U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
1055 Clermont Street, Denver CO 80220
Contact:
Jordan Schupbach
Office of Public Affairs
jordan.schupbach@va.gov
Office: (303) 393-5205
Mobile: (720) 238-7795
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2010
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Opens Brand New Clinic
DENVER, COLO. - VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System will host a Grand Opening Ceremony for the brand new Jewell Clinic at 14400 East Jewell Avenue in Aurora, CO on Friday, February 19 at 1pm. Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer and State Representative Nancy Todd, among others, will attend. The program will include a short ceremony, as well as tours of the facility and veteran demonstrations of the equipment and programs.
The new Jewell Clinic provides state-of-the-art rehabilitative and prosthetic care. This clinic is home to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, the Prosthetic Treatment Center, and the Call Center. Outpatient services include a new Polytrauma Program, the Assistive Technology Program, Drivers' Training Rehab, Outpatient Recreation Therapy, the Regional Amputee Center, Rehab Psychology, Speech Pathology and Voice Lab, Wheelchair Program, Orthotic and Prosthetic Lab, Shoe Clinic, Brace Clinic, Amputee Clinic, Gait Lab, Telemedicine Wheelchair and Amputee Clinics and our Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation Program (VISOR).
# # # #

DENVER, COLO. – Jan. 20, 2010 – The Denver County Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) will receive the Homeless Veteran Outreach Award from the Colorado American Legion Economic Commission for its efforts in assisting homeless veterans get connected to employment and support services.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by such a prestigious veteran’s organization,” Denver County HVRP Program Coordinator Ian Lisman said. “I am proud to have served my country, and I enjoy serving homeless veterans in our community.”

According to Patricia Wilson Pheanious, manager of the Denver Department of Human Services, where Denver County HVRP is housed, “We have knowledgeable, caring veterans on our staff who are committed to serving their peers – they are the reason we have this award winning program.”

Last year, Denver County HVRP assessed over 600 veterans for eligibility and enrolled approximately 300 veterans into the program with an employment placement rate of approximately 70 percent. The program helps homeless veterans with job preparation, résumé writing, interviewing skills, job searching, and provides referrals to other services and resources.

“Our staff’s personal connection to the veteran community and understanding of how difficult it is for many veterans to re-enter society after war-time really helps them in their outreach efforts and ensuring veterans get connected to services and employment,” Wilson Pheanious said.

Denver County HVRP attributes its success to the diligent work of its staff, and strong collaborative partnerships formed with other agencies and organizations throughout the Denver metro area.

Denver County HVRP employer partners include High School Posters, Veterans Green Jobs, Securitas, Advantage, Wilson Trucking and Yankee Peddler. Community and veterans partners include Bo Matthews Center for Excellence, Brandon Center, Cherokee House, St. Joseph House, Denver’s Road Home, McIntyre House, American Legion, VFW, Veterans Stand Down and many more.

Denver County HVRP is also a nominee to receive this award from the National American Legion.

The Denver County Veteran Services Office (VSO) operates Denver HVRP. The Denver County VSO assists veterans and family members with benefits, compensation and pension claims, housing and more. Additional information about Denver County VSO and HVRP can be found at www.denverveterans.org.

RESPONSE TO 60 MINUTES STORY ON VA DISABLITY CLAIMS

STATEMENT + TALKING POINTS – JANUARY 3, 2010:

“Secretary Shinseki believes no Veteran should experience an adversarial relationship with VA. VA’s primary mission is to be an advocate for Veterans. The Secretary is deeply committed to changing the paradigm of today’s paper-bound disability claims process and believes that the entire system must become more transparent.”

• VA fully shares Veterans’ concerns about the timeliness of disability benefit claims processing.

• VA’s primary mission is to be an advocate for Veterans. There is a family member, husband, wife, son and daughter behind every Veteran that uses VA benefits and we must never take that responsibility lightly.

• Every day our 298,000 employees care for those who have borne the battle. No Veteran should experience an adversarial relationship with VA – it is unacceptable. But in instances where we have not done right by a Veteran, we must learn from our mistakes and make sure to prevent them from ever happening again.

• One of Secretary Shinseki’s top priorities is to create an environment of advocacy for Veterans that is people-centric and forward thinking. We must help Veterans through our processes and make sure that our benefits programs are meeting their needs on a case by case basis.

• Technology is the key to transforming the department’s system and processes. VA has embarked on a series of initiatives to improve claims processing nationwide. VA’s goal is to convert to a paperless claims process over the next several years.

• VA has over 11,470 employees working to support compensation and pension claims processing. Our staff has grown by 4,200 people in the last three years and we are working diligently to leverage network automation and software productivity tools to manage our caseload effectively and deliver benefits quickly.

• VA needs a benefit rating system that reflects the current needs of our Nation’s Veteran’s and anticipates the needs of our future Veterans. We may not know the specifics of future conflicts, but we must be prepared to provide the best serves they deserve and have earned.

• VA is a large agency—the second largest cabinet-level agency in the federal government. We do have several communications challenges, but we must continue to work hard to improve our lines of communication and provide employees, Veterans, and all of our stakeholders with timely and accurate information.
 

Education Partners Making the Grade
Featured partner: Red Rocks Community College

In a record time of seven months from conception to implementation, Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) has become Veterans Green Jobs' flagship education program, geared to enable veterans to become a sought after workforce for the renewable energy industry.
Under the leadership of RRCC's Vice President of Instruction Colleen Jorgenson, Dean Joan Smith and Director of Renewable Energy Technology Larry Snyder, RRCC has developed Colorado's first accredited certificate program in energy auditing. The one-semester Home Energy Audit Training (HEAT) program trains vets in the Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification for Building Analyst - the OSHA standard for the construction industry - and in the use of standard energy audit software.
As the semester winds down, it is worth noting that the Veterans Green Jobs cohort has a success rate on the certification exam triple that of many other non-credit programs. The next cohort, comprised largely of the first women vets to participate in HEAT, will start in mid-January, 2010. With the recent change in the Xcel contractor requirements specifying a percentage of BPI-certified workers, this program will likely find plenty of opportunities for its graduates and RRCC will continue to be the technical leader in renewable energy and energy conservation in the state of Colorado. Read more about HEAT: 

 http://veteransgreenjobs.org/green-jobs-training/training-programs

VA Women Vet Programs Update 08

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a comprehensive study of women Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War to explore the effects of their military service upon their mental and physical health. The study, which begins NOV 09 and lasts more than four years, will contact approximately 10,000 women in a mailed survey, telephone interview and a review of their medical records. As women Vietnam Veterans approach their mid-sixties, it is important to understand the impact of wartime deployment on health and mental outcomes nearly 40 years later. The study will assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical health conditions for women Vietnam Veterans, and explore the relationship between PTSD and other conditions.

VA will study women Vietnam Veterans who may have had direct exposure to traumatic events, and for the first time, study those who served in facilities near Vietnam. These women may have had similar, but less direct exposures. Both women Veterans who receive their health care from VA and those who receive health care from other providers will be contacted to determine the prevalence of a variety of health conditions. About 250,000 women Veterans served in the military during the Vietnam War and about 7,000 were in or near Vietnam. Those who were in Vietnam, those who served elsewhere in Southeast Asia and those who served in the United States are potential study participants. The study represents to date the most comprehensive examination of a group of women Vietnam Veterans, and will be used to shape future research on women Veterans in future wars. Such an understanding will lay the groundwork for planning and providing appropriate services for women Veterans, as well
as for the aging Veteran population today.

Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veteran population. There are approximately 1.8 million women Veterans among the nation's total of 23 million living Veterans. Women comprise 7.8% of the total Veteran population and nearly 5.5% of all Veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates women Veterans will constitute 10.5% of the Veteran population by 2020 and 9.5% of all VA patients. In recent years, VA has undertaken a number of initiatives to create or enhance services for women Veterans, including the implementation of comprehensive primary care throughout the nation, staffing every VA medical center with a women Veterans program manager, supporting a multifaceted research program on women's health, improving communication and outreach to women Veterans, and continuing the operation of organizations like the Center for Women Veterans and the Women Veterans Health Strategic Healthcare Group. The study, to be managed by VA's Cooperative Studies Program, is projected to cost $5.6 million.

[Source: VA Press Release 19 Nov 09 ++]

The Five Year Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans: Actions for FY 2010

November 2009
Overview of Homelessness
• 131,000 Veterans estimated to be homeless on any given night*
• Homelessness is often a consequence of multiple psychosocial factors, including unstable family supports, job loss, inadequate job skills, health problems, substance use disorder, or other mental health concerns.
• Homeless services cannot be provided in isolation.
• Homeless services must be comprehensive
– recovery-oriented,
– support physical and mental health stabilization and treatment,
– provide substance use disorder treatment,
– enhance independent living skills,
– address vocational rehabilitation and employment maintenance,
– assist with housing searches and placement.

Defining Homelessness
A Homeless Veteran:
• Lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;
• Or resides in a public or privately operated shelter or institution;
• Or resides in a place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

A Chronically Homeless Veteran:
• Has been continuously homeless for 1 year or more or has had at least 4 episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years.
Health and Mental Health Needs
of Homeless Veterans
• 66% Alcohol Abuse
• 51% Drug Abuse
• 54% Serious Psychiatric Diagnosis
• 39% Dual Diagnosis
• 58% Health/Physical
VA Five-Year Comprehensive Plan to Eliminate Homelessness
Among Veterans
• VA will expand existing programs and develop new initiatives to prevent Veterans from entering into homelessness and to treat those who are currently homeless.
– Increase the number and variety of housing options including permanent, transitional, contracted, community-operated, and VA-operated
– Provide more supportive services through partnerships to prevent homelessness, improve employability, and increase independent living for Veterans
– Improve access to VA and community based mental health, substance abuse, and support services

These program enhancements will provide housing, VA health care and benefits, gainful employment and residential stability to more than 500,000 Veterans
VA’s Strategy to Eliminate Homelessness
Among Veterans

• VA’s philosophy of “no wrong door” means that all Veterans seeking to prevent or get out of homelessness must have easy access to programs and services. Any door a Veteran comes to – at a Medical Center, a Regional Office, or a Community Organization – must offer them assistance.

• Built upon 6 strategic pillars:
– Outreach/Education,
– Treatment,
– Prevention,
– Housing/Supportive Services,
– Income/Employment/Benefits and
– Community Partnerships.

VA Five-Year Comprehensive Plan to Eliminate Homelessness
Among Veterans
• The provision of safe housing is fundamental. However, programming must include:
– mental health stabilization; substance use disorder treatment services; enhancement of independent living skills; vocational and employment services; and assistance with permanent housing searches and placement.
Strategy to End Homelessness Among Veterans
Homeless Prevention Services
Homeless Prevention Services
Homeless Prevention Services
Outreach & Education

• Outreach by VA and community partners
– Shelters
– Soup Kitchens
– Street Outreach
– Stand Downs
– Justice Outreach and Re-entry Services
• VA National Homeless Call Center
Outreach & Education

FY 2010
• Homeless Registry
• Database to track and monitor prevention and treatment outcomes
• Dual focus: Program performance and outcomes for Veterans
• FY 09: No registry exists
• FY 10: 200,000 Veterans entered into registry

• National Call and Referral Center
• Resource for homeless Veterans and advocates seeking immediate assistance
• Linkage to wide array of VA and community resources
• FY 09: No formal system exists
• FY 10: 15,000 Veterans served

Treatment

Treatment
Housing and Supportive Services
• Provision of transitional and permanent housing with supportive services in collaboration with Federal and Community Partners.

• Provision of Community based Residential Treatment
Housing and Supportive Services
FY 2010
• HUD-VASH Program
• Nation’s largest supported permanent housing initiative; combines permanent housing with case management and supportive services that promote and maintain recovery and housing stability
• HUD Housing Choice vouchers
• VA dedicated case management services
• FY 09: 20,000 vouchers allocated
• FY 10: 30,000 vouchers allocated; 22-24,000 Veterans housed

• Grant and Per Diem
• Transitional housing (up to 24 months) and supportive services for homeless Veterans
• Enhancement will allow grantees to provide 1500-2000 additional beds
• FY 09: 18,000 Veterans served
• FY 10: 20,000 Veterans served

Income, Employment
& Benefits
• Employment assistance
• Entitlement assistance
– Expanded GI Bill
– Social Security Benefits
– Veteran’s Compensation and Pension
• Short-term financial assistance
– Shallow subsidies through HUD-VASH
– General Assistance (GA)
– Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Supportive Employment/CWT

Income, Employment
& Benefits
FY 2010
• Supportive Employment/Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)
• Employment program targeted at Veterans with significant health problems
• Access to full spectrum of available services, plus in-house programming
• FY 09: Approximately 5,000 Veterans served
• FY 10: 5,500 Veterans served
• Expedited Claims for Homeless Veterans
• Collaboration with VBA
• Ensure timely processing of homeless Veterans’ benefits claims
• FY09: 1,900 Veterans served
• FY10: 3,500 Veterans served
• Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP)
• Collaboration with Department of Labor
• Provide Veterans with gainful employment
• FY 09: 15,000 Veterans served
• FY 10: 20,250 Veterans served
Three P’s to Go Forward
• Prevention- Providing services to prevent Veterans and their families from experiencing the first night of homelessness

• Expanding Partnerships- Building on the successful strategy that has made it possible to reduce Veteran homelessness

• Perseverance- Staying the course along with our community partners until the last homeless Veteran is off the street

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2009

Secretary Shinseki Details Plan to End Homelessness for Veterans
Five-Year Plan Unveiled at Homeless Summit
WASHINGTON –Today, at the “VA National Summit Ending Homelessness Among Veterans” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki unveiled the department’s comprehensive plan to end homelessness among Veterans by marshalling the resources of government, business and the private sector.
“President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years,” said Shinseki. “Those who have served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope.”
Shinseki’s comprehensive plan to end homelessness includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income Veterans and their families and a national referral center to link Veterans to local service providers. Additionally, the plan calls for expanded efforts for education, jobs, health care and housing.
“Our plan enlarges the scope of VA’s efforts to combat homelessness,” said Shinseki. “In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless Veterans off the streets. Our five-year plan aims also at preventing them from ever ending up homeless.”
Other features of the plan outlined by Shinseki include:
• The new Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a powerful option for qualified Veterans to pursue a fully funded degree program at a state college or university. It is a major component of the fight against Veteran homelessness.
• VA is collaborating with the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration to certify Veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses for listing on the Federal Supply Register, which enhances their visibility and competitiveness – creating jobs for Veterans.
• VA will spend $3.2 billion next year to prevent and reduce homelessness among Veterans. That includes $2.7 billion on medical services and more than $500 million on specific homeless programs.
• VA aggressively diagnoses and treats the unseen wounds of war that often lead to homelessness – severe isolation, dysfunctional behaviors, depression and substance abuse. Last week, VA and the Defense Department cosponsored a national summit on mental health that will help both agencies better coordinate mental health efforts.
• VA partners with more than 600 community organizations to provide transitional housing to 20,000 Veterans. It also works with 240 public housing authorities to provide permanent housing to homeless Veterans and their families under a partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The VA/HUD partnership will provide permanent housing to more than 20,000 Veterans and their families.

Over the duration of the conference it is expected that over 1,200 homeless service providers from federal and state agencies, the business community, and faith-based and community providers will attend and participate in the summit.
“This is not a summit on homelessness among Veterans,” added Shinseki “It’s a summit on ending homelessness among Veterans.”

PROJECT EAGLE UPDATE
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Last week, Brad McCollam, Chief of Facilities Management Service, traveled to Washington DC as a part of the process to select a General Contractor for the construction of the Denver VA Medical Center Replacement Facility. During those meetings, all of the contractors who submitted proposals were reviewed. Each contractor was examined and rated based on 2 factors: Past/Present Performance and Technical Qualifications. Phase 2 of the selection process, which will occur in the near future, will further examine the contractors based on their Technical Proposal and Cost. We anticipate awarding the General Contractor contract by January, 2010.
Status summary for the week of 10/5/09 Site preparation inspection was conducted on 10/9/09. Contractor has been approved to start the site preparation tasks; Site Preparation Contractor met with representatives from Xcel Energy on 10/9/09 to discuss disconnection of electrical services on the site.
Proposed tasks for the week of 10/12/09 No work on 10/12/09 due to Columbus Day; Mobilize and setup for site preparation. Kemwest will perform final inspection for the setup; Install project and safety record signs at the SE corner of Wheeling and 17th Street on 10/14; Mobile toilets to be delivered on 10/13/09; Security guard starts on October 12th or 13th.
As always, you may contact me with questions at (303) 393-5205 or jordan.schupbach@va.gov.
Respectfully,
Jordan Schupbach
Public Affairs Officer
VA ECHCS

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has authorized advance payments up to $3,000 for Veterans who have applied for VA educational benefits and who have not yet received their monthly education payments.

If you are a Veteran who has applied for one of VA’s education programs and have not yet received your monthly benefit payment for the Fall 2009 term, you can submit a request for an advance payment on this website.

Advance payments will be issued by the U. S. Treasury within 3 workdays (Monday through Friday) following submission of this request. Payments will be in the form of a check sent through the U.S. mail. You should therefore anticipate an additional 3 days (excluding Sundays) for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your check.

You can also visit one of VA’s 57 regional offices across the country to immediately receive an advance payment. You will need to bring a photo ID and your course schedule when you visit the regional office. A list of VA’s regional offices is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp.

The advance payments will be reconciled with future education payments owed to you.

The amount of the advance payment will be determined as follows:

Post-9/11 GI Bill $3,000
Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty $3,000
Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve $1,000
Reserve Education Assistance Program $2,000
Post Vietnam Era Educational Assistance Programs $1,000
By completing this site, VA will be collecting personally identifiable information. If you choose not to provide this information over the internet you may visit a VA Regional Office to request assistance in person.

The Denver Regional Office will be open from 8 to 6 this week and from 8 to 12 on Saturday.

Thomas G. Riegle

Education Liaison Representative - Colorado

Denver VA Regional Office (339)

Phone: 303-914-5780

FAX: 303-914-5879

Toll Free: 888-442-4551

Email: thomas.riegle@va.gov
 

Where: National Guard Armory, 5275 Franklin ST.

When: Thursday, November 5, 2009   8am to 2:30pm

Services: VA Medical Center, Employment and Rehabilitation Services, VA Regional Office, Veteran Service Organizations, Social Security, Social Service Agencies, Housing Referrals, Legal Service, Clothing Items, Sleeping Bags, Boots, Free Flu Shots, Hearing Aid Repair, Dental Screening, Haircuts, and Glasses Repair.

Food: Coffee, Juice, Breakfast Burritos, Donuts, and Lunch will be served

Pickup Locations: St. Francis Day Shelter, Samaritan House, The Stout Street Clinic, and The VA Medical Center.

The Denver County Veteran Services Office invites you to visit it online, chat on its blog and be a fan on Facebook.

The new Denver County Veteran Services Web site, www.denverveterans.org, is funded through a pilot study by the Colorado Division of Military and Veterans Affairs. The purpose of this Web site is to increase outreach to civilian veterans in the community by providing information and a social network for veterans.

“The Denver County Veteran Services Office is thrilled to be able to reach veterans through social networking,” said Denver County Veteran Services Officer George Cassidy. “We believe in ‘Veterans Helping Veterans’ and now veterans can interact with us and each other on our blog and on Facebook, in addition to meeting with us in person.”

The Denver County Veteran Services Office employs veterans who are trained and authorized by the Veterans Administration to assist veterans and their families in filing for benefits to which they may be entitled. The Department of Labor funds an employment program for homeless veterans, Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program, which is also administered through the Denver County Veterans Services Office.

Visit the new Denver County Veteran Services Office Web site: www.denverveterans.org
 

written by: Trevor Hughes, Fort Collins Coloradoan, posted by: Sara Gandy The law, signed Tuesday by Gov. Bill Ritter, permits honorably discharged veterans -- and, depending on the university, their spouse and dependents -- to pay the much lower resident tuition rate immediately upon establishing Colorado residency. The difference between resident and nonresident tuition at Colorado State University is significant: Resident tuition last year was $5,830, while nonresident students paid $21,550, according to CSU's Office of Student Financial Services. The current federal GI Bill only covers college costs up to the highest in-state tuition in a state, which means returning veterans who lack residency have had to make up the difference. "I think we all benefit from having veterans in our community, and I think students benefit from having veterans in the classroom," said bill sponsor Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. The Coloradoan last fall highlighted the plight of Patrick Brady, a soldier who deployed from Pennsylvania in 2004 and spent the next four years stationed in Iraq and Germany. During his deployment, Brady's family moved to Colorado, and he registered to vote here and received his Colorado driver's license. But under the old state law, because he had deployed from Pennsylvania and hadn't been physically present in Colorado for 12 consecutive months, Brady wasn't considered a resident. CSU officials said they couldn't help Brady because the law provided little flexibility. The new law changes that. McNulty said the issue has come up "a couple times" during the past few years, and he thought the law was an appropriate way to show support for returning veterans and their families. Under the law, universities must offer in-state tuition to the returning veterans but may also extend it to their families, McNulty said. "I certainly hope that colleges do provide that benefit. Far too often, we forget about the husbands and wives and sons and daughters," he said. Ann Ingala, veterans coordinator at CSU, said the university welcomes the change. "Military people move around a lot," said Ingala, a Desert Storm/Desert Shield veteran of the Army. "This keeps us competitive for that population of student veterans." Ingala said it's hard to tell how many veterans will take advantage of the law, which goes into effect Aug. 5. (Copyright Fort Collins Coloradoan, All Rights Reserved)

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090604/CSUZONE01/306040012/1110