Free Online Course: Military Culture: Core Competencies for Health Care Professionals

VA News This Week

Military Culture: Core Competencies for Health Care Professionals is a free online course for community health care providers helping health care professionals seeking to better treat Veterans and Servicemembers.

The eight-hour, online course covers a variety of topics through interactive features, video vignettes, case examples and treatment planning scenarios. Each of the four modules within the course was developed using research, surveys and extensive interviews with Servicemembers and Veterans.
The Course is sponsored by the departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DoD),  through the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Training Finder Real-time Affiliated Integrated Network (TRAIN).

For more information about the course, visit http://www.DeploymentPsych.org/Military-Culture.

Skagit County Veterans Assistance Program

Most Counties in Washington State have their a program for supporting veterans. This week we look at Skagit County.

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In Skagit County Veterans Assistance Program provides assistance for emergency needs, referrals, and advocacy to low-income veterans, their dependents, widows, widowers, and orphans. Its goal is to assist you through a temporary financial hardship.

Help is available with food, gas, rent, utilities, medication, clothing, and in other appropriate areas. Because of limited program funding, the program focuses its efforts on providing help when there are no other resources available. Each year, Veterans Assistance helps about 200 veteran households.
 
Eligibility: 
The Veteran must

• Have honorably served on active duty for more than 180 days for other than training purposes Have resided in Washington State for the last 12 consecutive months 
• Be indigent - the gross income of the veteran and all household members must be below 150% of the Federal Poverty level guidelines.

Required Documentation: 

• DD 214 Discharge Certificate 
• Washington State Identification or Driver's License 
• Dependent's: Marriage license and birth certificates for each child 
• Income: Award letters from VA, DSHS, Social Security, Employment or Unemployment stubs
• Lease agreement or Mortgage statement 
• Current Utility Bill.

Contact:
330 Pacific Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 416-7585
Fax: (360) 416-7599
Website: www.communityactionskagit.org
E-mail: info@communityactionskagit.org
For more information, see http://www.communityactionskagit.org/District/Department/13-Veterans-Assistance

April 25: ANZAC Day in Fremont

Celebrate the noble sacrifice of veterans, both ANZAC (Australia, New Zealand Army Corps) and America, on the 100th anniversary of the ANZACs Battle of Gallipoli in World War I.
Celebrate our veterans in Aussie-style with a beer (available for purchase) and a biscuit, hear the ANZAC history, watch some Aussie Rules Football, and learn about donating disaster kits to military families through American Preparedness, a veteran-owned community service business.
When/Where:
Saturday April 25, 2015
2pm-5pm
LTD Bar + Grill
309 N 36th St
Seattle, WA

VA Expands Choice Program Eligibility - Eligibility To Use Driving Distance

April 24, 2015 VA Press Release:

In order to expand eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it will determine eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program based on the distance between a Veteran’s place of residence and the nearest VA medical facility using driving distance rather than straight-line distance. This change has been published in the Federal Register and is effective immediately.
“VA is pleased to announce the distance calculation change from straight-line to driving distance for the Veterans Choice Program,” said Secretary Robert McDonald.  “This update to the program will allow more Veterans to access care when and where they want it. We look forward to continued dialogue with Veterans and our partners to help us ensure continued improvements for Veterans’ to access care.”
 The change from straight-line to driving distance roughly doubles the number of eligible Veterans.  Letters are being sent to the newly eligible Veterans to let them know they are now eligible for the Veterans Choice Program under this expansion. If a Veteran does not remember receiving a Veterans Choice Card or has other questions about the Choice Program, they can call (866) 606-8198.
Effective immediately, VA is also changing the mileage calculation for beneficiary travel. The change will ensure consistency in VA’s mileage calculations across the two programs. The beneficiary travel calculation will now be made using the fastest route instead of the shortest route.
 For more details about the department’s progress and related information, see www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/factsheets_and_details.asp.

May 7: Forks Stand Down

All Veterans and immediate family are welcome to this event hosted by West End Veterans/Voices For Veterans

• Hot Breakfast/Hot Lunch 
• Employment Services Benefits 
• Counseling Housing Assistance 
• Haircuts 
• Legal Aid Health 
• Screening–Medical & Dental 
• Free Clothing/Bedding/ Hygiene Kits & Outdoor Equipment 
• Free transportation—through Clallam and Jefferson Transit Buses

When/Where:
Thursday, May 7, 2015
09:00 to 15:00
Forks Elks Lodge
941 Merchants Rd
Forks, WA 98331
(360) 374-2524
ALSO:

• Port Townsend July 27, 2015
• Port Angeles October 1, 2015

Open to ALL Veterans:

• Homeless veterans
• Veterans in need but not homeless
• Immediate dependent family members. 

For information & transportation call: Tammy 360/417-2383 Paul 360/640-0296 VFW 360/302-1285
More Information (PDF)

Clallam County Veterans Relief Program

Most Counties in Washington State have their own programs for supporting veterans. This week we look at Clallam County.

The Clallam County Veterans Relief Program provides limited emergency assistance to eligible veterans and their dependents.
Who is served: 

• Applicants must meet income criteria, residency requirements, and employment of employability restrictions as dictated by Clallam County policy 950 in addition to the following: 
• Veteran, Widow, Widower, Domestic Partner or Dependent of Veteran 
• The Veteran must have honorably served on active duty for more than 180 days, for other than training purposes.
• Must have completed first enlistment or be medically discharged under honorable conditions.
• The Veteran must have resided in Washington State for the last 12 months and currently reside in Clallam County. 
• The gross income of the veteran and all household members must be below 150 percent of the poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Types of help:

• Food 
• Rent/Housing 
• Utilities 
• Medical/Prescriptions 
• Referral to other social services.

Are you in a different county? See the county-by-county map of veterans services.

National Park Passes And Veterans

Our National Park Service does not have a pass specifically for veterans. However, many veterans qualify for one of the other discount passes offered as part of our pass program.

•  If you have a permanent disability you may qualify for an Access Pass. This is a free lifetime pass that you may obtain in person from a participating Federal recreation site or office or by mail.
• If you are 62 or older you qualify for a $10 Senior Pass. You can buy a Senior Pass in person from a participating Federal recreation site or office or by mail or at this online store for an additional fee. The disability requirements for the Access Pass are not based on percentage of disability. To qualify for the Pass the disability must be permanent and limit one or more major life activities. Some examples of acceptable documentation include a document issued by the Veteran's Administration. Learn more here.

Volunteer Opportunity: Alcohol Cravings & Problems Study

Help your fellow veterans and maybe help yourself!
A research study needs volunteers to examine if the medications prazosin and naltrexone can help with alcohol cravings and use.
You may be eligible if: 

• You are a Veteran and have current alcohol problems
• You want to stop drinking or cut down to safe levels
• You have been drinking alcohol during the last month
• You have a telephone
• You have a stable place to live.

Your participation is over an 8-week period and involves:

• At the Seattle VA: screening, enrollment and final assessment
• At America Lake or Seattle VA: Weekly study visits
• Psychiatric interviews and questionnaires
• Two separate blood draws
• Taking study medications (prazosin, naltrexone, or placebo) 3 times daily for 6 weeks
• Completing brief telephone assessments for 8 weeks.

You will be paid up to $344 for your time and effort

For more information call Robbie at 206-277-4872.

Share this information with any veteran who might be seriously interested!

Free Passes to "The Water Diviner" April 21

Get your free passes here:
https://www.wbtickets.com/main/movie_landing/VFVSTldEMjE%3D
Title:
The Water Diviner - free passes
When/Where:
Tuesday , April 21, 2015
7:00pm Regal Thornton Place Stadium 14 + IMAX
301 N.E. 103rd St.
Seattle, WA 98125
(Have your pass ready to show at the door)
Description:
This movie is about Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli.
Arriving in Istanbul, he is thrust into a vastly different world, where he encounters others who have suffered their own losses in the conflict: Ayshe, a strikingly beautiful but guarded hotelier raising a child alone; her son, Orhan, who finds a friend in Connor; and Major Hasan, a Turkish officer who fought against Connor’s boys and who may be this father’s only hope.
Connor must travel across the battle-scarred landscape to find the truth…and his own peace.
I was offered these passes free, and share them with you!
More Information

Thank You Pacific Institute!

The Pacific Institute donated six cartons of books to be distributed at Puget Sound Health Care System last Sunday.
As the photo shows, there is a huge demand for books for inpatients and outpatients alike.
TPI, a world leader in developing human potential, has been supporting Veterans And Friends of Puget Sound since our inception, and their continuing support means a lot.
Thank you TPI!

Female Veterans: Get Paid for VA PTSD Study

If you are a woman who has served in the U.S. Military, and you may have PTSD, you may be eligible for a research study that will pay you $100 for 7 hours of light work, being interviewed and assessing a web-based PTSD program.

The money is easy, but the important part is that you will be helping develop a tool that will help your fellow veterans.

If you are interested, call 206-277-4328.

And feel free to print out the poster and give it to your friends: