New Executive Director to be named

January 5th, 2011 -- Augusta, GA

The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project board announces the departure of Executive Director, Ms. Laurie Ott, who has accepted the position of President of the University Health Care Foundation.

Ms. Ott will remain with the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project through March 14th to assist with the transition to her successor. Ms. Ott will join the organization as a board member in April.


The search for Ms. Ott’s successor has begun. Board President Mr. James M. Hull said, “We wish Laurie well in her new endeavor and look forward to her continuing involvement with the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project. Because of her leadership, Augusta is ahead of the nation when it comes to developing the community-based model for reintegrating warriors after combat. The community and the board of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project are passionate about ensuring our warriors and their families thrive, and we look forward to finding the next Executive Director who can help us build on our accomplishments and the region’s unique warrior care capabilities.”


The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project is a community-based organization founded in 2007, dedicated to developing best practices to maximize resources and provide world class support for our wounded warriors, veterans and their families. To date, accomplishments include the launch of award-winning marriage enrichment and family reintegration programs that provide communication skills after combat, the launch of the first-in-the-nation Veterans Curation Project (a training and employment program for Iraq and Afghanistan returnees), the establishment of Transition Round Tables and a Research Consortium, which provide the platform for information sharing and increased collaboration among federal, state and local agencies and organizations, the assignment of Federal Recovery Coordinators to Augusta to help wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families, and assisting with the launch of the Veterans Court, which begins later this month.


For more information about the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, visit our website at www.projectaugusta.org.

Day of Service: Saturday, January 8th, 2011

Georgia's Governor-elect, Nathan Deal, who takes office January 10th, 2011 in Atlanta, has selected the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project for a Day of Service. Debbie McCord is heading up the local project, where we'll build a play set and complete fencing for a warrior wounded in Afghanistan, SGT (ret.) Darryl Wallace, and his family.

For information about the project or to volunteer, go to the Day of Service Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151908511525019&num_event_invites=0

and ask Debbie how you can help this weekend (Saturday January 8th).

Veterans Curation Project: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

The award-winning Veterans Curation Project continues to gain national attention. The innovative training and employment program for Iraq and Afghanistan returnees was recently featured in Soldier Magazine. The Veterans Curation Project was started first-in-the-nation in Augusta, GA in collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Warrior Transition Battalion (Fort Gordon), the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, the Department of Labor, and the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project.

Veterans (and uniquely in Augusta, active duty soldiers in the Warrior Transition Battalion) take part in training, learning how to curate, perserve, inventory, and photograph artifacts, and scan related records. In addition to the curation and computer skills, veterans and soldiers also gain confidence in their abilities, themselves, and enjoy meaningful work in a supportive environment.

The House of Representatives has voted to expand funding for this innovative program. It still needs Senate approval.

To see the article on the VCP, click here: http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/11/01/47087-veterans-curation-project-those-who-make-history-help-preserve-it/

KISS Supports Wounded Warriors

The most storied rock group in history supported the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project this year at every stop along their North American tour. This photo is from the wrap up concert in Fontana, California, and shows the band presenting a check for $501,018 to the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project. Thank you KISS!

Star Note for the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project

The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project received a star note from BG Jeff Foley, now the former commanding general of Fort Gordon, this year. The note from June of 2010 states, "To the Members of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project: I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for the outstanding support you provide to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and their families serving our great nation here at Fort Gordon. The CSRA is truly a community of patriots. Our service members feel your pride in their sacrifice every day. As we continue to serve our nation with pride, you honor us with your constant reverent support. Thank you, again, for being such a great neighbor and for holding dear the Freedom our service members protect. Sincerely, Jeffrey W. Foley, Brigadier General, US Army, Commanding General"

Veterans Employment Seminar: Know Your Rights

The first Augusta-area Veterans Employment Seminar was held Monday, June 14th, 2010 at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, presented by the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project and John B. Long, Esq.

The need for the seminar came up after veterans told us they were being asked inappropriate and possibly illegal questions on job interviews, including being asked for copies of their medical records, and details about their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Monday's seminar, where Mr. Long and Mr. Mont Miller presented information about USERRA (the 1994 act meant to protect service members' and veterans' employment rights) helped give veterans information on how to handle those types of questions.

Among the suggestions given: redirect those kinds of questions to a discussion of your skills and what you have to contribute on the job.

An article on the seminar from the Augusta Chronicle can be found at:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2010-06-14/legal-forum-aims-aid-vets-civilian-jobs?v=1276554666

A follow up seminar will be held in three months. Please check back for exact location and time or contact Susan Folk at Folk.Susan@gmail.com.

Mentor Training Program May 18th, 2010

Mentor Training & Overview Starts May 18th in Augusta

The CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project (www.projectaugusta.org) is launching a Mentor Program. This Mentor Program will augment care for those active duty personnel at the Warrior Transition Battalion (Fort Gordon).

Mentors will serve as navigators and sounding boards to help mentees make positive life choices and decisions to help them achieve the best outcomes possible as they make the transition from active duty to civilian status, and reintegrate back into the community.

West Point graduate COL (ret.) Jon Dodson, Mentor Coordinator with the Walter Reed Wounded Warrior Mentor Program will be with us on Tuesday, the 18th of May at American Legion Post 205 in Augusta from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of their program, explain the benefits of mentoring, and he'll also conduct a very brief training on protecting privacy as it relates to health information (HIPAA). Pizza and refreshments will be served. We will also provide an overview of the Augusta Wounded Warrior Mentor Program.

Augusta Wounded Warrior Mentor Program

WHAT WE ARE: An initiative of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, and a community-based program for soldiers in the Warrior Transition Battalion on Fort Gordon, GA.

WHAT IS A MENTOR? A navigator and sounding board to assist a Warrior in Transition (WT) in planning a productive and meaningful life and profession after service.

WHO ARE THE WOUNDED WARRIOR MENTORS? This is a volunteer program. Mentors for the Warrior Transition Battalion are Red Cross-trained Veterans who have had successful private sector careers, as well as retired Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers and senior Noncommissioned Officers. The mentors are screened by a panel including Warrior Transition Battalion staff and CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project volunteers.

WHAT IS THE MENTOR’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE WOUNDED WARRIOR?
It is a one-on-one relationship that aims to build a trusting bond between the mentor and the mentee. Our primary focus is the WT.

WHAT CAN A MENTOR DO FOR YOU?
· Help the WT plan for a productive life and profession in the event of separation from the military.
· Help WT set life goals based on their interests and get them on a path towards achieving them. This includes suggesting appropriate professional and personal development opportunities.
· Assist the WT in developing and considering options for the future, and in choosing a course of action.
· Help WT plan their educational goals and assist them in putting a plan into action.
· As appropriate, assist WT in preparing a personal budget and making sound financial plans, encouraging the WT to take advantage of the full range of VA, community and other benefits available.


Please reply to Susan Folk, folk.susan@gmail.com and let us know if you are able to attend!

Directions to American Legion Post 205, 2012 Highland Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904 (Phone: 706-733-4069)

From Ft Gordon: Head east on Gordon HWY/US278/US E/GA-10 E/JEFFERSON Davis Memorial HWY. Turn left onto Highland AVE. 2102 Highland AVE is on the right.


From North Augusta: South on Georgia Ave/US-25 BR toward E SUMMIT AVE. (crossing into GA). US-25 becomes 13th st, 13th St becomes RA DENT BLVD. Turn slight right onto Wrightsboro Road, 2102 Highland Ave is on the left.