Volunteer at May 30 Veterans' Fair in Tacoma!

The Veterans Resource Fair at the Tacoma Dome (May 30, 2015) needs YOU to volunteer!
Help provide our Veterans community of the Puget Sound area (Pierce, King, Kitsap, and Thurston County's) with a FREE Veterans Resource Fair that will have providers for the following sections: ·

• Community Services 
• VA Benefits 
• Legal Services 
• Homeless Services/ At Risk 
• Educational Benefits 
• Medical Screenings and Dental Resources 
• Jobs/Apprenticeship/Training and vocational opportunities
• Female Veterans Resources 
• Active Duty Transition Assistance 
• Financial Education/ Assistance 
• Housing and home ownership 
• Justice System Related Reintegration Services 
• Disability Claims/ Benefits 
• Widows/ Widowers Benefits.

No one is receiving any salaries, fee's, or anything of that nature from this event. It is being done with the time and sweat of Volunteers, a few unemployed and retired Vet's, and others that care.
If you or someone you know is interested in helping us out either to set up for the event (Friday, May 29, 9-1pm) or at the event itself (May 30), please sign up here

Learn more here: http://theveteransresourcefair.us

What are Veterans Treatment Courts?

From "Justice for Vets"

Veterans across the nation are volunteering in Veterans Treatment Court and coming to the aid of their fellow veterans who are struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health conditions. In this gripping documentary short, Justice For Vets brings you face to face with the volunteer veterans of the Orange County Veterans Treatment Court. Learn how they are once again serving their nation and witness the transformation brought about by a community that won't give up on its veterans. 

To learn more about Veterans Treatment Court visit www.JusticeForVets.org.

Learn more at http://www.justiceforvets.org/

Lewis County Veterans' Relief Fund

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

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The Lewis County Veterans' Relief Fund helps veterans and Veterans' spouses with a limited contribution towards:

• Funeral expenses 
• Utilities 
• Rent.

Eligibility:

• Honorable Discharge
• Income Eligibility:
• 1 Member Household = less than $1,354 per month or $16,245 per year. 
• 2 Member Household = less than $1,821 per month or $21,855 per year. 
• 3 Member Household = less than $2,289 per month or $27,465 per year. 
• 4 Member Household = less than $2,756 per month or $33,075 per year. 
• 5 Member Household = less than $3,224 per month or $38,685 per year.
• Applications will be accepted by appointment only. 
• All applications are reviewed and determination is made on a case by case basis. 

To Apply:

• Complete this application
• Gather documentation: 
• DD214 (honorable discharges only) 
• Washington State Driver's License or Picture ID 
• Proof of Washington residence for one year 
• Spouse's ID or Marriage Certificate Birth certificate for all dependents 
• Proof of income (check stub or bank statement) OR Lack of income (if you have no income you will need to prove it, example: income tax return/bank statement). 
• Utilities or funeral expenses: Original bill to be paid for 
• Rent : Must have a W-9 (provided by the County upon request) and a copy of the rental agreement, signed by the landlord. A relative of the veteran does not qualify as a bona fide landlord. 
• Call the Veterans' Benefits Specialist, 360-740-1417, to schedule an appointment to submit your application. 

More Information:

• Call 360-740-1417, 360-740-1223 or 1-800-562-6130
• See http://lewiscountywa.gov/veterans-services

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.