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Veterans
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
The campaign highlights the risk factors and warning signs for suicide, provides information about VA mental health and suicide prevention resources, and helps individuals and organizations start the conversation around veteran mental health in their communities.
“In our various communities, everyone is in a position to make a difference for a veteran who may be at risk for suicide,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who recorded a video about VA’s strategies to prevent veteran suicide. “A common misconception is that you need special training to talk safely about suicide risk or show concern for someone who is in distress. One simple act of kindness could help save a life. I encourage everyone this September, and beyond, to take the first step in acting as that support system.”
Talking with a veteran about mental health or suicide risk may be challenging, but VA encourages community leaders, colleagues, family and friends to simply “Be There” by sharing messages of support that can help show a veteran you care.
VA has also collaborated with community partners and is asking individuals across the country this month to share resources with veterans in their lives via the http://BeThereForVeterans.com Web page.
Veterans in crisis or having thoughts of suicide – and those who know a veteran in crisis – can call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call 800-273-8255 and press 1, chat online at http://VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text to 838255.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
Managed by VA’s Office of Health Services Research & Development, or HSR&D, the first of its kind center will be named for Sen. Elizabeth Dole in recognition of her national leadership and advocacy on behalf of the nation’s 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers, and her support for the landmark RAND Corp. research on their challenges.
The Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research will serve as the model for excellence in peer-reviewed research on innovation, training, evaluation, implementation and the dissemination and adoption of best practices in supporting the caregivers of veterans across VA, the federal government and private and nonprofit sectors.
“Given Senator Elizabeth Dole’s significant impact on, and dedication to, military and veteran caregivers, it is only fitting that VA names this center of excellence in her honor,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The creation of the Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research is a firm example of VA’s ongoing commitment to improving services and outcomes for the families, friends and neighbors who tirelessly care for our nation’s veterans.”
The center of excellence consists of a multidisciplinary team that takes advantage of HSR&D’s virtual network of nationally recognized VA investigators and their university affiliates to ensure that their state-of-the-art research will have the greatest possible impact on veterans and the caregivers who support them.
The team of VA investigators will be led by Dr. Luci Leykum of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
Additional collaborating sites (and leaders) include the following: the Miami VA Healthcare System (Dr. Stuti Dang); VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (Dr. Mary Jo Pugh,); and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (Dr. Ranak Trivedi).
The creation of the center will allow VA to further all evidence-based research to inform the most appropriate and effective care for veterans based on their needs, most notably by: involving caregivers of veterans in the design and implementation of innovative models of care; applying the best caregiver and veteran-driven metrics for evaluation and feedback; using data science to inform matching of services to different veteran and caregiver groups; and applying implementation science to improve the deployment of best practices in home- and community-based care.
The resulting work will inform care delivery and improvement by empowering veterans, caregivers, VA and non-VA providers, and leadership in making informed choices regarding the best care for Veterans and support for those who support them.
For more information on VA’s HSR&D’s program, visit https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/.
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- Written by: Governor's Office
Staff Sgt. Sanagustin, 32, of National City, died Sept. 4 from injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
The incident is under investigation.
Staff Sgt. Sanagustin was assigned to 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
He was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
The governor and first lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
In memorial, Gov. Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol. Staff Sgt. Sanagustin's family will receive a letter of condolence from the governor.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
Byrne was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 9, 2017, as the General Counsel for the department.
Prior to joining VA, Byrne served in Lockheed Martin Corp.’s legal department as the chief privacy officer and lead information technology, cyber security and counterintelligence attorney.
He served as the deputy special counsel with the Office of the United States Special Counsel, a career senior executive service position, as well as both general counsel and assistant inspector general for investigations with the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
Byrne has over 20 years of experience in the public sector, also including service as a deployed U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer, and a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) international narcotics prosecutor.
Before joining VA, Byrne volunteered for 10 years on the Executive Board of Give an Hour, a nonprofit organization that has developed national networks of volunteer professionals capable of providing complimentary and confidential mental health services to post-9/11 veterans, service members and their families.
Byrne is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received an engineering degree and ultimately held the top leadership position of Brigade Commander.
He earned his juris doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, and started his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Malcolm J. Howard, on the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
The hiring effort, which began early this summer, will help improve service to veterans with service-connected disabilities and employment barriers, as well as help provide them with expedited services to improve their ability to transition to the civilian workforce.
“The VR&E program is much more than a benefits program,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It’s a vital support network, where VA’s expert counselors work closely with veterans on their personalized vocational rehabilitation goals. Congressional funding enables us to expand our team of counselors who are on the ground across the country working tirelessly for veterans, and we appreciate their support.”
VA is committed to ensuring its counselors have manageable caseloads and the resources needed to ensure veterans are receiving thorough, quality services.
Currently, 941 counselors are working across VA’s 56 regional offices, as well as in out-based and satellite locations.
Once hiring is complete for the additional 172 counselors, a total of 1,113 VRCs will be deployed in the field to serve veterans.
This includes 905 VRCs at regional and out-based offices, 132 Integrated Disability Evaluation System counselors at 71 military installations and 76 Veteran Success on Campus counselors at 105 institutions of higher learning.
Since 2014, over 56,000 veterans have either completed a rehabilitation plan, are employed or have achieved a greater independence in living through VR&E assistance.
The VR&E program currently has more than 123,000 participants.
For more information about VR&E, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/.
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- Written by: San Francisco VA Medical Center
SAN FRANCISCO – Veterans traveling long distances for their medical appointments at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, or SFVAMC, will now be able to enjoy new temporary accommodations at the facility’s recently opened Hoptel.
The new building (Building 22), which opened on Aug. 10, is the third hoptel located at the medical center.
The six-room, double-occupancy hoptel comes at an opportune time as one of the other Hoptels (Building 10) is temporarily closed while it undergoes seismic retrofitting. SFVAMC can now accommodate 29 veterans at its Hoptels in Buildings 9 and 22.
The new hoptel in Building 22 features double-occupancy rooms with a private bathroom, television, desk space, and lockers to store personal belongings. Each room is decorated with artwork depicting beautiful San Francisco scenery.
A welcoming front check-in desk and lobby greets veterans to the hoptel, while a common lounge area and a quiet reading nook provides places for Veterans to relax.
In addition to the completion of the new hoptel Building 22, important and necessary seismic work was recently completed on hoptel Building 9. Similar improvements are currently under way on hoptel Building 10. Once completed, a total of 49 beds among the three buildings will be available for overnight stays.
Veterans from all over the state and country come to SFVAMC to receive their health care. They may come for routine appointments; to receive specialty care at one of our National Centers of Excellence specializing in epilepsy treatment, cardiac surgery, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV or renal dialysis; or to access any number of our first-class health care services.
The hoptel program offers veterans traveling more than 75 miles for their appointments at SFVAMC a convenient, clean, comfortable and secure place to stay while receiving their health care. Thirty-seven percent of San Francisco VA Health Care System Veterans travel from outside of the catchment area to receive care while 64 percent live north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
“We are honored to serve our Nation’s Veterans while providing top-quality medical care,” said Kim Babcock, associate chief of social work. “It’s an honor that veterans choose us for their care and are willing to travel more than 75 miles due to relationships and care our VA providers offer.”
On average, the hoptel receives approximately 5,000 veteran stays each year. Assuming an average cost of $120 per night to stay in the area, the savings in lodging costs totals $600,000 for veterans receiving care at SFVAMC.
Veterans seeking to use the hoptel Program should contact their referring SFVAMC Specialty Clinic for requests to stay at the hoptel, or call 415-221-4810, Extension 2-2528 or 2-2529 for more information.
Service animals are welcome, but if you’re traveling with additional family members or a caregiver, they recommend you make hotel reservations in the area. The hoptel can provide a list of locations.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
These provisions, in addition to the 13 implemented since the law was signed less than a year ago, will have an immediate and positive impact on veterans and their families using VA benefits to pursue their educational goals.
“We are excited to get the word out about implementation of the provisions,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “From the day the Forever GI Bill was signed into law, VA, in collaboration with veterans service organizations, state approving agencies and school certifying officials, has taken an expansive approach to ensure earned benefits are provided to veterans in a timely, high-quality and efficient way.”
Some of the provisions that began Aug. 1 include:
– Recipients of a Purple Heart awarded on or after Sept. 11, 2001, are now eligible for full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for up to 36 months, if not already entitled.
– Military and veteran families who have lost a family member can now reallocate transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
– Additional Guard and Reserve service now counts toward Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility.
– Post-9/11 GI Bill students may now receive monthly housing allowance for any days they are not on active duty, rather than having to wait until the next month; and
– Expansion of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which makes additional funds available for GI Bill students, now covers more students.
– More provisions are scheduled related to science, technology, engineering and math benefit extensions; increased benefit levels; a pilot program for high-technology training geared toward “upskilling” Veterans to enter the workforce quickly; and another expansion of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which will be implemented by Aug. 1, 2022.
For more information, visit the Forever GI Bill – Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act page. Visit the Education and Training webpage for more information.
For questions about GI Bill benefits, call the Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday.
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- Written by: Clearlake VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
San Francisco VA Health Care System staff members have been working to contact veterans in affected areas by phone to make sure they are safe and their medical needs are being met.
Social work staff members have been traveling to evacuation sites to meet with veterans and to connect them with services and resources.
These efforts will continue as the community recovers from the Mendocino Complex fires.
San Francisco VA Health Care System staff have made more than 2,000 “wellness calls” to veterans and identified 165 veterans evacuated.
The clinic encourages veterans who have fire-related symptoms to contact its Telephone Linked Care line at 800-733-0502.
For veterans needing prescription refills, medication replacement, please call the pharmacy at 800-847-3203 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For veterans needing mental health services, please call our same-day mental health clinic at 707-468-7747 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For any issues or concerns outside of normal business hours, please call the advice line at 800-733-0502.
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- Written by: Clearlake VA Clinic