Read the July 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 June 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.
Save the date for the DVVC Summer Quarterly Meeting
The Chapel of Four Chaplains Hosts The Sound of Liberty Concert by the Marian Anderson Historical Society Vocal Scholar Artists & Instrumental Ensemble
Celebrate America’s birthday with a spectacular tribute to our nation as we present the Patriotic & American Songbook in Concert on July 2, 2022, with a backdrop of the historic Philadelphia Navy Yard at the Chapel of Four Chaplains. Featuring a Musical Performance by The National Marian Anderson Vocal Scholar Artists and the Marian Anderson Instrumental Ensemble and Music Direction by Professor Thomas Weaver. Plus, a Dramatic Reading of the Declaration of Independence Honoring our Gold Star Families and more.
* WE ARE FOLLOWING STRICT CDC COVID-19 GATHERING GUIDELINES
When: July 2nd 2022 2 pm
Where: The Chapel of Four Chaplains 1201 Constitution Avenue Philadelphia Navy Yard (Philadelphia, PA)
Day-Time Openings for New Adult Clients at Cohen Clinic
The Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania provides high-quality mental health care for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost. The Cohen Clinic is now accepting new clients, with almost no wait for individual therapy services for adults. We have lots of day-time appointment availability and can get new adult clients started in individual therapy within 2 weeks or less. Evening appointments will have a slightly longer wait. In-person and telehealth services are available. Visit our website or call 844-573-3146 to learn more about our services.
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Career Support Available from Great Careers Groups
Join in on the adult career online education topics and networking in July 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.
- Virtual Jobseeker Support Meeting
- PowerThinking: Rejuvenating Your Amazing Mind Weekly Resilience Building Call-In
- Resilience Skills for Job Seekers
- Five Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers
- Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) meeting
- The Power of Going Digital & How to Prepare for Change
- Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking
- Interviewing Techniques
- LinkedIn Part 2 of 3
- Beating the Applicant Tracking System
- Recruiter on Call with Jobs
- LGBTQ+ OUTstanding Careers Group™
- Creating Your Stand Out Resume
- 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
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. |
Check out the list of Greater Philadelphia-based Veteran-owned companies!
Registration is now open for the 9/11 Heroes Run 5k race series
| 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 GORUCK, each race location will feature a rucking division and all finishers will receive an exclusive 2022 9/11 Heroes Run TMF GORUCK patch. Run, ruck, or walk with us this year to honor the service & sacrifice of our first responder & military heroes. Register Now |
Blood Supplies are at an All-Time Low—Please Donate if you Can!
VA UPDATES
The Veterans Crisis Line will soon have 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 then Press 1.
Phone-based Mindfulness Classes Available for All Veterans
Join VA’s free, phone-based class called “Mindfulness Meditation.” Designed for Veterans of all eras, this class will help you manage the challenges and stressors of everyday life. Each class covers a topic related to mindfulness, followed by a guided meditation practice. Classes are available from 11a.m. to noon ET on these upcoming days: July 8, August 12, September 9, and October 14. Join any or all classes.
Technology Enhancements to Improve Service
on Your VA Insurance Policy
We are excited to share with you that effective August 2, 2022, we are modernizing the technology that we use to maintain your policy. This effort will provide you with –
- Faster processing times for payments
- Improved security of your personal account information
- Enhanced reliability of online account services
To implement this new technology and provide you with enhanced services, you may experience a temporary interruption or delay in the level of service you have come to expect. Specifically, as we prepare for this transition on August 2nd, you may see a temporary suspension of online access services, including access to instant loans from July 25th until August 4th. You may also see a delay in the processing of loan and premiums payments sent to our office from July 29th until August 2nd.
However, please note that document upload is always available to submit applications for loans, beneficiary updates, or complete other policy actions. Document Upload is located at https://insurance.va.gov/Home/IDU.
Our call center is also available to assist with any questions you may have. We apologize for any temporary disruption that may be caused as we move into the new system, however the benefit of having a more secure, safe, efficient, and modern policy maintenance system for our policyholders is our top priority.
Some policyholders will also receive a letter with additional information about changes to their policy.
If You Have Questions
If you have questions or need assistance, please call the VA Insurance Center at 1-800-669-8477 between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday.
News from the Executive Committee July 2022
Friends and Partners,
It’s hard to believe that half of 2022 is history. Seems the older we get the faster the years fly by. For myself, I’m astounded that I have been at my job at the Crescenz VA Medical Center for over 17 years. It’s always been my pleasure to work with Veterans and I enjoy meeting Veterans and teaching them about their VA health care benefits. As most of you know I am not a Veteran and do not come from a military family and fell into my job at the VA through roundabout means. But there is nowhere else I would rather be working.
An important part of my work at the VA is outreach and that is how I got involved in DVVC. As a VA liaison to the Executive Committee of DVVC, I work closely with the dedicated people who donate their time to build and grow DVVC as the premier organization in the Delaware Valley to unite military and Veteran service organizations and build programmatic capacity to increase services to the military and Veteran community through regional collaboration.
To better understand the needs of the community, DVVC has been talking with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University about the idea of a landscape assessment that would identify the current state of Veteran service space in the Philadelphia region, with the possibility of setting up a coordinated care model for Veterans and military families. This would be a huge and expensive undertaking for DVVC, but something that would hopefully provide the information to move the region to the next level in terms of coordinating services for Veterans and military families.
As the Executive Committee of DVVC discusses whether or not to move forward with IVMF’s proposal, please let us know what you, our member organizations, think of this idea. Is this something DVVC should spearhead? What would be the goal of gathering this data? Are you interested in being on a task force to move this forward? Please share your thoughts with us by sending an email to dvvcinfo@gmail.com
I wish you all a happy and safe July. And join us for our program on July 22 when we discuss the challenges facing military and Veteran children. And as always – keep in touch! DVVC exists for YOU!
Warmly,
Fern Billet
Congressional Liaison and Community Relations
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
VA Liaison to DVVC