Houston's Returning Veterans Initiative


			NAVIGATING THE ROAD TO SERVICES FOR RETURNING VETERANS We have created a 58-page .pdf booklet "road map" as a service to all of the men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. CLICK HERE to download the booklet.

DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO OPEN FOUR NEWS OUTPATIENT CLINICS

The Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday it will open four new community-based outpatient clinics in southeast Texas before winter 2009. Click here to read the full story.

HOUSTON NAMED AS ONE OF THE MOST MILITARY-FRIENDLY CITIES TO LIVE AND WORK

military.com says ... "Another area in Texas I like a lot for appreciation, stability and military "friendliness" is Houston, with an entire e-Government system just for veterans available at www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs. Their goal is to offer incredible service to those who have done the same for our country." Click here to read the full story.

HOUSING FOR FAMILIES OF WOUNDED WARRIORS

Operation Homefront Village will provide a free, stable home for families of wounded warriors who are completing their recovery, finishing school and job training programs, and working to move forward with their lives.

The free, temporary housing will help families rebuild their finances so that they may eventually qualify to buy permanent homes through Operation Homefront's Wounded Warrior Housing Initiative.

Operation Homefront Village's first transitional housing complex for wounded warriors near Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio will hold an open house on March 18, 2008. This 20-unit complex of two- and three-bedroom units will be fully furnished for families, complete with full utility services, Internet access, cable TV and telephone service.

Operation Homefront anticipates creating Village communities in San Diego, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. For more information on all of Operation Homefront's programs for troops and wounded warriors.

PROGRAM CONNECTS WOUNDED VETERANS

The VetConnect program is designed to provide wounded warriors with a critical link to resources. The program is run by Enable America, a non-profit group dedicated to increasing employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities. VetConnect also matches wounded warriors with casualty mentors and coordinates their participation in wellness activities. This program has been expanded to wounded special operations troops through the Care Coalition Recovery Pilot Program, which was developed and implemented with the help of U.S. Special Operations Command. For more information, visit the Enable America website.

To find career resources for the severely injured, visit the Military.com Severely Injured Career Center.

PENTAGON TO SET UP NATIONWIDE SUPPORT NETWORK

The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act provides for the establishment of a nationwide center of excellence network that will assist servicemembers of all components in readjusting and reintegrating with their families when they return from overseas deployments, a senior Defense Department official said here today.

Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, announced the new initiative today at the Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Awards ceremony that highlighted the best National Guard and reserve unit family readiness and support programs in 2007.

The new organization will be established quickly, Hall said, noting it will assist and coordinate efforts of more than 700 military family-support centers located across the country.

Efforts to obtain funding and staffing for the organization are under way, Hall said, adding it will have a central staff based in the Washington, D.C., area, and will have a board of directors.

The new support network will assist active duty, National Guard and reserve servicemembers, as well as their families, Hall pointed out.

"We've got to get that ‘jointness' throughout (the system), and this is one of the things that this center for excellence is going to talk about," Hall said.

COMBAT VETERAN CARE EXTENDED

Combat veterans who were discharged between Nov. 11, 1998 and Jan. 16, 2003, and never took advantage of VA's health care system, have until Jan. 27, 2011 to apply for five years of free VA health care for most conditions. The five-year window is also open to activated reservists and members of the National Guard and applies to care in a VA hospital, outpatient clinic or nursing home. It also extends VA dental benefits to 180 days. The five-year deadline has no effect on veterans with medical conditions related to their military service since they may apply at any time after their discharge from the military -- even decades later -- for medical care for service-connected health problems

DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM FINALIZED

The U.S. Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have signed a mutual support agreement. As part of the agreement the Army will provide nurse case managers, legal assistance, physical evaluation board liaison officers, primary care managers and other service specific support to wounded, ill and injured servicemembers throughout the Disability Evaluation System process. VA service representatives will provide information and advice on how medical evidence is used in the evaluation of disabilities. VA service representatives will assist and advise servicemembers as they prepare documentation for VA benefit claims. Soldiers may also call the Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline at 1-800-984-8523 (overseas DSN 312-328-0002). If the VA does not have permanent staff available at a specific installation, Soldiers will be instructed on how to contact VA service representatives via phone or e-mail.

Our Welcome to All Returning Veterans, Your Families and Supporters

February2008 - You've served your nation proudly. Now we want to serve your needs.

The Returning Veterans Initiative of Houston and Harris County is a community-wide coalition of organizations, agencies and others dedicated to assisting you in the transition back home.

This site is designed to provide you with services and information matching your interests. We want to make you aware of the full scope of available benefits, especially for returning veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You'll find help with basic needs like job training, employment, educational opportunities and housing assistance. Resources for medical care, counseling and recovery from injuries are included. Assistance can also be found here for those whose family members have sacrificed their lives while serving the country.

The veterans affairs offices of the city and county join in this initiative with non-profits, public and private sector friends, faith-based groups and related veterans' advocates in the Houston area.

You've helped our nation immeasurably: please let the Returning Veterans Initiative help you.


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