Don’t miss the next Quarterly Meeting on Friday, October 20!
WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING – highlights & resources from previous meetings:
* Joint meetings with South Jersey CVEB
Fall 2023* – “Preventing Homelessness in the Veteran Community” –This program was presented in a hybrid format (some in person at Camden Community College, some via Zoom). Presenters included: Ashley Griffiths, Executive Director of Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity; Kyonne Isaac, Director of Homeowner Services for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia; Vandy Rider, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program Director, Veterans Multi-Service Center; and Brig. Gen. Patrick Kennedy, Superintendent, Veterans South Haven. They covered a wide range of programs available throughout the region, including programs designed to keep Veterans in their homes as well as some programs that provide homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing. Video coming soon!
Summer 2023 – “Transitioning to End-of-Life Care: Benefits and Services for Veterans and their Families” – This program included information about palliative and hospice care, especially the resources available in our region, as well as VA health and cemetery benefits, and tips on creating and maintaining a will. Check out the video here. Review the slides here. If you have resources to share, especially including checklists for families who may need to assist a veteran with end-of-life decisions, please send them to dvvcinfo@gmail.com!
Spring 2023 – “Military Sexual Trauma – Historical, Legal and Psychological Perspectives” – This program included information such as the VA and DOD definitions, the claim process – relating the trauma to its effects, the VA character of service process, treatment for MST, consequences, relationship to suicide, and what is happening within the active-duty services components. We also heard from an MST survivor, and had a very candid discussion in the chat. Check out the video here. Review the slides here. Check out the many RESOURCES available here, some specific information on discharge upgrades here, and info about a virtual LGBTQ+ support group here.
Town Hall – Learn about the PACT Act from VA experts – This was a very informative presentation by Karen Flaherty-Oxler, MSN, RN, Director, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia (VHA), and Lillie Nuble, Executive Director, Philadelphia and Wilmington Regional Office (VBA). Did you miss it? Check out the
video here. Or review VHA slides here, and VBA slides here.
Winter 2023 – Annual Meeting and Committee Work – Some great work across all our teams – the Tech/Website committee did a presentation on the website and the member portal; the Membership committee continues to focus is on promptly incorporating new organizations into the DVVC system; the Marketing committee discussed ways to better integrate the website with social media; and the Programming committee continues to come up with dynamic and creative program ideas for DVVC’s quarterly meetings. For all the details – including the upcoming programs – see the article in our February Newsletter (under News).
Fall 2022 – Exploring the Healing Power of Stories within Veteran & Military Communities – An informative presentation on the many creative modalities Veterans use to express their experiences including writing poetry, reading ancient war stories along with artwork and music.
Town Hall – The Diverse Experiences of Military & Veteran Families of Color – Findings from the Blue Star Families 2021 Survey were presented by Jennifer Akin, MPA, Senior Director for Policy & Social Impact Research and CT Moss, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired, Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion Initiative.
Summer 2022 – 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.
Spring 2022 – Bad Paper: Consequences, Remedies and Recent Developments – this meeting featured a number of subject matter experts on legal issues, including: how less-than-honorable military discharges impact veterans lives; how veterans can use the VA Character of Discharge Process and Military Review Boards to receive benefits and upgrade their discharges; and how recent developments in this area including the proposed VA Character of Discharge Regulations and the Discharge Review Board Nationwide Settlements may impact veterans affected by behavioral and mental health conditions. Slides are available, as is a list of resources.
Winter 2022 – 2021-Year in Review & Moving Forward with 2022: Achieving Goals & Objectives Through Committee Work – Committee work is the core of DVVC. Member organization representatives were invited to participate in a breakout discussion with a committee of their choice: Marketing, Membership, or Programming. Each committee gave a short introduction to help representatives choose. Thanks for all the active participation.
Fall 2021 – Wellness Warriors 2021: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Veterans – This meeting featured a panel discussion with VA and community providers of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), including a little chair yoga!
Town Hall – The Fallout from Afghanistan: How to Help Yourself, and How to Help Others – see the video recording of the meeting, and the various resources from the VA, from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), and from DVVC (excerpt from our September newsletter, with links to many other agencies)
Summer 2021* – PA & NJ County Directors of Veterans Affairs – see the video recording – please note that it starts as Terri Illes is introducing the South Jersey CVEB
Town Hall – LGBTQ Issues in the Veteran Space
Spring 2021* – PA & NJ Legislative Priorities for 2021
Winter 2021 – Annual Strategic Planning meeting – check our our Word Cloud and the Strategic Plan for 2021-2024!
Fall 2020 – Employment Strategies – see the video recording
Summer 2020 – NJ Diversion and Philadelphia Vet Court – see the slides, and the video recording
Fall 2019 – Fraud Protection – see the slides, and a press release
Spring 2018 – Homelessness – see the Fact Sheet
Follow us on social media – especially Facebook – for info on current events
Contact us at dvvcinfo@gmail.com with any questions