordination of efforts by agencies and organizations as well as assist in the transition back into community from combat. To contact Art, you can email him at arobb25@comcast.net or to read his blog (which will appear soon here on our website), you can see it now at: http://combatwarriormentoringblog.blogspot.com/
We hope you weigh in on the need for this type of program, give us information if you know of an existing combat warrior peer mentoring program, or let us know if you'd like to be a sounding board.
Laurie Ott
Executive Director
CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project
laurie.ott@csrawwcp.org
(706) 434-1708
Thursday, June 25, 2009
New Federal Recovery Coordinator Call Line
If you or someone you know needs coordinated care, the national Federal Recovery Coordinator Program just released this new call line.
Share this information with anyone you know who may need to refer wounded warriors and their families to highly specialized and highly trained care coordinators.
Federal Recovery Coordinators are one of the recommendations of the Dole/Shalala Commission and there are currently 13 of them assigned across the nation, including one in Augusta at Eisenhower Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Battalion.
The Federal Recovery Coordinators are assigned out of the VA Central Office in Washington, and that's where this phone number rings. The program director works for the Secretary of the VA as a Special Assistant.
The staff in the DC office encourage anyone (friend, neighbor, loved one, self) to call if they have someone who may need coordinated care. They have criteria they must follow, but they are willing to refer people to other resources if they do not qualify.
Please share this with anyone you know who could benefit from it.
Federal Recovery Coordination Program
Toll-free Referral Phone Lines
1-877-461-0034 or 1-877-732-4456
The Federal Recovery Coordination Program (FRCP) toll-free phone line is an outreach to service members and veterans who are, or who may be, eligible for that Program. If a staff member is not available, the caller may leave a voice message. Calls will be returned the same business day. Any calls received outside business hours (M-F 9am-5pm Eastern) are returned the next working day. General inquiries, referrals or specific questions from family members, healthcare providers and interested others are welcome.
Share this information with anyone you know who may need to refer wounded warriors and their families to highly specialized and highly trained care coordinators.
Federal Recovery Coordinators are one of the recommendations of the Dole/Shalala Commission and there are currently 13 of them assigned across the nation, including one in Augusta at Eisenhower Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Battalion.
The Federal Recovery Coordinators are assigned out of the VA Central Office in Washington, and that's where this phone number rings. The program director works for the Secretary of the VA as a Special Assistant.
The staff in the DC office encourage anyone (friend, neighbor, loved one, self) to call if they have someone who may need coordinated care. They have criteria they must follow, but they are willing to refer people to other resources if they do not qualify.
Please share this with anyone you know who could benefit from it.
Federal Recovery Coordination Program
Toll-free Referral Phone Lines
1-877-461-0034 or 1-877-732-4456
The Federal Recovery Coordination Program (FRCP) toll-free phone line is an outreach to service members and veterans who are, or who may be, eligible for that Program. If a staff member is not available, the caller may leave a voice message. Calls will be returned the same business day. Any calls received outside business hours (M-F 9am-5pm Eastern) are returned the next working day. General inquiries, referrals or specific questions from family members, healthcare providers and interested others are welcome.
Monday, March 23, 2009
NBC Nightly News Coverage: March 23, 2009
The NBC Nightly News "Making a Difference"story tonight featured Augusta's Active Duty Rehabilitation Unit located within our VA Medical Center. It's the only such unit like it, and correspondent COL Jack Jacobs (ret.) covered the powerful healing work going on at this unique facility. The unit is an example of Army/VA collaboration, and according to Jacobs, is a "Model for the nation."
COL Jacobs ought to know. This Medal of Honor recipient was wounded in Vietnam, and chronicles his experiences in his new book,
"If Not Now, When?"
COL Jacobs ought to know. This Medal of Honor recipient was wounded in Vietnam, and chronicles his experiences in his new book,
"If Not Now, When?"
The stories of MSG Tom Morrissey and others are featured in COL Jacobs' story. MSG Morrissey credits the Active Duty Rehab Unit at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center and its collaboration with Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta with saving his limbs from amputation after he was ambushed with an AK-47 in Afghanistan in 2006. You can hear more of MSG Morrissey's interview here.
LT Joshua Darnell's story isn't all that different from MSG Morrissey. COL Jacobs asked LT Darnell about his injuries, and he reports he's miles from where he was when he arrived at the Active Duty Rehab Unit. You can see LT Darnell's story here.
Both stories join more than 610 other warriors' examples of restoration and healing in August, Georgia. To find out what you can do to support the warrior care mission already underway in our community, check out our website link "How You Can Help."
Both stories join more than 610 other warriors' examples of restoration and healing in August, Georgia. To find out what you can do to support the warrior care mission already underway in our community, check out our website link "How You Can Help."
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Computers and Training for Veterans: Collaboration
Since February of 2009, we've been exploring a collaboration with the National Cristina Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, students at risk and disadvantaged persons. National Cristina Foundation matches computer technology donated from corporations and the public as it comes out of its first place of use to training programs such as ours.
In July of 2008 the Cristina Foundation launched a special initiative with the American Legion in Texas working to provide refurbished computers and access for free computer training to veterans with special needs. The initiative, Linking Together for Veteran's Futures, in coordination with the CompTIA Educational Foundation's Creating Futures program and the Art for Soldiers Foundation, targets eligible veterans who require IT support, many of whom include returning Iraq and Afghanistan service members.
Representatives from the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, the Charlie Norwood Iraq and Afghanistan Program, and CompTIA's Educational Foundation met recently to determine how to connect the information technology training and certification with returning service members looking to pursue careers in information technology.
The next steps will be to identify ways in which donated technology from the National Cristina Foundation and training from CompTIA Educational Foundation can help veterans in Augusta and prepare them for rewarding careers in IT. The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is our primary partner for identifying those Iraq and Afghanistan service members who are transitioning out of active duty and would benefit from access to both the technology and the training.
If you'd like to learn more about this new collaboration, or to support it, contact me at: laurie.ott@csrawwcp.org or (706) 434-1708.
In July of 2008 the Cristina Foundation launched a special initiative with the American Legion in Texas working to provide refurbished computers and access for free computer training to veterans with special needs. The initiative, Linking Together for Veteran's Futures, in coordination with the CompTIA Educational Foundation's Creating Futures program and the Art for Soldiers Foundation, targets eligible veterans who require IT support, many of whom include returning Iraq and Afghanistan service members.
Representatives from the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, the Charlie Norwood Iraq and Afghanistan Program, and CompTIA's Educational Foundation met recently to determine how to connect the information technology training and certification with returning service members looking to pursue careers in information technology.
The next steps will be to identify ways in which donated technology from the National Cristina Foundation and training from CompTIA Educational Foundation can help veterans in Augusta and prepare them for rewarding careers in IT. The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is our primary partner for identifying those Iraq and Afghanistan service members who are transitioning out of active duty and would benefit from access to both the technology and the training.
If you'd like to learn more about this new collaboration, or to support it, contact me at: laurie.ott@csrawwcp.org or (706) 434-1708.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Initiatives Update: Veterans Court, March 2009
Today I was given the privilege of speaking to the Augusta Bar Association with board member The Honorable Doug Barnard, our retired 10th District Congressman.
Judge Jim Blanchard spoke about the Drug Court launched in Richmond County last year, and the program's successes. I was invited to observe this Drug Court a week ago, and I was very impressed with the enthusiasm for sobriety on the part of the participants and the impact treatment options have on those who would otherwise be in the throes of their addictions, or in jail, or worse, dead. This treatment court model is of great interest to our project, as we look at the potential to launch a Veterans Court similar to the program in Buffalo, NY and a few other locations across the country. The idea is to connect veterans who end up in front of a judge with the programs, services and benefits they have already earned through their service. The focus of the court in New York state is treatment, and a team approach to challenges facing veterans.
We are fortunate to have a wonderful VA Medical Center in Augusta (the Charlie Norwood VAMC) and program managers and leadership there interested in exploring how to implement the treatment model court for veterans in our area.
March 27th, the Charlie Norwood VAMC will host the Buffalo judge who started the Veterans Court there, for an all day session to discuss how the program works. The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project is hosting a meeting on this day to bring judicial and law enforcement leadership together with our VAMC staff and the Buffalo judge to explore implementing this here. This small work group will look at the needs of this generation of returning service members' needs, and veterans and their families needs in transition, and ways to meet those needs in collaboration with the Charlie Norwood VAMC.
From the response today from the Augusta Bar Association, it appears our community is ready to collaborate on this type of initiative, and ensure our veterans get the care they need, when they need it.
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