At the Women Veterans’ Conference and Health Fair, which is free to all women Veterans and active-duty personnel, attendees will learn about the benefits they are entitled to from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and meet with health care professionals.

The event is sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services, Women Veterans of New Mexico and New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative.

The conference will take place at the Albuquerque Crown Plaza Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8am until 4pm.

The facility will contain 72 units and will also offer support services such as “mental health and substance abuse counseling, medical treatment, and job placement.”

“This is going to give vets a place that they can call home for a while, and get the help they need,” said Salt Lake City Housing Authority Executive Director Bill Nighswonger.

For more information on Veterans’ benefits, please visit: www.vetlawyers.com.

The Texas Veterans Commission works in partnership with Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande, which is holding a job expo Oct. 4 from 9am to 7pm at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center. Their goal is to have 300 employers and 4,000 jobs available.

For more information on Veterans’ benefits, please visit: www.vetlawyers.com

Since 1988, however, the term has taken on a new meaning that has positively affected lives across the country— as the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) carries its own unique Stand Down program into its twenty-third year, tens of thousands of homeless Veterans around the country can expect help in the form of medical care, job assistance, new clothing, food and the company of
other Veterans.

Every year, these Stand Downs take place in a variety of forms and at a wide range of locations.

Lasting from one to three days, each brings homeless Veterans together in a space where they can find freshly cooked meals and clean clothing, receive job counseling and referrals, and seek medical and legal advice.  Most importantly, however, a Stand Down offers homeless Veterans a chance to come together and connect with their local communities.

In 2009 alone, more than 40,000 Veterans received care and assistance at these events; this fall, there will be more than sixty such gathering all over the country.

Many Veterans organizations have developed their own program of Stand Down events, the positive effects of which are readily apparent.

Sponsored by Chapter 391 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Tuolumne County, California will soon host a Stand Down that will offer access to educational services as well as dental care provided by local dentists.

At an ongoing event in Fresno, California, Veterans and active-service members alike have encountered an army of volunteers who provided them everything from a barbershop to a makeshift
courtroom providing legal services.  Organizers said they expected more than 2,000 current and former service members to take advantage of the Stand Down before its conclusion tomorrow.

One Vietnam Veteran told a local news radio station, “I think it’s beautiful… there’s so much love here.”

Whether overseen by the NCHV or by independent organizations, Stand Downs are an invaluable resource for the nation’s homeless Veterans.  The need for these and other events like them is an urgent one: the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are currently 10,000 homeless Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan alone.

For more information about Veterans’ benefits, please visit www.vetlawyers.com

Free flu shots are available to Texas Veterans.: Photo by Flickr user El Alvi

Veterans in Texas can visit the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston as well as its outpatient clinics in Beaumont, Conroe, Galveston, Lufkin, Richmond and Texas City to receive their free flu shot.

The vaccinations are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.

Veterans can receive the vaccination at the following locations:

In Houston, patients should report to their Primary Care Clinic:

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, 2002
Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030

At the outpatient clinics, go to the front desk and a health care
provider will administer flu shots:

Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic, 3420 Veterans Circle, Beaumont, TX 77707

Conroe VA Outpatient Clinic, 800 Riverwood Ct, Ste 100, Conroe, TX 77304

Galveston VA Outpatient Clinic, 3828 Avenue N, Galveston, TX 77550

Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic, Lufkin – Please call 936-671-4300 for scheduled flu shot clinics.

Richmond VA Outpatient Clinic, 22001 Southwest Freeway, Suite 200, Richmond, TX 77469

Texas City VA Outpatient Clinic, 9300 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite 206, Texas City, TX 77591

Opening Oct. 11:

Lake Jackson Outpatient Clinic, 208 South Oak Drive, Suites 700 and 800, Lake Jackson, TX 77566

The Office of the Puerto Rican Veteran Advocate will be conducting the 1st census of Veterans in Puerto Rico 2011 in order to meet the needs, improve services and offer greater benefits for Veterans and their families. We count on your support. The collected data will be completely confidential and be used for statistical purposes. For more information contact (787) 758-5760 or visit www.opv.gobierno.pr.

The council is supposed to address the needs of the 30,000 service members who return to California each year and will bring new focus and efficiency to provide needed services to California’s Veterans.

Brown’s executive order directs the Veterans Affairs Secretary to establish the council to identify and prioritize the needs of California’s Veterans, and to coordinate the activities at all levels of government in addressing those needs.  The members will be appointed from both chambers of the state house, major agency secretaries and their department heads, as well as the state’s chief justice and college leaders.

To read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/23/2508729/capitol-alert-jerry-brown-orders.html

Agencies who will help with the event include the Georgia Department of Veteran Services, the Georgia Dept. of Labor, the U.S. Social Security Administration, American Red Cross, and several Brunswick area Veterans organizations. The Glynn County Health Department will help provide basic medical services, and the Salvation Army will provide a free lunch (served from 11:30AM – 1PM.

The event is open to anyone in need. If you know anyone who could use the services provided, please help them make use of this great event. Check out more here.

Lake County, in Illinois, will be opening a special court program to assist Veterans with legal problems which is separate from the traditional justice system starting August 19, 2011.  This program is geared toward identifying treatment options and social services for which offending Veterans qualify.  Individuals interested in going through the Veterans Treatment Court must fill out a petition and may only be accepted depending on the type of misdemeanor or felony arrest.  The effort is aimed at rehabilitating Veterans.  Twenty five states in seventy one jurisdictions have similar programs, and while most have only been developed in the past few years, the success rate so far has shown that the high majority of those completing such treatment do not become repeat offenders.

For more information, click here.

Wyoming Veterans Commission

1-800-827-1000

TDD:  1-800-829-4833

Regional Office(s):

Cheyenne VA Regional Office

2360 E. Pershing Blvd.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Wyoming has a number of services available to Veterans, including:

-         Housing Assistance

-         Education Assistance

-         Employment and Training Assistance  

Contact the Wyoming Veterans Commission to find out what they can do for you!

The Wyoming Department of Family Services may also be able to help you as you go through your claims process.  Find important services such as temporary assistance, food assistance, or food stamps here.

If you are in need of medical treatment, please don’t wait.  Although an average VA claim may take up to one year to be decided, your health comes first.  In fact, receiving regular treatment for your service-connected disability may actually help you to win your claim!

Find a VA Medical Center or clinic near you here for any chronic or emergency medical attention you may need.