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“Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864

“Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864. Public Act 13-34. Requiring Cities and Towns to Designate a Veterans Service Contact Person. Effective 1 Oct 2013 Cities or Towns may form a local Veteran’s Advisory Committee…OR

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“Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864

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  1. “Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864

  2. Public Act 13-34 • Requiring Cities and Towns to Designate a Veterans Service Contact Person. Effective 1 Oct 2013 • Cities or Towns may form a local Veteran’s Advisory Committee…OR • Appoint an employee to serve as a Veterans Service Contact Person and complete an annual training course conducted by CT-DVA, OAA

  3. Public Act 13-34 Duties & Responsibilities • Reemployment • Education • Rehabilitation • Adjustment to Peacetime Living • Coord w/Local, State & National Govt & Private Agencies to secure benefits • Coord Vocational Training Services

  4. 240,000 Veterans in Connecticut CT VETERANS ARE: 10% of the Population 45% over 65 17% are 55-59 years of age 8% are Women 17% use VA Connecticut Health Care 10% have Service Connected Disabilities Over 20,500 Connecticut citizens have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan

  5. Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs The First Home for Veterans in the Nation – Est. 1864

  6. The Fitch Home • The first home for disabled war veterans in the United States. • Founded on July 4, 1864, it was known as Fitch’s Home for • Soldiers and their Orphans. • Benjamin Fitch establish the home for Civil War veterans and for • Children whose fathers were killed in that war. • From 1864 to 1940 the Fitch home served the needs of hundred of orphans and thousands of men who served their country in various wars. • In 1940 the Fitch Home became the Connecticut State Veterans Hospital and relocated at Rocky Hill.

  7. CONNECTICUT VETERANS HOME AT ROCKY HILL ESTABLISHED 1940

  8. ROCKY HILL VETERANS HOME“Serving those Who Served” Over 400 veterans live at the Ct Veterans Home From all of our nation’s conflicts WWII Korea Vietnam Era Gulf War Iraq & Afghanistan Gulf War World War II Iraq Korea Vietnam

  9. Veterans’ Home at Rocky Hill, CT • Health Care Facility, 125 Beds • Residential and Rehabilitative Services, 350 Beds • Substance Abuse Program, 50 Beds • Must be a Connecticut Resident • Have An Honorable Discharge • Fee for Services Provided

  10. RESIDENTIAL FACILITYFocus onHomeless and Needy Veterans BASIC SERVICES: * Food, * Clothing * Medical Care Veteran Improvement Program * Residential Services * Vocational Counseling and Job Placement * Recreational Activities * Case Management Services * Educational Opportunities

  11. Residential & Rehabilitation Services • Room and Board • Substance Abuse Treatment and Counseling • Training and Education • Temporary Employment • Interagency Work Experience • Job Placement and Assistance • Recreational Services • Social Work Services • Supportive Housing for Working Veterans

  12. VETERANS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMSubstance Abuse Recovery at Fellowship House * Professional Staff Program to Assist Veterans with drug and alcohol abuse problems. * 6 months Intensive Clinical Treatment • 6 months Residential Treatment and Support • Vocational and Employment Support Services during treatment • Collaboration with VA Connecticut and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

  13. Homeless Veterans In Connecticut • 1/3 of Homeless Adults are Veterans • 900 in CT, 200,000 Nationwide • ½ Have Mental Issues • 70% Have Alcohol and Substance Abuse Problems • Poor Economy Has Increased Homeless Numbers

  14. VA Homeless Programs • Homeless Outreach & Engagement (Find em and Fix em) • Transitional Housing • (Grant & Per Diem) • Permanent Housing in the Community • HUD-VASH Housing • Veteran Justice Outreach

  15. Patriot’s Landing Provides Temporary Housing, NTE One Year (5) Fully Equipped Houses, (16) Beds OIF, OEF, OND Veterans Priority All Other Veterans, Space Available CT Resident Honorable Discharge Independent Living Single Veterans Fee For Services Smoke, Alcohol and Drug Free Environment Residential Programs and Services

  16. Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center opened Oct 2008 State of the Art Long Term Healthcare 125 Bed Facility Infrastructure improvements Alzheimer’s Wing Respite Care Hospice Care Therapy Areas Family Areas Recreation Areas Internet Café Gov Rell Room $11,838,343 State Funding $21,985,494 Federal Grant PROJECT TOTAL $33,823,838

  17. Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center opened Oct 2008

  18. Connecticut Veterans Cemetery System Darien, SPRING GROVE CEMETERY Established 1884 CLOSED Rocky Hill, COLONEL RAYMOND GATES Established 1959 OPEN Middletown, STATE VETERANS CEMETERY Established 1984 OPEN

  19. CT DVA OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE“Connecting Connecticut’s Veterans to the Benefits They EARNED” 8 Service Officers authorized to assist veterans and their families to access Federal, State or Municipality Services and Benefits CO-LOCATED with the Federal VA Regional Office in NEWINGTON And in EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WATERBURY, BRIDGEPORT, NORWICH and MILFORD CALL Vets INFO LINE 1-866-9CT-VETS or www.ct.gov/ctva We have obtained over $45 million in new Pensions, Disability Compensation, Educational, Home Loans, Healthcare and Burial Benefits for Connecticut Veterans and their Families

  20. Connecticut Veterans Benefits • Municipal Property Tax Exemptions • Education Benefits, Tuition Waiver • Financial Assistance – Soldiers’ Sailors’ Marines Fund, Temp EmerAsst Fund • Employment Benefits, Veterans Preference Points • State Employee Retirement Benefits • DMV Registration & License Fee Exemption • Honorary H.S. Diplomas for WWII, Korea and Vietnam Veterans

  21. Connecticut Veterans Benefits • Burial in State Veterans Cemetery • CT Wartime Service Medal • Housing Preference & Home Loans • CT Veterans Registry • Military Support Program • Flag on Driver’s License, Vet’s ID

  22. The Connecticut Wartime Service Medaland the Veterans Hall of Fame Gov. Rell presents the Hall of Fame Medal to Navy Veteran Dr. James Sedalia Peters II To Date over 28,000 Connecticut Wartime Medals have been awarded to our veterans

  23. Partners in Service to Veterans “Heroes for Hire” Veterans Job Fairs Co-Sponsored by CT Dept of Labor and CT DVA Thousands of Veterans meet with 200+CT companies about employment & training opportunities

  24. Gov Rell’s Veterans OASIS Program Operation Academic Support for Incoming Servicepersons • A Public/Private Partnership • Each Public College and University • Drop-In Room for Returning Veterans • Resources, Renewal, Relationships • Veteran to Veteran • 17 OASIS Centers are open

  25. CT Military Support Program Call Center: 866-251-2913 A Joint Program of CT National Guard, Dept of Veterans’ Affairs & Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services offers free and confidential counseling for: Relationship and family issues Depression, stress and anxiety Child and youth issues Substance abuse Who is eligible for support? Connecticut Veterans of all wars and their Spouses or Significant others, Teens, Kids, Siblings, Parents, Grandparents

  26. Veterans Administration • Veterans Health Administration, VHA • Veterans Benefits Administration, VBA • West Haven and Newington Campus • Outpatient Clinic Locations: • Danbury • New London • Stamford • Waterbury • Willimantic • Winsted

  27. Veterans Readjustment Counseling Centers, (Vets Centers) • Danbury • Norwich • Rocky Hill • West Haven

  28. VA Healthcare • Establish eligibility, VA Form 10-10EZ • Priority Groups 1 through 8 based on disability and level of income. (See Ch 1,Fed Benefits Book • OIF/OEF 5 yr VA Healthcare

  29. Filing a Claim • Contact a Veterans Service Officer • Provide all Supporting Medical Documentation • Complete a Comp and Pen Exam • Backlog, 2 yr, 1 yr, • 125 day goal, End 2014 • VBMS, FDC, e-benefits, My Healthevet, PMC • Be Patient

  30. Today America has deployed over 2.4 million Armed Forces in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Connecticut has sent 20,500 to war since 9/11/01. Connecticut will be ready when they come home, just as we always have been.

  31. Questions ??? • Connecticut Veterans Website www.veterans.ct.gov CT Dept of Veterans Affairs www.ct.gov/ctva Veterans Administration www.va.gov

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