DUBUQUE COUNTY VETERAN’S AFFAIRS 2017 BUDGET PRESENTATION

Achievements Increase our capacity to serve all Dubuque County veterans and their families and surviving spouses by Providing quality Veterans Relief Providing quality VA compensation and Pension Projecting a 18% increase in VA funding for FY16 which reduces draw on veterans relief funds Implemented a program that scans documents Commission’s meeting minutes Veteran’s VA claim files Veteran’s grave records

Achievements 7/14-6/157/15-12/15 1/16-6/16 FTEs=5 FTEs=4 VA Award TypeAward AmountYTD Amount Annualized Award Amt Total$15,630,146$9,229,002 $18,458,004 $ Per FTE$3,528,250$1,845,800 $4,614,501  Assisted veterans and veteran’s surviving spouses with VA pension claims with volume increasing each year

Achievements Fiscal year 2015 reached over 2295 veterans and their families Assisted veterans with applications for Veterans status on Iowa Driver license for FY16 with 101 as of 01/12/2016 FY15 Drivers Licenses = 183 Assisted veterans, surviving spouses, and dependents with VA pension claims. Weekly log-on to the IDVA Nursing Home website to obtain Dubuque County Veterans, Spouses, and dependents As of 01/12/2016, 418 contacts were made for Aid and Attendance Pension claims. Worked with the Dubuque County Nursing Homes and Assisted Living with Outreach

Achievements Ongoing Collaboration with VA Medical Center and VA Regional Office to provide outreach to all veterans and their families to educate, inform, and acquire all benefits available Staff assisted with the last Honor Flights of the Greater Dubuque WW II Veterans

Achievements VA Director and VSO speak on the Good Neighbor Show at least once a month to discuss current veteran issues Assist veterans to receive VA Healthcare from the VA Healthcare Administration Assist veterans to obtain new VA Dental Program Implementing new requirement from the Iowa Dept. of Revenue. All County Veterans Affairs offices assist with the Iowa Rent Reimbursement applications for veterans

Achievements 7/14-6/15 7/15-12/15 7/15-6/16 FTEs=5 FTEs=4 Actual Projected Statistics Cases2,295 1,230 2,460 Interviews (Appts & Walk-Ins)2,295 1,230 2,460 New Cases Veterans1, ,994 Dependents for Veterans Phone Ins9,213 4,847 9,694 Phone Outs ,192 8,384 Letters Mailed1, ,796 Letters Received2,206 1,137 2,274 Forms16,065 8,610 17,220 Nursing Homes Claims Appeals County Claims Total45,497 24,223 48,244 Volume per FTE10,270 5,132 12,061

Staffing  4 full-time staff (after 1 retirement 1/4/16)  All full-time staff continuing cross training as VA Relief and CVSOs in order to:  File federal VA claims (Compensation and Pension)  File for healthcare from VA Healthcare Administration  Provide VA relief to indigent veterans and their families  Work with new VA Homeless Veterans Program 01/01/2015  Maintain staff CVSO certifications (CEU’s, training, and etc.)

State Regulations  Maintain compliance with state regulations  Maintain Currency with Iowa Code Ch. 35B  Iowa code calls for all assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and independent living facilities to report to the Iowa Department of Veteran’s Affairs all veterans, veteran’s spouses, dependents, and when they moved into these facilities  We are required by state code to contact veterans and their families and assist with filing federal and state benefits/programs if applicable  Assist DOT with veteran’s applications on their drivers license  3 staff members are Notary Public certified

Out Reach for 2016

Dubuque County General Assistance 2016 Budget Presentation

Process Iowa Code states that the County is the payer of last resort. Consumers are referred to apply for LIHEAP heating assistance. Our referrals being done reaches out to all available resources for the consumers in the most timely efficient manner.

Process Other agencies are now once again referring to Dubuque County General Assistance. Agencies in the past stopped doing referrals and sent all to General Assistance and Veterans Affairs. Iowa Code makes the county the payer of last resort…not the first.

Achievements 7/14-6/15 7/15-01/16 7/14-6/15 FTEs=3 (only 3 staff in office take GA cases)Actual Projected Statistics Cases Interviews (Appts & Walk-Ins) No Shows Phone Ins Phone Outs Letters Mailed Forms1, Claims Appeals County Claims Total4,412 2,326 4,652 Volume per FTE1, ,551

Issues Impacting VA/GA Departments Lack of time on meters and limited handicap parking for clients at current location  DOT is now requiring all veterans who want to display VETERAN status on their driver’s license to bring DD214 to their county Veteran’s Affairs office to have form notarized  10,000 Dubuque County veterans plus any retired National Guard  Required to be recorded first  New Directive from Dept. Revenue ( State Rental Reimbursement)

Referral system that was re-implemented for County Assistance is discontinued. Consumers are being referred to GA before assistance given from other agencies. The VA/GA application process takes one hour and 15 minutes per consumer (filing out forms, faxing and mailing releases) A checklist form was developed by staff for all new consumers seeking county assistance from VA or GA. Which has reduced returned visits and delayed assistance. Pending move to the Old Jail o Process for coordination of move, setup, lease cancellation, furniture purchases, IT connections, etc.

Improvement Requests  Fill 1 FTE CVSO Position to maintain level of service (wages as currently staffed in FY17 budget but will be lower start rate for new staff)  Purchase a camera for Outreach Programs throughout the Dubuque County $450  Purchasing furniture for upcoming move to the Old Jail; with current furniture some of the desks, cabinets, and etc; are too large for the allotted office space