Fort Gordon's Garrison Commander is increasing outreach and services to survivors of fallen Soldiers.
Contact Suzanne Crosby (suzanne.crosby@us.army.mil), of Survivor Outreach Services to learn more about their upcoming February 25th event that starts at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cultural Center in downtown Augusta at 13th and Greene Streets.
See their announcement below!
Laurie
_____________________________________________
The Army has implemented the new Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) program to
assist the survivors of our fallen Soldiers. The SOS staff is hosting
"Coffee Break with SOS" as a networking event for event sponsors and service
providers to learn about SOS and meet others who assist our CSRA survivors.
Three tables will be provided for service providers to share their business
cards or brochures with other service providers. When you RSVP, please let
me know if you will want to utilize table space.
"Coffee Break with SOS" will be held on February 25, 2010 from 9:30-11:00
a.m. in the Grand Hall at Sacred Heart (1301 Greene Street). We hope you
will come join us for your midmorning cup of coffee. The event is open to
the public so you may invite other coworkers or friends that might have an
interest in assisting our survivors. Please RSVP to Survivor Outreach
Services by February 22, 2010 at (706) 787-4SOS(4676) or (706)
787-1SOS(1767) or email us at Suzanne.crosby@us.army.mil.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Free Legal Help for Military & Veterans in GA
Great News for Georgia's Service Members, Veterans and Their Families
The State Bar Association of Georgia has launched a program to provide coordinated and free legal services to military personnel and veterans. Mike Monahan, Director of the program, and Norman Zoller, Coordinating Attorney, visited the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project Transition Round Table today and briefed on the program.
To find out more about it, visit: http://www.gabar.org/programs/military_legal_assistance_program/
or contact Mike Monahan at mikem@gabar.org or Norman Zoller at normanz@gabar.org.
We also plan on including Augusta area attorneys in our next Transition Round Table to better connect the local legal community with our ongoing efforts to streamline the system. The round table provides the platform for networking and harnessing resources dedicated to transitioning service members, veterans and their families.
To get a copy of the next meeting's agenda (slated for April 14th, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.), or to get a copy of the Transition Round Table charter, contact Susan Folk, folk.susan@gmail.com
Laurie
The State Bar Association of Georgia has launched a program to provide coordinated and free legal services to military personnel and veterans. Mike Monahan, Director of the program, and Norman Zoller, Coordinating Attorney, visited the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project Transition Round Table today and briefed on the program.
To find out more about it, visit: http://www.gabar.org/programs/military_legal_assistance_program/
or contact Mike Monahan at mikem@gabar.org or Norman Zoller at normanz@gabar.org.
We also plan on including Augusta area attorneys in our next Transition Round Table to better connect the local legal community with our ongoing efforts to streamline the system. The round table provides the platform for networking and harnessing resources dedicated to transitioning service members, veterans and their families.
To get a copy of the next meeting's agenda (slated for April 14th, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.), or to get a copy of the Transition Round Table charter, contact Susan Folk, folk.susan@gmail.com
Laurie
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Augusta Leaders Praised for Commitment to Community, Warriors
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
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
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.
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