“Serving Those Who Served” Since 1864

Public Act Requiring Cities and Towns to Designate a Veterans Service Contact Person. Effective 1 Oct 2013 Cities or Towns may form a local Veteran’s Advisory Committee…OR Appoint an employee to serve as a Veterans Service Contact Person and complete an annual training course conducted by CT-DVA, OAA

Public Act Duties & Responsibilities Reemployment Education Rehabilitation Adjustment to Peacetime Living Coord w/Local, State & National Govt & Private Agencies to secure benefits Coord Vocational Training Services

240,000 Veterans in Connecticut CT VETERANS ARE: 10% of the Population 45% over 65 17% are years of age 8% are Women 17% use VA Connecticut Health Care 10% have Service Connected Disabilities Over 20,500 Connecticut citizens have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan

Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs The First Home for Veterans in the Nation – Est. 1864

The Fitch Home The first home for disabled war veterans in the United States. Founded on July 4, 1864, it was known as Fitch’s Home for Soldiers and their Orphans. Benjamin Fitch establish the home for Civil War veterans and for Children whose fathers were killed in that war. From 1864 to 1940 the Fitch home served the needs of hundred of orphans and thousands of men who served their country in various wars. In 1940 the Fitch Home became the Connecticut State Veterans Hospital and relocated at Rocky Hill.

CONNECTICUT VETERANS HOME AT ROCKY HILL ESTABLISHED 1940

ROCKY HILL VETERANS HOME “ Serving those Who Served” Over 400 veterans live at the Ct Veterans Home From all of our nation’s conflicts WWII Korea Vietnam Era Gulf War Iraq & Afghanistan World War II Vietnam Korea Gulf War Iraq

Veterans’ Home at Rocky Hill, CT Health Care Facility, 125 Beds Residential and Rehabilitative Services, 350 Beds Substance Abuse Program, 50 Beds Must be a Connecticut Resident Have An Honorable Discharge Fee for Services Provided

RESIDENTIAL FACILITY Focus on Homeless and Needy Veterans BASIC SERVICES: * Food, * Clothing * Medical Care Veteran Improvement Program * Residential Services * Vocational Counseling and Job Placement * Recreational Activities * Case Management Services * Educational Opportunities

Residential & Rehabilitation Services Room and Board Substance Abuse Treatment and Counseling Training and Education Temporary Employment Interagency Work Experience Job Placement and Assistance Recreational Services Social Work Services Supportive Housing for Working Veterans

VETERANS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Substance Abuse Recovery at Fellowship House * Professional Staff Program to Assist Veterans with drug and alcohol abuse problems. * 6 months Intensive Clinical Treatment 6 months Residential Treatment and Support Vocational and Employment Support Services during treatment Collaboration with VA Connecticut and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Homeless Veterans In Connecticut 1/3 of Homeless Adults are Veterans 900 in CT, 200,000 Nationwide ½ Have Mental Issues 70% Have Alcohol and Substance Abuse Problems Poor Economy Has Increased Homeless Numbers

VA Homeless Programs Homeless Outreach & Engagement (Find em and Fix em) Transitional Housing (Grant & Per Diem) Permanent Housing in the Community HUD-VASH Housing Veteran Justice Outreach

Patriot’s Landing Provides Temporary Housing, NTE One Year (5) Fully Equipped Houses, (16) Beds OIF, OEF, OND Veterans Priority All Other Veterans, Space Available CT Resident Honorable Discharge Independent Living Single Veterans Fee For Services Smoke, Alcohol and Drug Free Environment Residential Programs and Services

Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center opened Oct 2008 State of the Art Long Term Healthcare 125 Bed Facility Infrastructure improvements Alzheimer’s Wing Respite Care Hospice Care Therapy Areas Family Areas Recreation Areas Internet Café Gov Rell Room $11,838,343 State Funding $21,985,494 Federal Grant PROJECT TOTAL $33,823,838

Sgt John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center opened Oct 2008

Connecticut Veterans Cemetery System Darien, SPRING GROVE CEMETERY Established 1884 CLOSED Rocky Hill, COLONEL RAYMOND GATES Established 1959 OPEN Middletown, STATE VETERANS CEMETERY Established 1984 OPEN

CT DVA OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE “ Connecting Connecticut’s Veterans to the Benefits They EARNED” 8 Service Officers authorized to assist veterans and their families to access Federal, State or Municipality Services and Benefits CO-LOCATED with the Federal VA Regional Office in NEWINGTON And in EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WATERBURY, BRIDGEPORT, NORWICH and MILFORD CALL Vets INFO LINE CT-VETS or We have obtained over $45 million in new Pensions, Disability Compensation, Educational, Home Loans, Healthcare and Burial Benefits for Connecticut Veterans and their Families

Connecticut Veterans Benefits Municipal Property Tax Exemptions Education Benefits, Tuition Waiver Financial Assistance – Soldiers’ Sailors’ Marines Fund, Temp Emer Asst Fund Employment Benefits, Veterans Preference Points State Employee Retirement Benefits DMV Registration & License Fee Exemption Honorary H.S. Diplomas for WWII, Korea and Vietnam Veterans

Connecticut Veterans Benefits Burial in State Veterans Cemetery CT Wartime Service Medal Housing Preference & Home Loans CT Veterans Registry Military Support Program Flag on Driver’s License, Vet’s ID

The Connecticut Wartime Service Medal and the Veterans Hall of Fame Gov. Rell presents the Hall of Fame Medal to Navy Veteran Dr. James Sedalia Peters II To Date over 28,000 Connecticut Wartime Medals have been awarded to our veterans

Partners in Service to Veterans “Heroes for Hire” Veterans Job Fairs Co-Sponsored by CT Dept of Labor and CT DVA Thousands of Veterans meet with 200+CT companies about employment & training opportunities

Gov Rell’s Veterans OASIS Program Operation Academic Support for Incoming Servicepersons A Public/Private Partnership Each Public College and University Drop-In Room for Returning Veterans Resources, Renewal, Relationships Veteran to Veteran 17 OASIS Centers are open

CT Military Support Program Call Center: A Joint Program of CT National Guard, Dept of Veterans’ Affairs & Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services offers free and confidential counseling for: Relationship and family issues Depression, stress and anxiety Child and youth issues Substance abuse Who is eligible for support? Connecticut Veterans of all wars and their Spouses or Significant others, Teens, Kids, Siblings, Parents, Grandparents

Veterans Administration Veterans Health Administration, VHA Veterans Benefits Administration, VBA West Haven and Newington Campus Outpatient Clinic Locations: Danbury New London Stamford Waterbury Willimantic Winsted

Veterans Readjustment Counseling Centers, (Vets Centers) Danbury Norwich Rocky Hill West Haven

VA Healthcare Establish eligibility, VA Form 10-10EZ Priority Groups 1 through 8 based on disability and level of income. (See Ch 1,Fed Benefits Book OIF/OEF 5 yr VA Healthcare

Filing a Claim Contact a Veterans Service Officer Provide all Supporting Medical Documentation Complete a Comp and Pen Exam Backlog, 2 yr, 1 yr, 125 day goal, End 2014 VBMS, FDC, e-benefits, My Healthevet, PMC Be Patient

Today America has deployed over 2.4 million Armed Forces in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Connecticut has sent 20,500 to war since 9/11/01. Connecticut will be ready when they come home, just as we always have been.

Questions ??? Connecticut Veterans Website CT Dept of Veterans Affairs Veterans Administration