- Canandaigua VAMC launches Clinical Video Tele-health (CVT) to The Home
in the Canandaigua VA Medical Center’s operating area of responsibility, a growing number of aging Veterans and returning Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars present with unique health and psychosocial problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), with increased rates of suicide and homelessness. Further, because of physical and psychological problems and the isolative nature of living in rural settings, accessing care at the nearest VA presents significant barriers for access and quality of care. Student Veterans often have additional challenges including children, families, and multiple demands on their time. They have difficulty finding the time to drive 30-45 minutes to the VA and may forego care so they can finish other tasks. In response to these challenges, the Canandaigua VA Medical Center has established a Tele-health option as part of a collaborative care approach for student Veterans. It will provide psychiatric services, clinical assessment, therapy and education.
- On March 27, 2014, Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership Coordinator (VITAL), Erin Militello, LCSW, and David Andrews, VITAL Peer Support Specialist, will collaborate with Finger Lakes Community College’s Main Campus to host a Veterans luncheon and ‘Meet and Greet’ at the Victor Campus. Victor Campus has 80 Veteran students and is the technological center for FLCC. VITAL will provide students with information about the VA and the VITAL program and offer them information on resources and benefits available to them. VITAL will continue to work closely with FLCC to ensure Veteran students are provided with what they need to be successful in higher education
- On March 19, 2014, the Canandaigua VITAL team collaborated with Bryant & Stratton College to provide information on VA programming and benefits information for all Veterans that attend college. A display and information table was set up to reach targeted populations as well as general information for all Veterans. Approximately 200 people attended the open house. Ten Veterans received information regarding the VHA and 3 Veterans will be followed as uniques. The VITAL team will continue to work with Bryant and Stratton to ensure their student Veterans reach their educational goals.
- On March 19, 2014, Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership Coordinator (VITAL), Erin Militello, LCSW, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Canandaigua, Kelly Mohrman, LCSW, and OOO Peer Support Specialist, Shawn Gianforte, BSW, provided training to FLACRA’s Safe Haven staff. The training focused on Military Culture, PTSD, TBI and Suicide Prevention. The objective of this training was to educate Safe Haven staff about Veteran specific issues as a way to help support them in the program. Safe Haven is a 15 bed facility for chronically homeless Veterans located on the Canandaigua VA campus and uses the ‘housing first’ model. Continued training opportunities and collaboration will help support both FLACRA and the VA’s mission to provide excellent care to our Veterans.
- March 20th, Albany VA Leadership and OEF/OIF/OND Program attended Governor Cuomo’s Veterans and Military Families Summit at Empire State Plaza. Announcements included the Governor’s legislation for 6% of state contracts to be filled by Veterans with Service Related injuries, OASAS planned opening of two new facilities geared towards helping veterans and NYS has over 12,000 veterans attending SUNY schools. Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Tommy Sowers was also in attendance. Web link: http://albany.twcnews.com/content/politics/721246/plenty-of-support-at-first-veterans-and-military-families-summit/
- During the month of March 2014, Albany Stratton VA Medical Center CWT Program hosted several Career Network Events featuring regional employers interested in hiring Veterans. Some of the employers included The Social Security Administration, Amtrak and Nelson Tree Service. Approximately 65 Veterans attended these events both in person and via telehealth through the CBOC’s. We have received positive feedback from both Veterans and employers about these events.
- March 21, The Albany Stratton VA Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Program collaborated with Albany Law School to provide resources and information at the semi-annual Veteran’s Legal Clinic. Albany County Veteran Services Bureau, Albany Housing Coalition, Heroes at Home, and the American Red Cross were just some of the agencies present to provide information to the Veterans and families attending the event. An estimated 50 Veterans were scheduled to meet with an attorney for free legal advice.
- March 8, The Canandaigua VA OEF/OIF/OND and VITAL team collaborated with Monroe County Veterans Service Organization and community members such as Nazareth College, Army Strong, Rochester, Canandaigua/Rochester VA Veterans Service Center, and Veterans Benefits to provide a benefits, job fair, and information on VA programming for all Veteran populations. Displays and information were set up to reach targeted populations as well as general information for all Veterans. Approximately 160 veterans attended the event sponsored through Monroe County Veterans Service Organization.
- Karl Frohm, PhD, Chair, VISN 2 Pain Management Advisory Council, is featured in “Veterans Wellness’” Spring 2014 edition with his article entitled “Manage Chronic Pain Safely” (see pp. 6 & 7). Dr. Frohm also serves as Lead Psychologist at the VAWNYHS. Well done Dr. Frohm!!!
- March 1, Peggy Lane, OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager for Canandaigua Medical Center and Rochester VA Outpatient Clinic presented an overview of VA benefits, and VA programming offered through VA medical and behavioral health departments at the Combined 30 & 60 Day Yellow Ribbon Event for Army National Guard; Hornell 222MP held at Radisson Rochester Riverside. A vendor table was set up in the vendor area and was staffed for questions and assistance from 12:30am-4:00pm. Approximately 150 Army Guard and 20 other community organizations were in attendance.
- Feb 13, Canandaigua VHA and Community partner collaboration to honor and celebrate women Veterans in an event entitled She Chose to Serve Women’s Event. Approximately 80 women Veterans were in attendance. Peggy Lane, OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager for Canandaigua Medical Center and Rochester VA Outpatient Clinic presented an overview of VA benefits, and VA programming offered through VA medical and behavioral health departments.
- January 11, Peggy Lane, OEF/OIF/OND Program Manager for Canandaigua Medical Center and Rochester VA Outpatient Clinic presented an overview of VA benefits, and VA programming offered through VA medical and behavioral health departments at the 107th Yellow Ribbon Event, Rochester NY. A vendor table was set up in the vendor area and was staffed for questions and assistance from 7:30am-4:00pm. Approximately 20 other community organizations were in attendance as well as approximately 65 Airmen and their families.
- Canandaigua VAMC: VITAL had a strong presence at the 6th annual Student Veterans of America conference. Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) Coordinator in Canandaigua, NY, Erin Militello, LCSW, met other VITAL members in Scottsdale, AZ on January 2, 2014, to attend the Student Veterans of America (SVA) conference. One thousand SVA chapters from around the nation were in attendance as well as faculty, staff, and Veteran advisors. The conference focused on innovative solutions, sustainable change and collaborative communities for higher education. Curtis Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity, Department of Veterans Affairs, was the keynote speaker and emphasized the importance of support to the nations student Veterans. He talked about the success of the VITAL program and emphasized the importance of bringing the VA to campus. VITAL had an information table set up the duration of the conference and provided information to 700 Veterans, faculty and other Veteran advocates. The VA and VITAL will continue to work with SVA to use innovative strategies to improving Veterans success on campus.
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