Montgomery County, Maryland Commission on Veterans Affairs Annual Report 2016
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Montgomery County, Maryland Commission on Veterans Affairs Annual Report 2016 Daniel J. Bullis, Chairman Randy Stone, Vice-Chairman Isiah Leggett, County Executive
EMBERSHIP L IST 2015 - 2016 Letter of Transmittal 3 VA Strengthens Commitment to County Veterans Establishing Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 4 - 5 How to Enroll in VA Healthcare 6 Mike Love, Founder of the Beach Boys, Shares Message of Healing with Commission 7 Councilmember George Leventhal Announces That Montgomery County Effectively Ends Veterans Homelessness 8 HUD-Veterans Administration Supported Housing (VASH) Vouchers 9 MCTV Documentary on Vietnam Veterans 10 - 11 DAR Commemorates Vietnam 50th Anniversary with Wreath Laying 12 Montgomery County, MD Employment Data on Hiring of Veterans, Disabled Veterans, and People with Disabilities 13 FY18 Operating Budget Priorities 14 Annual Meeting with County Executive 15 VA Silver Spring Vet Center Services 16 Key Contacts for the VA and Other Resources 17 Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs 18 Projected Number of Veterans in Montgomery County, MD 19 - 20 How Many Uniformed Services Retirees Live in the County? 20 2015 - 2016 Year In Review 21 - 22 Connect with the Commission 23 Commission Presentations For 2015 - 2016 23 How to Contact Your Elected Officials 24 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS G ENERAL P UBLIC M EMBERS Dan Bolling Marek Posard - Resigned Vacancy
Vacancy S TAFF Betsy Luecking, Community Outreach Manager Carly Clem, Administrative Specialist I
ON -V OTING C ONGRESSIONAL R EPRESENTATIVES Austin Morris, Office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 2 V ETERANS R EPRESENTATIVES
Henry Bockman, Veteran Daniel Bullis, Disabled American Veterans James Campbell, Military Officers Association of America Octavia Dixon, Veterans of Foreign Wars Ron Drach, Veteran Elizabeth (Jane) McCarthy, American Legion Wayne Miller, Disabled American Veterans Randy Stone, American Legion
Michael L. Subin, Office of the County Executive Joanna L. Starling, Montgomery College Vacancy - Department of Health & Human Services Vacancy - Department of Economic Development
ETTER OF T RANSMITTAL Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 3
COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
November 1, 2016 Via Letter of Transmittal Electronically to: The Honorable Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Executive The Honorable Nancy Floreen, President, Montgomery County Council Uma S. Ahluwalia, Director, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
to advise and consult with you on issues of concern to the estimated 42,000 Veterans, and their families, who live in the County. Under your leadership and with your support, the Commission is mandated to research, assemble, analyze and disseminate information that will assist in meeting the needs of Veterans and their families.
Since 2009, the Commission had been advocating along with Congressman Van Hollen’s and Senator Ben Cardin’s office to have the Veterans Administration (VA) open a VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in the County. On September 19, 2016 we were pleased to be part of a “Golden Hammer” event put on by the District of Columbia VA Medical Center to mark the beginning of the build out of this clinic to be located at 15810 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD. At this time we pay tribute in memory of Gregory Hamilton, Navy, Vietnam Veteran, who met with County Executive Isiah Leggett about 10 years ago and requested that he establish a Commission on Veterans Affairs to work on establishing a CBOC.
We continue to encourage cooperation, coordination and collaboration among all agencies and non-profits that serve Veterans so that our community works together to honor and provide the best services possible to Veterans and their families. We have established a close relationship with Serving Together which is a resource and referral source for Veterans and their families. The Office of Human Resource’s merit hiring initiatives has led to as of October 20, 2016 the hiring of 191 Veterans, including 13 who have a disability.
We are pleased with the County’s efforts to end homelessness amongst Veterans and to assist in obtaining permanent housings with the Zero:16 campaign. We are working to increase outreach to the general Veteran population regarding programs, services and enrollment in VA Health Benefits. We are supporting Veterans through our Veterans Education Partnership which includes Montgomery College Combat to College, Universities at Shady Grove and the University of Maryland Terp Vets.
We wish to recognize and give our personal thanks to all Commissioners, the many community members, and the agency staff who participate in our meetings for their commitment and dedication. We would like to acknowledge DHHS Director Uma Ahluwalia for her role in meeting with the Boards, Commissions and Committees to keep us informed of important health and human services issues, Dr. Jay Kenney, Chief, Aging and Disability Services, Betsy Tolbert Luecking, Community Outreach Manager, and Carly Clem, Administrative Specialist, for their outstanding support in providing the Commission with the resources needed to carry out our mission. This report is the result of our combined efforts.
confident that you will continue to support the Commission’s efforts to enhance the lives of our Veterans. Our meetings are open to the public, and we invite you to join us for any meeting.
Sincerely, Daniel J. Bullis, Chairman Randy Stone, Vice-Chairman
Press Release - September 16, 2016 Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will be joined by County, State, and Federal officials for the official ceremony to redevelop space for a new County Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The ceremony will be held Monday, September 19, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at 15810 Gaither Drive in Gaithersburg.
It will be the first Department of Veterans Affairs community clinic in Montgomery County offering health care services to the more than 42,000 Veterans living in the area.
The newly renovated building space will offer 11,600 square feet with room for primary-care and mental-health clinics as well as space for tele-health, patient education, hearing aid fittings and specialty care.
Expanding health care access to Veterans in Maryland is a high priority for the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which operates five other community clinics in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The CBOC is scheduled to open in December 2017 and will be a welcomed addition for Veterans in the community. The County’s CBOC will have ample parking and is in close proximity to the Shady Grove Metro Station and Ride On bus #43.
Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 4 VA S TRENGTHENS C OMMITMENT TO C OUNTY V ETERANS E STABLISHING C OMMUNITY -B ASED O UTPATIENT C LINIC
Program of Events 10:30 Welcome - Captain Michael Subin, USN, Retired, Master of Ceremony
10:35 Opening Remarks - Mr. Brian A. Hawkins, Medical Center Director 10:40 The Honorable Benjamin Cardin, Senator
10:45 The Honorable Christopher Van Hollen, Jr., Congressman 10:55 The Honorable John Sarbanes, Congressman
11:00 Mr. Joseph A. Williams, Jr., Network Director, VISN 5 11:05 Mr. George W. Owings III, Secretary of Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs
11:10
Mr. Isiah (Ike) Leggett, Montgomery County Executive
11:15 “What the MoCo CBOC Means and How It Benefits Local Veterans” Mr. Dan Bullis, Chairman, Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs
11:20
Golden Hammer Ceremony
Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 5 VA S TRENGTHENS C OMMITMENT TO C OUNTY V ETERANS E STABLISHING C OMMUNITY -B ASED O UTPATIENT C LINIC
Hawkins, DC VA Medical Center Director; Secretary George W. Owings III, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs; Congressman Christopher Van Hollen; County Executive Isiah Leggett; Senator John Sarbanes; Dr. Ross Fletcher, Chief of Staff Emeritus, DC VA Medical Center; and Sidney Katz, Member, Montgomery County Council. Councilmember Sidney Katz and Mike Subin, Special Assistant to the County Executive and Commissioner County Executive Isiah Leggett and Dan Bullis, Chairman, Commission on Veterans Affairs Photos courtesy of Office of Public Information - David Jeo
There are 42,000 Veterans living in the County and only an estimated 8,000 are enrolled in the VA Healthcare system. Given that the County will be having its first Community Based Outpatient Clinic in 2017, the Commission is encouraging Veterans to enroll now. The very first step in obtaining access to your VA Health Benefits is to apply for enrollment. Effective immediately, Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, can complete applications for enrollment in VA health care by telephone without the need for a signed paper application. All other Veterans may apply by phone starting July 5, 2016.
When Veterans choose to enroll, VA offers an enhancement to their enrollment experience through “Welcome to VA” (W2VA). W2VA enhances communication by reaching out to newly enrolled Veterans through personal phone calls upon enrollment, providing assistance with health care inquiries and assisting with their initial appointment at their preferred VA healthcare facility. In addition, VA sends each new enrollee an introductory letter and personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbook in the mail.
For more information about the Veterans Health Benefits Handbook, visit ww.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/vhbh/index.asp .
Here are the convenient ways to apply for enrollment:
Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 6 H OW TO E NROLL IN VA H EALTHCARE
The telephone application option is a more convenient way to apply for enrollment, and eliminates the need for a signed paper application. VA staff members will collect the needed information and process the enrollment application for an enrollment determination. To apply, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387), Mon-Fri between 8 am and 8 pm, EST. Apply Online Fill out the application online and electronically submit it to VA for processing. No need for additional documents to verify military service. If you were recently discharged, we will get your military information for you. To complete the healthcare application, visit www.vets.gov/healthcare/apply . Once you complete the application, you may submit your application online. You will immediately receive a confirmation message notifying you that your application has been received. A signature is not required for online registration. For more information about the application process, visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/ application_process.asp . You will also receive information about the appeals process, if you do not agree with the enrollment decision.
You may apply in person at your local VA health care facility. Complete the healthcare application online. For more information about the application process, visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/ application_process.asp . You will also receive information about the appeals process, if you do not agree with the enrollment decision.
Pick up an application at your local VA or download, print, and fill out the 10-10EZ, Application for Health Care. Complete the application (be sure to sign it) and mail to: Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
You may request a doctor’s appointment when you apply for enrollment by checking ‘yes’ to the question asking if you want an appointment on the application. An appointment will be made with a VA doctor or provider and you will be notified via mail of the appointment. If you need health care before your scheduled appointment, you may contact the Enrollment Coordinator, Urgent Care Clinic or the Emergency Room at your local VA.
When you apply in person or by mail, you or the person acting as your Power of Attorney must sign and date the form. If your Power of Attorney signs and dates the form you must submit a copy of the Power of Attorney with the form. If you sign with an “X”, then two people that you know must witness you as you sign the form. They must also sign and print their names on the form.
Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 7 M IKE L OVE , F OUNDER OF THE B EACH B OYS , S HARES M ESSAGE OF H EALING WITH C OMMISSION Mike Love, Founding Member of the Beach Boys, gave a message of healing to local Veterans on May 31, 2016 by sharing his experience with Transcendental Meditation (TM). He was in town over Memorial Day weekend to headline a PBS Concert on the lawn of the Capitol. Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, was the facilitator of having him contact the Commission to meet with local Veterans. Commissioners Bill Gray, Past Chair, and Wayne Miller, Team Leader, Silver Spring Vet Center, joined him in sharing their experience with TM as well. Veterans of all branches and members of the general public were welcome and encouraged to attend. The Com- mission sponsored the event and it was by the American Legion Hall, Post 41, in Silver Spring. There were over 50 people in attendance.
From left to right: Bill Gray, Mike Love and Wayne Miller
OUNCILMEMBER G EORGE L EVENTHAL A NNOUNCES THAT M ONTGOMERY C OUNTY E FFECTIVELY E NDS V ETERANS H OMELESSNESS Commission on Veterans Affairs 2016 Annual Report Page 8 Press Release: Friday, December 18, 2015 Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal, who serves as chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, will host a press conference at the Council Office Building in Rockville in the third floor conference room announcing that $500,000 in funding appropriated by the Council was used to house 18 homeless Veterans and helped the County to provide housing for every identifiable homeless Veteran. The County has also submitted certification requests to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Zero 2016 Campaign, and Councilmember Leventhal anticipates an announcement about the findings in the coming days.
Councilmember Leventhal will be joined by Councilmembers Craig Rice and Sidney Katz; Susie Sinclair-Smith, executive director, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless; Susan Kirk, executive director, Bethesda Cares; Uma Ahluwalia, director, Department of Health and Human Services. Other invited guests include: Veterans who now have stable housing; Nan Roman, president and CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness; Matthew Doherty, executive director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness; and Stacy Spann, executive director, Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County.
The County committed to ending homelessness for Veterans by setting a goal to move 58 Veterans experiencing homelessness into permanent housing by December 31, 2015. So far this year, the County has provided housing for 53 Veterans. By the end of the year, 58 Veteran households will have housing or a permanent housing plan.
“Housing every identifiable homeless Veteran in Montgomery County has always been and continues to be one of my top priorities,” said Councilmember George Leventhal. “Montgomery County now has a coordinated and efficient system, which has been developed with our community partners to ensure that every Veteran in our County has access to the supports needed to move quickly from homelessness to permanent housing. Providing a stable home for our Veterans is simply the right thing to do for those who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
County funding to house homeless Veterans was in jeopardy because of proposed cuts recommended as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Savings Plan. The Council’s Health and Human Services Committee and the Council restored $500,000 to fund the housing resources needed as part of Montgomery’s Zero 2016 Plan.
Montgomery County’s Zero 2016 Plan was developed with a primary focus on the rapid exit of Veterans from homelessness to permanent, sustainable housing. This plan was developed as the result of collaborative discussions among the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, family and single adult shelter providers, Veterans groups, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veterans Families and others. This group reviewed the homeless continuum of care to determine what federal, state and local resources were available and the strategies necessary to specifically address Veteran homelessness.
Achieving a “functional zero” for homeless Veterans does not mean that there will never be a Veteran experiencing homelessness, but future homeless Veterans will be housed quickly because of the systems in place and the ability to mobilize resources.
The community collaboration that has worked together to achieve this goal includes the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Bethesda Cares, the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs DC Medical Center and others.
County Cable Montgomery recently profiled one of the Veterans who received permanent housing on Veterans Day. The link to this story is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqFJ2-LJlrc&feature=youtu.be .
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