190 likes | 338 Views
State and Federal Funds for Veterans and their Dependents In Georgia. Clare S. Richie DeClare Consulting LLC February 24, 2013. Who is a Veteran?. N o standardized legal definition of a U.S. "military veteran” Each veteran benefit includes eligibility requirements for that
E N D
State and Federal Funds for Veterans and their Dependents In Georgia Clare S. Richie DeClare Consulting LLC February 24, 2013
Who is a Veteran? • No standardized legal definition of a U.S. "military veteran” • Each veteran benefit includes eligibility requirements for that particular benefit • For this study – a veteran is defined as a person no longer in active service
Veterans in Georgia • Estimated 776,000 veterans in Georgia • One-seventh served in Iraq/Afghanistan • These “new veterans” differ from previous veterans: • Older career service-members who have families • Multiple deployments with less down-time • More women • More blast injuries and less fatalities
Project Purpose In the areas of education, employment andhealth: • Identify state and federal funds for veterans and their dependents in Georgia • Highlight veterans initiatives in Georgia
Overall Data Findings • All veterans benefits must be applied for – not automatic • Multiple federal and state agencies involved • Many ways for federal and state funds to reach veterans • Limited services for dependents • Anumber of federal grants that Georgia is not receiving • Georgia has two state-only funded programs
Education Data Findings • 12 programs from 4 agencies (VA, DOD, DOE, DOL)
Non-VA Education Programs • Troops to Teachers (DOD) • Veterans Upward Bound (DOE)
Employment Data Findings • 13 programs from five federal agencies (VA, DOL, SBA, OPM, DOJ) • Grants to state agencies, state/local WIBs, municipalities or nonprofits • Focus on veterans with barriers to employment (disabled, educationally disadvantaged, homeless, unemployed) • Services include vocational rehabilitation, outreach, assessments, job search, job training, and entrepreneurship. • Georgia opportunity to access more federal employment grants (e.g., DOL Veteran’s Employment Program, Transition Assistance Program, Disability Employment Initiative, and Green Jobs Innovation Grant)
Georgia State Agencies • 14 publicly funded programs in 8 state agencies (GDVS, GDOL, GOWD, GDDS, GSFC, TCSG, DBHDD, Judicial Council of Georgia) • Primarily funded by federal funds • Two programs funded entirely by state funds • Hero Scholarships • GDVS 49 field offices • Many agencies involved in exciting veteran initiatives
Returning Veterans Task Force • Created by state law effective July 1, 2013 to investigate state services provided to veterans returned within the most recent 3 years” • Members include state agencies that serve veterans (e.g., GDVS, DOL, DBHDD, etc.) • Meet at least quarterly - open to the public • Provide recommendations to Georgia policymakers each November 1
Education Initiatives • Gwinnett Technical College – Office of Veterans Affairs • Public/Private funding • Dedicated staff and office space • Serves veterans, spouses and dependents • D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Veterans Scholarship Fund • Emergency Assistance for eligible veterans, spouses, dependents • Award amount vary based on need
Employment Initiatives • Employment Initiative for Unemployment Compensation for ex-Military (UCX) Claimants • Ga DOL & Governor’s Office of Workforce Development • $750,000 federal funds for 2 years (ends June 30, 2014) • Efforts include Operation Workforce online portal, “Hire a Georgia Veteran” pledge, and Troops to Truckers. • Veterans Licensure Bill – Troops to Trade
Mental & Behavioral Health Initiatives • Mental Health Summits • OEF/OIF Veterans State Action Plan • Veteran Treatment Courts • Medicaid Expansion
Opportunities • Collaborate • Returning Veteran Task Force • Local VA medical centers, GDVS field offices, DOL career centers • UCX Initiative, contact Steve Jennings (steve.jennings@dol.state.ga.us) • Mental Health gap analysis in metro Atlanta Mr. Von Wrighten with DBHDD (vswrighten@dhr.state.ga.us) • Advocate • Veteran Treatment Court Legislation • Medicaid Expansion • Reference & Refer • Detailed data tables identify programs in Georgia • Clients may benefit from initiatives – like Gwinnett Tech Office of Veterans Affairs
Questions? Clare S. Richie DeClare Consulting LLC declareconsulting@gmail.com 404-697-6669