Read the August 2022 Newsletter from the Delaware Valley Veterans Consortium to stay informed about events and issues happening in the area.
Do you have news to share or upcoming events for the September 2022 newsletter and beyond? Please share!
This newsletter is published monthly as part of DVVC’s efforts to connect, collaborate, and communicate in service to Veterans throughout our region. Send your updates and questions to dvvcinfo@gmail.com.
Member Organizations: To submit articles to the newsletter, please email Fern.Billet@va.gov by the 25th of the month with your news. To submit news to DVVC social media sites, please email Lynne Williams at Director@greatcareersphl.org with “For DVVC Social Media” in the subject line.
News from the Executive Committee
Greetings friends,
I hope you are well as we arrive at the height of summer.
Many of you had the opportunity to join us at last week’s quarterly meeting, Challenges Facing Military and Veteran Children. We thank Anna Richar and MAJ (CH) Tony Repic with the 111th Fighter Wing in Horsham and Dr. Edie Freudenberger of Blue Star Academy for their insights and for advancing the conversation about our military children. The Zoom meeting was well-attended and attracted attention from across the country thanks to promotion in VA newsletters. As DVVC and other Community Veterans Engagement Boards interact more, we can share their programs and best practices with you, our membership. Not bad for your free dues, right?
The services and support available to those currently serving, veterans, and their families come from many sources in addition to the government. National and local veteran-serving organizations, including DVVC members, offer a variety of quality services for their clients. From foundational support with housing, health, counseling, and pastoral concerns through education, recreation, enrichment, and social engagement, they enhance our quality of life. Therapeutic activities, hands-on service opportunities, career development, scholarships, and educational support, to name only a handful, are all services provided by DVVC member organizations right here.
In a major metropolitan area where the population served by veteran and military-focused organizations is so diverse, it’s important that all of us stay aware of the richness of our veteran-serving ecosystem and share it with our clients.
Future events on our program calendar include a Town Hall meeting on August 31, 2022, from 12:00 – 1:00 pm on Zoom, featuring members of Blue Star Families entitled The Diverse Experiences of Military & Veteran Families of Color. Our next quarterly meeting, on October 21, 2022, will be Showcasing and Celebrating the Arts in the Military Community. Be on the watch for further details.
In service,
Hank Gillen
Director, Office of Veterans Services
Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia PA
DVVC Board Member
Save the date for the DVVC Summer town Hall– August 31, 12-1 pm
Our next DVVC program is a town hall on August 31 from noon to 1 pm on zoom. The Diverse Experiences of Military & Veteran Families of Color
Every year the Blue Star Families conducts a survey of top issues of concern in the active-duty and veteran populations. For the past two years they have focused on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will be presenting the highlights of their findings in this Delaware Valley Veterans Consortium Town Hall. Please register on Eventbrite. Presenters are:
CT Moss – Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion Initiative, Army (Retired) First Sergeant, Blue Star Families
CT Moss received her Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business & Administration and her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Social Media Management from Excelsior College. She is a native of Florida and enjoys volunteering in the community. She has a son currently serving in the Army and a daughter serving in the Air Force.
Jennifer Akin, MPA – Senior Director for Policy & Social Impact Research, Blue Star Families
Jenny Akin is responsible for overseeing Blue Star Families’ policy, social impact, and member research, and program evaluation efforts. In this role, Jenny translates data into understanding to improve military family policies, organizational programming, and employees’ sense of purpose. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Peace, War, and Defense (and History) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina State University. She and her active-duty husband currently reside near Fort Bragg, NC, with their son and two dogs.
Career Support Available from Great Careers Groups
Join in on the adult career online education topics and networking in August 2022 at the Great Careers Groups. Visit the EVENTS page to register for our Zoom and Clubhouse events. Connect on social media and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
- Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
- Virtual Jobseeker Support Meeting
- PowerThinking: Resilience Building Call-In
- What’s Your Shtick? Personal Branding Online & Off
- Interviewing Techniques
- How to Write & Equipment Yourself for an Ideal Job Search
- Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) meeting
- The Hidden Job Market
- How to Develop Successful Job Search Strategies
- Recruiter on Call with Jobs
- LGBTQ+ OUTstanding Careers Group™
- Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
- LinkedIn Part 3 of 3
- LinkedIn Essentials Part 1 of 2 and Part 2 of 2
- Standing Out, Fitting In – How to Master the Interview Game
- And more!
Any GCG meeting with a $5 fee is free for unemployed veterans by arranging in advance that you want to attend – director@greatcareersphl.org.
Invitation to Participate in Veteran and Family Outreach Event
on Saturday, August 13 from the Delaware County Veterans Network
Your organization is invited to host a resource table during our Veteran and Family Outreach Event on Saturday, August 13, 2022. It will be held at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square and is sponsored by the Delaware County Veterans Network. There is No Charge for your participation.
The Delaware County Veterans Network has been working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans non-profit organizations, and other community and civic partner programs. Together, we work on identifying and addressing the gaps in resources available for delivering services to Veterans, as well as a disconnect between the Veterans and their families.
We recognize your hard work and dedication to our nation’s Veterans and would be privileged to enjoy your participation. We have learned that Veterans feel more comfortable around other Veterans and their families because it offsets the feelings of isolation that some Veterans experience. Your involvement helps create a welcoming environment for our Veterans while enabling your resources to gain maximum effect.
By hosting a resource table, you can offer your unique perspective in a most welcoming environment and help us fulfill this mission of love – all in service to our Veterans and their families. Being present and staying engaged throughout the full event is essential to encouraging Veteran participation in future events. This also offers us the chance to foster the necessary networking between community organizations to better serve our Veterans.
For more information about the event please contact the Delaware County Veterans Network team at 484-744-3269.
If your organization is interested in participating, please contact the DCVN at the email address below and request a registration form. delcoveteransnetwork@gmail.com
AARP Launches Free Online Hub To Help Veterans Fight Fraud
In response to the growing number of online fraud reports against the military community, AARP recently launched its Veterans Fraud Center, a new education and resource hub to help protect veterans, service members, and their families.
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Please Share Your DMVA Digest With A Friend
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is working hard to reach every veteran in Pennsylvania to inform them of the benefits and services they have earned through their military service, but we need your help. We encourage veterans, family members, and people who work with veterans to visit our online PA VETERANS REGISTRY to request information related to state benefits and programs and services offered by the DMVA. Registrants can also opt-in to receive our weekly electronic DMVA DIGEST featuring program updates, veteran-related news items, employment opportunities, veterans events, and much more.
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Women Veteran’s Center – August CalendarOur August calendar is filled with lots of great events! Sign up for our shopping trip to New Hope, on August 25th, RSVP today! Our drop-in hours have expanded to Tuesday-Thursday 9 am-3:30 pm and by appointment Monday and Friday. Call or email the WVC for any questions or to RSVP to one of our events at 215-923-2600 ext. 180 and wvc@vmcenter.org Here’s a sneak peek at some upcoming events: New Hope: Join us on a trip to Bucks County for a Boutique Shopping trip! Meet at the WVC, and we will provide transportation to the market. Bring your walking shoes, cash, and a bag or basket! RSVP is required no later than August 23rd via calling, emailing, or in-person Women of Strength: This is our empowering lifestyle group. Talk about healthy relationships, stress management, and how to build a positive mindset with a group of women veterans. Our sessions run twice a month, every other Tuesday. No RSVP is required. WVC Address: 259 N Lawrence St Philadelphia PA 19106 WVC Hours: Contact us at wvc@vmcenter.org or 215-923-2600 ext. 180
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As years pass, our movement to remember and honor those who sacrificed on September 11, 2001, becomes more important. In addition to honoring the lives lost on that day, 9/11 Heroes Runs pay tribute to the thousands of veterans, active duty, and first responders who have courageously served in the wake of that national tragedy. In partnership with 
VA UPDATES
The Veterans Crisis Line now has a new number: Dial 988 then Press 1.
This change is a result of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, which requires all telephone service providers in the U.S. to activate 988 by July 16, 2022, for national suicide prevention support. The transition to a 3-digit number helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need. After activation, Veterans will still be able to call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to reach responders in addition to using Dial 988 and then Press 1.
Check in to your next VA appointment with just a tap on your phone screen!
VISN 4 will soon offer you an opportunity to check in for clinic appointments using your smartphone. Beginning August 8, the new mobile check-in process will replace the kiosks and can save you some time with just a few simple steps.
Check-in instructions
Seven days before your scheduled appointment, we’ll send you a pre-check-in text message to remind you about the appointment. You’ll be asked to confirm if you plan on attending and to verify your contact information we have on file. To use pre-check-in, you must accept VEText appointment reminders. If you previously opted out, text START to 53079.
When you arrive in the clinic area on the day of your appointment:
After you’ve finished mobile check-in, you’re all set, have a seat in the waiting area and a VA staff member will come to get you. You are not required to use mobile check-in. If you don’t have a smartphone or have network or WIFI connection problems, you’ll always have the option to check in at the clinic in person with a staff member. Check-in is the same whether you complete the process on your smartphone or with a staff member. Access to Care Website Launched Based on Veteran feedback and VA Secretary Denis McDonough’s commitment to ensuring timely access to care, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched an improved Access to Care website that now offers a simplified, user-friendly experience to make it easier for Veterans to make informed decisions as they plan their health care appointments. Effective July 19, Veterans and the public will be able to see Veteran experience information for care delivered through VA facilities and will have a clearer view of average wait times, with more detailed information on available health care services and specialties. “VA is listening to Veterans, incorporating their feedback, and reviewing access to care across the organization,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary for Health Steven L. Lieberman, M.D. “As a national leader in health care access and transparency, this change in the presentation of Veteran-facing information ensures Veterans receive the world-class care they have earned and deserve.” The new Access to Care website also ensures that as VA sites transition to a new electronic health record management system, Veterans will have information on timeliness for care at those facilities. Access to Care Website 6 Essential Questions Final.pdf Please share this information with your networks! We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment! |
