Sunday, September 11, 12:00pm-4:00pm
American Red Cross Headquarters
2111 Dana Ave.
Friday, September 16, 1:00pm-5:30pm
Main Library - Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
800 Vine Street
Monday, October 10, 6:00pm-8:00am
MainStreet Cinema - University of Cincinnati
Friday, October 14, 9:00am-2:00pm
DAV National HQ
3725 Alexandria Pike
Cold Spring, KY
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Please direct veterans, military families and caregivers to the TVCA Veteran and Family Resource Portal for easy access to reliable local resources and benefits. If you see any changes or additions needed, please let us know.
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September is national suicide prevention awareness month
In 2014, Veterans accounted for 18% of all deaths from suicide among U.S. adults, while Veterans constituted 8.5% of the US population. In 2010, Veterans accounted for 22% of all deaths from suicide and 9.7% of the population.
(
Facts about Veteran Suicide, VA Suicide Prevention Program, July 2016)
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Born to Be (Virtually) Wild
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Rusty Mardis, TVCA VIP Center Manager
The TVCA was happy to be involved
with the 98th National Convention of the American Legion in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 26 to September 1, 2016. The convention attracted approximately 9,000 American Legion and family members to our city. Legionnaire Mardis was on hand to explain our collaborative to conference attendees, but still found time to test his riding skills on this virtual Harley
Davidson race.
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Coordination Project Improves Service for Veterans Seeking Help
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Key veteran emergency service providers - United Way 211 and Easter Seals Community OneSource - worked with the TVCA on a four-month pilot project to test how to serve veterans seeking assistance more effectively. The pilot included:
- After-hours staffing by Community OneSource
- Additional screening and direct connections to OneSource for veterans calling United Way 211
- Access to emergency assistance funds, if needed
- Follow-up to include a post-pilot survey of callers
United Way 211 screened callers to identify veterans who were in need of more than basic services (including possible navigation and follow up), but not in behavioral health crisis or homeless. These veterans received a direct "warm" handoff to veteran call specialists 24.x7 at Community OneSource. The pilot project extended from April through July of 2016.
By all standards, the pilot was a great success! Key findings:
- Easter Seals Community OneSource experienced a 70% increase in veteran calls.
- System changes were completed at essentially no cost to the partner organizations.
- The transfer to veteran call specialists was much higher for both younger veterans (52% transferred) and senior veterans (67% transferred), both key target populations.
- 91% of surveyed callers were likely or extremely likely to refer veterans to 211 for service and 59% of callers surveyed report that the initial issue was resolved.
Based on this successful pilot, project partners intend to continue the processes and seek to expand referrals and ways to market the resource, including a possible text option. Our hope is that this collaborative and innovative approach will help us tackle even greater challenges in the future. Click here for a full copy of the report.
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Local Veterans Coming Home Stories Now Online
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Veterans Coming Home is an innovative, cross-platform public
media campaign that bridges America's military-civilian divide by telling stories, challenging stereotypes and exploring how
the values of service and citizenship are powerful connectors for all Americans. With significant input from the TVCA and in cooperation with other local veteran groups, WCET received a grant, produced, and released
six video testimonials describing the transition process for local veterans and military family members. Check out the videos below and join the conversation on social media, follow @CETconnect and @TristateVCA use the hashtag #VetsComingHome.
Here are the veteran stories now streaming online:
Cincinnati-area veterans seeking to return to school have powerful advocates in Darrell Smith and Terence Harrison.
Ryan Latscha, Army veteran, shares his re-integration story and the impact that trauma and PTSD have had on his life. Meanwhile, we discover that his journey, while unique, is not limited to those who have served or have been deployed. When it comes to trauma, civilians and veterans have more in common than you may think. Dr. Kate Chard of the VA dispels several myths surrounding trauma and PTSD.
Military Liaison Group: CPD
Sergeant Dave Corlett, a 25 year veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department and an Army veteran, realized that he could best serve fellow military veterans by recruiting other veterans within CPD to provide 24x7 call support when a veteran is suicidal. They help get the necessary information for a safe response for both the veteran and local law enforcement.
After thirty years, three deployments and a serious combat injury, Karl Williams had given a lot to the U.S. Army. Today his official status is 'retired', but that's very misleading, because Karl is still giving. As a Job Developer for Easter Seals, Karl is helping veterans to find employment.
Sarah Meeds' story begins just out of
high school. Coming from a military family, joining the Army seemed to be her destiny. She started as a soldier and now finds herself a mom, a military veteran, a military spouse, and most recently, a civilian helping other veterans find employment.
Shane Wood was a rambunctious kid. Growing up, he spent a lot of time on his grandfather's farm. After high school, Shane chose to make a career in the military. But an IED in Iraq changed everything. His dream of a military career was shattered. Directionless and disappointed, Shane was a man without a mission. But when he returned to his grandfather's farm, Shane found a way to move forward.
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VIP Center Helps Veteran Achieve Goal
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Dan is a Navy veteran who recently moved to the Tristate area from Colorado. He heard about our the TVCA through our military outreach manager, Daniel Hance.
Dan sought help at our VIP Center to upgrade career as a project manager. In less than a month, TVCA assessed his readiness and worked with him on a plan, along the way introducing him to a local company looking for help. They immediately contacted him and hired him at his desired level, as an Estimator/Project Manager. Dan, we salute you as our VIP Achiever of the Month!
To join me in this VIP Celebration of Achievement please share your own success stories on our Facebook page, by stopping by the VIP & Welcome Center or you can always email them to me!
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- Collaborative Impact Workgroup: The next meeting will take place in September at time and date TBA. Agenda items include reviewing shared outcome measures and finishing our data use plan for the year. For more information, please contact Annie Ryan at United Way.
- Health, Wellness and Family Support Workgroup:
The next meeting will take place on
Monday, September 19 at 11:30. Our next meeting will be at the Vet Center on 801B W. 8th Street, Suite 126. Current issues include aligning on military suicide prevention efforts and beginning plans for our 2017 Military Moms Conference.
For more information, call Kim Martin.
- Education Workgroup: Next meeting is October 13, 10:00-11:30, at the VIP Center. Topic: Exploring the next level of campus excellence. Contact: Terence Harrison at the University of Cincinnati.
- Employment Workgroup: Next meeting is Friday, September 9 at 8:30 VIP Center. Topic: Assessing job fair performance and review of a survey on meaningful 'military friendly' employer designations. Contact: Stephen Tucker, United Way - Partners for a Competitive Workforce.
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