|
|||
If you know a Veteran, please forward this issue to him or her as it provides important updates, resources, and information. In this Update:
Former POW, Jessica Lynch, Addresses the SenateIn honor of POW/MIA Recognition Day, the Senate of Pennsylvania had a special guest, former Prisoner of War and Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch. Twenty years ago, the Marines of Task Force Tarawa entered an obscure city on the Euphrates River called An Nasiriyah, where they were told resistance would be minor. The intelligence was wrong. 21 Marines and 11 soldiers were killed in heavy fighting in and around the city. By the time dust settled, they learned that six soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company were taken prisoner by Iraqi Forces and that the mission changed to that of search and rescue. For the next nine days, the Marines of Task Force Tarawa walked the streets of every building of An Nasiriyah, searching for evidence of their whereabouts while meeting much resistance from Sadaam’s Fedayeen militia and Ba’ath party soldiers. After nine days of tireless operations, actionable intelligence was finally received, and a Special Forces operation ensued to rescue PFC Jessica Lynch in what would be the first successful POW rescue since World War II. Two weeks later, the remaining soldiers were rescued by the Marines in Baghdad. Since that time, Jessica has been working to recover from the visible and invisible wounds she received that day. She earned a teaching degree and has been raising her daughter back home in West Virginia. She also has been speaking about her ordeal throughout the country. My colleague, Sen. Robinson, was present during Jessica’s rescue and was honored to introduce her on the Senate floor. You can find Sen. Robinson’s remarks, including Private Lynch addressing the full Senate here. Next PACT Act Enrollment DeadlineUntil Sept. 30, at 11:59 p.m., Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and left the military between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care through the PACT Act. This special enrollment period gives Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for disability compensation benefits. The VA is encouraging all of these Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and sign up for VA health care before the deadline. Even if you don’t need this care now, you may need it in the future, and once you’re in, you have access for life. But don’t wait – the deadline is Sept. 30. VA, DoD Collaborating to Expand Breast Cancer Screening EligibilityThe Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environment (SERVICE) Act was signed into law last year to expand breast cancer screening eligibility for Veterans and ensure research continues to advance our knowledge of toxic exposures and breast cancer. As part of the SERVICE Act, the VA will expand breast cancer risk assessments and clinically appropriate mammograms to women Veterans who have experienced toxic exposure. Additionally, the VA and the Department of Defense are working together to identify additional locations and time periods of service for toxic exposure, beyond those indicated in the current law. According to the agencies, this will expand eligibility for these services in the future. If you are not currently enrolled in VA health care, you still may be eligible for a screening due to expanded eligibility under the SERVICE Act. You can explore health care enrollment here. With the enactment of the PACT Act, the VA is now authorized to provide care and benefits to millions of toxic-exposed Veterans and their survivors. You can contact your VA primary care provider to learn more or visit the PACT Act website. To discover the full range of VA health services for women Veterans, visit Women’s Health Care Needs | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) or call the Women Veterans Call Center at 855-829-6636. VA Mental Health Services Seek to Decrease Stigma Around Mental HealthVeterans and service members experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at higher rates than the general population. But many Veterans are unaware of the resources available to them or are hesitant to seek treatment. The VA provides mental health services for PTSD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and more. The VA offers a wide array of service through its VA Telehealth, including its TeleMental Health program which remotely connects Veterans with a VA mental health provider from the location of their choice. All they need is a computer or internet-capable device. Veterans also have access to VA’s suite of mental health apps developed with input from Veterans. VA apps can enable Veterans to be more involved in their care and manage their symptoms. Veterans can use these free self-guided apps to supplement their traditional mental health treatment through the VA. Those apps include the PTSD Coach app, the PTSD Family Coach app, the AIMS for Anger Management app and the CBT-i (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) Coach app. App users can also quickly connect to support, such as the Veterans Crisis Line or Vet Center Call Center. While these apps are valuable tools, it’s important to note that only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. The apps don’t replace treatment with a health care professional. Anyone who needs mental health treatment should schedule an appointment with a provider. If you are not already using VA medical services, contact your nearest VA medical center or Vet Center to talk about your needs and how to enroll. To learn more about VA mental health apps and resources, visit the National Center for PTSD’s webpage and the VA Mobile website. You Can’t Always See Signs of a CrisisWhile it’s always important to be aware of signs that a Veteran is struggling and may be heading toward a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, not all signs are obvious. According to the VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, some signs of a crisis are internal, invisible and intangible. The VA notes these signs can be such things as a usually sociable person staying home when friends are getting together, giving away prized possessions, securing long-term care for their pets, someone starting to miss doctor’s appointments or not responding to phone calls, emails or texts. Those in the military are trained to downplay their burdens and feelings of discomfort to put the mission first. Upon becoming a military Veteran, that training just doesn’t disappear. This can lead Veterans to try to bury their challenges. Making sure we all understand the range of what a crisis may look like can help in finding needed support and preventing suicide. You can read more about how to do that here. If you feel like you may be in crisis, or you feel like a Veteran you care about may be in crisis, contact the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255. Caring, qualified responders are ready to listen and help 24/7. If you think a crisis might happen but there’s no immediate danger, take a look at the VA’s suicide prevention website. You can also visit VeteransCrisisLine.net to learn more about crisis and how to find local resources. VA Announces More Than $1 Billion in Grants to Combat HomelessnessVA recently announced more than $1 billion in grants will be awarded this year to help homeless and at-risk Veterans. The VA is awarding 256 grants totaling approximately $799 million through its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. Grants will go to community organizations that help rapidly rehouse Veterans and their families, prevent the imminent loss of Veterans’ homes or identify more suitable housing situations for Veterans and their families. Another 454 grants totaling approximately $257 million will be awarded through the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program. This money will be used by community organizations that provide Veterans with transitional housing and case management — including connecting Veterans to VA benefits, community-based services and permanent housing. Through July 2023, 26,470 Veterans have been permanently housed this calendar year, which the VA says puts it on pace to exceed its goal of housing 38,000 homeless Veterans in 2023. These grants are a critical part of VA’s efforts to provide housing for Veterans in collaboration with the community. For more information about VA’s efforts to end Veteran homelessness, visit VA.gov/homeless. What are Vet Centers?VA Vet centers provide free and confidential readjustment counseling for war-zone Veterans and their families, from World War II to the current Global War on Terror. Vet centers are small, non-medical, counseling centers conveniently located in our region. They’re staffed by highly trained counselors and team members dedicated to seeing you through the challenges that come with managing life during and after the military. Whether you come in for one-on-one counseling or to participate in a group session, at Vet centers you can form social connections, try new things and build a support system with people who understand you and want to help you succeed. Who is Eligible to Receive Services at Vet Centers?Vet center services are available to Veterans at no cost, regardless of discharge character, and without the need to be enrolled in VA health care or having a service-connected disability. If you are a Veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, you can access Vet center services if you:
Contacting Your Local Vet CenterEven if you are unsure if you meet the criteria to receive services from a Vet center, please contact a center. Center services are also available to family members when their participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or active-duty service member. If you consider them family, so does your local center. Bereavement services are also available to family members of Veterans who were receiving Vet center services at the time of the Veteran’s death, and to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty. Vet center locations in Pennsylvania are:
For more information, please visit www.vetcenter.va.gov.
|
|||
|
|||
2024 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorkristin.com | Privacy Policy |