Advocacy/Outreach News
White House VA Hotline Now Fully Staffed and Operational Around the Clock to Serve Nation’s Veterans (1-855-948-2311)
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Hotline Phone Number: 1-855-948-2311
The White House hotline “is VA’s first non-clinical, non-emergency around-the-clock call center. It provides Veterans a supplemental option to report issues if they are not being addressed through VA’s normal customer service channel.” It is staffed by veterans and veteran family members 365 days a year, 24 hours a Day.
As the Number of Female Veterans Grows, Options for Services and Support Must Evolve
Friday, November 10, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
On the eve of Veterans Day 2017, the Portland Press Herald engaged several veteran federal, state, and community advocates to discuss the nation’s women veterans and the services available to them today as well as future needs.
2017 National Women Veterans Summit in Houston, TX August 25, 2017
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hosting a national women veterans summit in Houston, Texas on August 25, 2017 (August 26th cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey) . The summit intends to provide a venue for women veterans, caregivers, private industry, nonprofit organizations, government, innovators, and researchers to identify challenges, opportunities, and best practices to inform future health and benefits for women with military service. Training, information, and guidance about navigating VA and community resources will also be offered.
Women veterans share many of the same challenges as male veterans along with some differing experiences. Today 10% of veterans are women and expected to increase to 15% by 2030. They are younger and more ethnically diverse than their male peers.
The VA's most recent women veterans summit was hosted in Washington D.C. in 2011.
Maine Uses Military Settlement to Buy House for Veteran Resource Center
Tuesday, January 3, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Ruth Moore, a Navy veteran of Milbridge, purchased a home with monies she received from a Department of Veterans Affairs claim. She plans to collaborate with the University of Maine at Machias, offering students who "want to become counselors or work in social services to live in the four-bedroom house, located at 12 School St., as part of an internship. The long-term plan includes converting a garage into a 12-bed homeless shelter for veterans and building an addition that would house homeless veterans with families." She plans to be a 24/7 resource for Washington County.
SWAN Releases 1st Annual Survey of Service Women & Women Veterans
Monday, November 14, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) released its first annual "Survey of Service Women and Women Veterans" today. More than 1,200 people, including nearly 1,000 service women and women veterans of all ranks and services from all 50 states participated in the survey. Judy Patterson, the SWAN CEO, noted that they will be sharing the results with other veteran organizations. The survey will guide SWAN's future initiatives. The SWAN website notes: "The survey results were released during the first day of SWAN’s planning summit, which is bringing together a select group of service women, women veterans and subject matter experts to conduct deep dives into four categories that closely echo the survey: Service Women, Women Veterans, Public Education and Awareness, and Building a Sense of Community. The survey will be used to drive discussion and inform conclusions offered by the working groups during the planning summit." The survey broke out the top three 2016 personal and community challenges for service women and women veterans, provided additional insights regarding gender bias in the military, public awareness of service, media inclusion, and the need for stronger communities of women with military service.
Maine Veterans Celebrate the Growing Ranks of Women in Military
Friday, September 30, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Women veterans attended a conference on September 24, 2016 in Belfast, Maine. Amongst camaraderie, much veteran information was shared. Mother and daughters with military service participated. Adria Horn, director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, noted that much positive change is happening, but "said one of the reasons she was selected to lead the bureau is that “our state acknowledged that [women] were not getting the services” entitled through service."
Hutchinson Center to host Women Veterans Conference in Belfast
Thursday, September 8, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
A luncheon and conference is scheduled for Maine women veterans on September 24, 2016 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine. It is sponsored by the Maine American Legion Women Veteran’s Advisory Committee. Adria O. Horn, Director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services is the keynote speaker along with other speakers who will speak about the Women in Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA) and University of Maine educational opportunities.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. There is no cost. Lunch, refreshments, door prizes, and free massages and salon services will be offered on site.
Please RSVP is requested by September 16, 2016. For more information or to register, contact Joy Asuncion, 207.930.5640; joyasuncion@roadrunner.com or Judy Otis, 207.548.640
New & Improved Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services Web Pages Launched!
Wednesday, May 25, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
Take a look at the new and improved Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services web pages launched in May 2016! They are easy to navigate and include many resources. You can request to post veteran events to their calendar and some pages are interactive.
Contact: Laura Allen, Outreach Specialist
E-mail: laura.e.allen@maine.gov
Office: 207-430-5816
Mobile: 207-446-0168
You can also follow Maine Veterans' Services at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mainevets/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MEveterans
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maineveterans/?hl=en
The Gary Gordon Vets Center: a "Veterans Helping Veterans" Approach to Care
Monday, May 2, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
A non-profit, founded by Major John Nelson, in Lincoln is offering a center for Maine's veterans that is an alternative to care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Women Veterans’ Luncheon set for April 30: RSVP by April 27.
Monday, April 25, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The 1st Annual Women Veterans Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2016. There is no admission fee. The Women Veteran's Advisory Committee of the American Legion Department of Maine along with Posts 181, 205 and 2 women veterans are hosting the event, which includes refreshments, free giveaways, morning pampering on a first-come, first served basis from 10 a.m. to noon by local professional volunteers providing manicures, haircuts/styles, and mini massages. Lunch is served at noon, followed by guest speakers at 12:30 p.m. RSVP by April 27, 2016 with Deb Couture at 582-3897 or e-mail her at mewomenvets@gmail.com.