Transcript Slide 1

Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs
www.ct.gov/ctva
“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
Appoint an employee to serve as a
Veterans Service Contact Person and
complete an annual training course
conducted by CT-DVA, OAA
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
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
Connecticut
Department of Veterans Affairs
The First Home for Veterans in the
Nation – Est. 1864
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.
CONNECTICUT VETERANS HOME AT ROCKY HILL
ESTABLISHED 1940
ROCKY HILL VETERANS HOME
“Serving those Who Served”
World War II
Vietnam
Over 400 veterans live
at the Ct Veterans Home
From all of our nation’s
conflicts
WWII
Korea
Vietnam Era
Gulf War
Iraq & Afghanistan
Korea
Gulf War
Iraq
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
RESIDENTIAL FACILITY
Focus on Homeless 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
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
VETERANS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Substance 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
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
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
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
Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans
Health Center opened Oct 2008
State of the Art
Long Term Healthcare
125 Bed Facility
$11,838,343 State Funding
$21,985,494 Federal Grant
PROJECT TOTAL $33,823,838
Infrastructure improvements
Alzheimer’s Wing
Respite Care
Hospice Care
Therapy Areas
Family Areas
Recreation Areas
Internet Café
Gov Rell Room
Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans
Health Center opened Oct 2008
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
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
Connecticut Veterans Benefits
Municipal Property Tax Exemptions
Education Benefits, Tuition Waiver
Financial Assistance – Soldiers’ Sailors’
Marines Fund, Temp Emer Asst 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
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
The Connecticut Wartime Service Medal
and 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
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
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
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
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
Veterans Readjustment Counseling
Centers, (Vets Centers)
Danbury
Norwich
Rocky Hill
West Haven
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
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
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.
Questions ???
Connecticut Veterans Website
www.veterans.ct.gov
CT Dept of Veterans Affairs
www.ct.gov/ctva
Veterans Administration
www.va.gov