U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General

Honoring Our Nations Veterans: New Veterans Resources Guide Unveiled to Unlock Vital Benefits to Support Our Heroes at Life's End.

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 9, 2023

These resources encompass not only those provided by the Veterans Administration but also vital state and local services.

Key Points: 
  • These resources encompass not only those provided by the Veterans Administration but also vital state and local services.
  • In addition, the guide offers insights into military pay, retirement pay, and survivor benefits, all administered through the Defense Finance and Accounting Services.
  • "The 'Serving Those Who Served Us' Veterans Resources Guide is a testament to NPHI's dedication to enhancing the lives of our Veterans," said Tom Koutsoumpas, NPHI CEO.
  • While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits for Veterans, many of these services are underutilized or difficult to access.

Caregivers of Veterans Spend 1.5 Times More on Out-of-Pocket Costs Compared to Other Family Caregivers in Pennsylvania

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvanians who provide care for veterans spend on average $11,500 of their personal income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving each year—1.5 times higher than what other family caregivers spend ($7,242), according to AARP data .

Key Points: 
  • HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvanians who provide care for veterans spend on average $11,500 of their personal income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving each year—1.5 times higher than what other family caregivers spend ($7,242), according to AARP data .
  • "Pennsylvanians caring for our veterans should not have to worry about finances on top of their caregiving responsibilities, yet many do," said State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh.
  • "The financial challenges veteran and military caregivers face are too often invisible or ignored," said Pete Jeffries, National Director of AARP's Veterans & Military Families Initiative.
  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers support and resources for caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care through the VA Caregiver Support Program .

PathFinder Digital Receives 2023 HIRE VETS MEDALLION AWARD for its Commitment to Hiring U.S. Veterans

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

SANFORD, Fla., Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized PathFinder Digital as one of the 859 recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by U.S. Department of Labor.

Key Points: 
  • SANFORD, Fla., Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized PathFinder Digital as one of the 859 recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by U.S. Department of Labor.
  • PathFinder Digital earned the gold award in recognition of its commitment to hiring U.S. Veterans.
  • The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.
  • Recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

CICB Awarded the 2023 HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion from the U.S. Department of Labor

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized CICB as one of the 859 recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual ceremony presented by the U.S. Department of Labor. CICB is proud to have earned the highest award that is given, the Platinum Medallion Award. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program recognizing employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

Key Points: 
  • U.S. Secretary of Labor, Julie A. Su, recognized CICB as one of the 859 recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion Award.
  • CICB has earned the platinum award through recruiting, employing, and retaining veterans.
  • HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized CICB as one of the 859 recipients of the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual ceremony presented by the U.S. Department of Labor.
  • CICB is proud to have earned the highest award that is given, the Platinum Medallion Award.

ReflexAI Introduces HomeTeam to Revolutionize Veteran Mental Health Support

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Developed with support from Google.org , the free platform includes educational modules that cover high-priority topics in mental health support, followed by AI-powered chat simulations that enable veterans to practice lifelike conversations in a low-risk, confidential setting.

Key Points: 
  • Developed with support from Google.org , the free platform includes educational modules that cover high-priority topics in mental health support, followed by AI-powered chat simulations that enable veterans to practice lifelike conversations in a low-risk, confidential setting.
  • ReflexAI’s research with hundreds of veterans nationwide showed that 92 percent are willing to help another veteran experiencing a mental health challenge, but only 25 percent feel prepared to do so.
  • By teaching veterans about the warning signs of mental health crises and how to support peers in crisis, HomeTeam provides the skills and confidence needed for successful, real-life interactions that have a life-changing impact.
  • “We designed HomeTeam to meet the needs and improve the lives of every veteran, everywhere,” said John Callery, cofounder and Chief Product & Technology Officer at ReflexAI.

Caregivers of Veterans Spend 1.5 Times More on Out-of-Pocket Costs Compared to Other Family Caregivers

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Family and others who provide care for veterans spend on average $11,500 of their personal income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving each year—1.5 times higher than what other family caregivers spend ($7,242), according to AARP data .

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Family and others who provide care for veterans spend on average $11,500 of their personal income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving each year—1.5 times higher than what other family caregivers spend ($7,242), according to AARP data .
  • "The financial challenges veteran and military caregivers face are too often invisible or ignored," said Pete Jeffries, National Director of AARP's Veterans & Military Families Initiative.
  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers support and resources for caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care through the VA Caregiver Support Program .
  • But only 34% of veterans have used their earned benefits at VA health care, according to the U.S. Census Bureau .

Dream Foundation's Dreams for Veterans Program Receives 2023 Fisher Service Award for Military Community Service

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 2, 2023

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Nov. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fisher House Foundation has awarded Dream Foundation's Dreams for Veterans program the prestigious 2023 Fisher Service Award in recognition of its innovative and positive impact on our nation's heroes and their loved ones. As part of the award, Dream Foundation was also given a $90,000 grant and a $50,000 advertising package from the Military Times Foundation.

Key Points: 
  • SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Nov. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fisher House Foundation has awarded Dream Foundation's Dreams for Veterans program the prestigious 2023 Fisher Service Award in recognition of its innovative and positive impact on our nation's heroes and their loved ones.
  • As part of the award, Dream Foundation was also given a $90,000 grant and a $50,000 advertising package from the Military Times Foundation.
  • Created in 2014, Dreams for Veterans serves our nation's terminally-ill military veterans, active service members, and members of the Reserve and National Guard across the country and Puerto Rico by bringing their final Dreams to life.
  • Selected from over 460 veteran service organizations to win the award, Dreams for Veterans will use the funds to fulfill the final Dreams of terminally-ill veterans and service members.

Cohen Veterans Network Releases Findings of Suicide Risk Stratification Study: Measurement-Based Care and Collaboration Critical to Suicide Prevention Ecosystem

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 26, 2023

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), a not-for-profit philanthropic organization that serves post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families through a nationwide system of mental health clinics, released findings from its study on clinical decision-making in suicide risk assessment. The network simultaneously launched a CVN Suicide Risk Stratification Training Package for Clinicians, available to the field at no cost, to help mental health providers enhance their clinical skills around understanding and managing suicide risk. The implementation of the study and the development of the training package were supported by a grant from USAA.

Key Points: 
  • The network simultaneously launched a CVN Suicide Risk Stratification Training Package for Clinicians, available to the field at no cost, to help mental health providers enhance their clinical skills around understanding and managing suicide risk.
  • Suicide prevention is a top priority for CVN considering military and veteran suicides remain at high levels.
  • "We are thrilled to help advance the field by promoting a greater understanding of clinician decision-making in suicide risk assessment," said Cohen Veterans Network Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Tracy Neal-Walden.
  • "We are incredibly pleased to contribute to the limited literature on suicide risk stratification," said CVN-IQ Director Dr. David Linkh.

Veteran Service Organizations File Lawsuit to Compel VA to Amend its Character of Discharge Regulations

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Washington, D.C., Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, two veterans service organizations filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to compel the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue regulations amending the VA’s Character of Discharge process.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, D.C., Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, two veterans service organizations filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to compel the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue regulations amending the VA’s Character of Discharge process.
  • Under the current rules, thousands of veterans with less than honorable discharges are unjustly denied VA benefits.
  • Less than honorable discharges often result from minor disciplinary infractions that are symptomatic of trauma or experiences of injustice during military service.
  • Joseph Effiong, a Marine Corps combat veteran who deployed twice to Iraq, was denied VA benefits because of his less than honorable discharge and the regulations that the VA long ago agreed to amend.

Fisher House Foundation, Bay Pines VA Dedicate Second Fisher House

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, October 21, 2023

Bay Pines, Fla., Oct. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Fisher House in Florida was dedicated today by President of Fisher House Foundation David A. Coker and Bay Pines VA Director/CEO Paul M. Russo.

Key Points: 
  • Bay Pines, Fla., Oct. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Fisher House in Florida was dedicated today by President of Fisher House Foundation David A. Coker and Bay Pines VA Director/CEO Paul M. Russo.
  • “The addition of this second Fisher House allows us to expand the level of support we can offer to Veterans’ loved ones during their time of need,” said Bay Pines VA Director/CEO Paul M. Russo.
  • “We are honored to bring this second house to Bay Pines.
  • The new Bay Pines VA Fisher House has 16 wheelchair-accessible suites, a spacious kitchen, a large communal living, dining and family rooms, a laundry room, and a shared patio.