Advocacy/Outreach News
National Veterans and Military Families Month (November)
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
November is National Veterans and Military Families Month. Use the information highlighted in this downloadable fact sheet to help you celebrate the strengths of military families and their contributions to the military community and our nation.
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/products/national-veterans-and-military-families-month-fact-sheet-364/
This link below lists opportunities and activities scheduled around the nation.
Maine Women Veteran Facebook Group
Monday, May 3, 2021 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
This Facebook group is founded and administered by a Maine veteran. Only members can see who's in the group and what they post.
News: Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services "Latest News"
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Follow the "Latest News" on the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services "Welcome/Home" page.
New Congressional Caucus to Focus on Servicewomen, Female Vets
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
A new Congressional initiative, the House Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus, was launched on Capitol Hill to address long-standing issues impacting the fastest growing military cohort. They plan to focus on “growing issues facing female servicemembers and veterans today, from concerns of reports of increased sexual assaults in the ranks to more women serving in combat to health care.”
The caucus is chaired and co-chaired by women veterans.
Financial Guide for Maine Veterans
Thursday, February 28, 2019 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Maine law student, Mike Adams, coauthored a financial guide for veterans. A veteran himself, his goal was to produce an easy-to-understand guide to financial resources available to eligible Maine veterans. The guide includes information on veterans' benefit agencies and organizations, employment, education, health, establishing and maintaining credit, and personal finance.
Mainebiz notes that:
"The Downeaster Financial Guide for Maine Veterans, by Michael Adams and David Leach, is available free of charge to Maine residents by contacting the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection at 207-624-8527 or 1-800-332-8529. Non-Maine residents may purchase the publication for $6 a copy, or at a volume discount of $4 a copy on orders or 50 or more. Shipping fees are included in the prices listed. It is also available online here.”
Welcome Kit for Department of Veterans Affairs
Friday, January 11, 2019 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “Welcome Kit” offers veterans, their families and caregivers a step-by-step guide to VA services and benefits, contacts and eligibility information. After becoming familiar with what is available, reach in to the VA contact to gather more information, verify eligibility and move forward with their assistance.
This kit is printable...please share with others who inquire about how the VA may help them or someone they know.
Invitation to Maine VA Listening Session on Wednesday, November 14, 2018: VA Mission Act 2018 & New Veterans Community Care Program
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Factsheet: VA MISSION Act and New Veterans Community Care Program
(https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/docs/pubfiles/factsheets/
FactSheet_20-13.pdf)
Invitation to Listening Session below:
Subject: VA MISSION Act of 2018 Listening Session for you!
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2018 21:07:50 +0000
From: "Kon, Megan A." <Megan.Kon@va.gov>
To: "Kon, Megan A." <Megan.Kon@va.gov>
Dear Veterans and VSO's,
We cordially invite you to attend a listening session on the VA MISSION Act of 2018 on:
Date: November 14, 2018
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: VA Maine HCS, Togus Theater, Building 210
We are seeking your feedback on VHA implementation of the MISSION Act, which was signed into law by the President on June 6, 2018, and is intended to fundamentally transform elements of the VA health care system. We want to know what you've heard, what your interests and concerns are, as well as get your feedback on a communication campaign.
Our transformed health care system will:
Ensure easy and reliable access to care when Veterans need it.
Provide exceptional care to Veterans anytime, anywhere.
Serve as a trusted, caring partner, helping Veterans and their families be healthy and well.
Your feedback will:
Guide VHA leadership in implementing the MISSION Act.
Help us better understand stakeholders' concerns and priorities.
Assist leadership in communicating how VHA is implementing the Act.
Inform the development of MISSION Act communication products, including toolkits, campaigns, etc.
The 90-minite interactive session agenda is as follows:
Welcome
Setting the Stage: MISSION Act Initial Discussion
MISSION Act Overview: Presentation and Discussion
MISSION Act Umbrella Campaign: Purpose of campaign and review 3 options, each with its own image, text, and logo
Conclusion
We are looking forward to your participation! Please reply to me if you will be able to attend. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you
Megan Kon
Public Affairs Officer
VA Maine Healthcare System Mail Code: 00-PR
1 VA Ctr, Augusta, ME 04330
Office Phone: 207-623-8411 ext. 2200
Cell: 207-480-9220
Website: www.maine.va.gov
Facebook: @VAMaine
Military Women’s Organizations Unite to Form National Coalition
Saturday, October 6, 2018 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
On September 7, 2018, an Advisory Group comprised of leading national and regional military women’s organizations began the formation of “a coalition of like-minded groups to battle the continued marginalization women face within the military and after their service. The unprecedented national gathering of military women’s groups will form a coalition with the goal of elevating the voices of the 2.2 million current service women and women veterans to bring about policy and culture change within the military and the veteran communities.
Nationwide Baby Shower for Veterans May 7-11, 2018
Friday, April 27, 2018 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hosting the first-ever “Nationwide Baby Shower for Veterans” in May, 2018. The VA Center for Women Veterans posted the following:
‘This week-long event will take place at 60 VA Medical across the country from May 7-11, 2018, the week leading up to Mother’s Day on May 13. So far, over 2,400 new Veteran parents and new Veteran parents-to-be have signed up to participate! Here’s where we need your help. In order to provide a uniform experience to our new Veteran parents, we developed a sweet and sensible new baby package containing a variety of useful baby products: a diaper bag, new bags by toiletries, hair brush and comb set, bib, layette, blanket, and hat. Just $50 will purchase a new baby kit full of terrific items to be delivered to the Veteran at their local Baby Shower. There are three ways you can help.’
Vet to Vet Program Volunteers in Southern Maine Seeking Aging/Disabled Women Veterans to Visit
Monday, December 4, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging “Vet to Vet Program” has volunteers looking for women veterans to visit.
Susan Gold, Vet to Vet Program Coordinator writes, “We have three wonderful women Vet to Vet volunteers who would like to visit aging and/or disabled women veterans in their homes on a regular basis. The volunteers provide companionship and links to other services when needed. We have had difficulty finding women veterans who could use a friend. If you know of anyone who could benefit from receiving visits from another woman veteran, please contact me. Our volunteers are located in Biddeford, Kennebunk, Portland. If this is outside of your area please forward this message to contacts in those geographical areas. We like to make matches within 15-20 miles of each other. Thank you!”
Contact Susan Gold at: Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging, sgold@smaaa.org, 207-396-6521 or 1-800-427-7411.
See a video about the program at the “article” link below.