News
Maine Veterans Carving Out New Careers in Farming
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Category: Business - ME
Veterans in Maine are taking an interest in farming as are veterans around the nation. Jerry Ireland met two other veterans invested in farming who helped him get started with his new business. Jerry is also active in a Maine chapter of the "Farmer Veteran Coalition." A joint USDA and Department of Defense program offers loans and grants to veterans interested in farming (www.outreach.usda.gov).
Togus Director Announces More Staff, Expansions of Veterans’ Care
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 | Category: Department of Veterans Affairs - ME
Maine VA Healthcare System added 110 new employees, 19 in mental health, during the past last year, mostly at Togus. New construction is planned to include adding medical care facility space and replacing the long-term care facilities with four 24-bed long-term care units. A new networking group, Putting Maine Veterans First, formed as part of the national effort to establish “MyVA” community groups open to veterans, stakeholders, advocates, and others involved in community-based efforts to help veterans.
Carie said the goal is to create networks to help veterans understand what benefits they are eligible for and how to get access to those benefits.
Maine Veterans Legacy Project to Help Preserve Veterans' Living Histories
Tuesday, November 3, 2015 | Category: History/Heritage - ME
All Maine veterans are encouraged to participate in this project to record and archive Maine veterans' histories. The project will also record stories from civilians who supported veterans, family members affected by their service, war industry workers, medical volunteers, troop greeters, and others. The Maine Veterans' Legacy Project is one of over 450 national and local partners collaborating with the Library of Congress (LOC) and its Veterans History Project to archive information. The LOC's project partners are posted at www.loc.gov/veterans.
Contact Laura Allen at the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services at 207-430-5816 or mainebvs@maine.gov for more information.
Help Wanted for Disabled American Veterans
Sunday, September 27, 2015 | Category: Transportation - ME
Every year the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides transportation to veterans to and from the Maine VA Togus Medical Center. The DAV drivers log in hundreds of thousands of miles across the state, relying on volunteer drivers. Today there are 15 vans and they need more drivers who have the time and can pass a background check and the physical standards requirement.
Community Mediation Services Awarded $12,000.00 for Work with Veterans
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
Volunteers of America's Community Mediation Services (CMS) was awarded a $12,000 grant from the JAMS Foundation. CMS is working with the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) and the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) to increase awareness of the benefits of mediation for veterans and landlords providing housing to this population. This initiative includes efforts to: (1) educate MSHA Housing Choice Voucher Program staff, including front-line customer service staff and field personnel (such as inspectors), about conflict resolution and mediation, in their broadest definition to include conflict coaching and self-facilitation, through informational and educational forums; (2) educate landlords and tenants who are veterans in communication, dispute resolution and mediation through informational and educational forums; and (3) offer direct mediation services, including a conflict coaching service, to landlords and tenants who participate in the educational forums.
Collins, King Announce Grant Funding to Support Homeless Veterans in Maine
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded federal grant funding to three agencies providing housing and other wraparound services to Maine veterans at risk of losing housing or experiencing homelessness. Preble Street in Portland was granted $1,683,966, the Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA) $290,000, and Veterans Inc. New England $2,000,000 which includes Lewiston to assist homeless and at-risk veterans in Maine.
Wiscasset Woman Makes Journey to Prevent Veteran Suicide
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 | Category: Suicide - ME
Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day...this statistic disturbed Laura Bryer of Wiscasset, Maine. To raise awareness and support the recently launched Maine Veterans Project serving at-risk veterans, Laura tackled a 148-mile bicycle journey from Wiscasset to Machias, Maine on August 29, 2015.
Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign (September 7-December 15, 2015)
Friday, August 28, 2015 | Category: Employment - ME
WCSH TV 6 covered the fall 2015 employment event focused on hiring Maine veterans. The Maine Department of Labor along with their sponsors are kicking off a new program, called "Hire-A-Vet," to encourage more employers to hire more veterans. The 100-day campaign begins September 7, 2015 with a goal of 100 employers hiring 100 veterans in 100 days.
Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign (September 7-December 15, 2015)
Thursday, August 27, 2015 | Category: Employment - ME
WABI TV 5 covered the fall 2015 employment event focused on hiring Maine veterans. Maine Department of Labor along with their sponsors are kicking off a new program, called "Hire-A-Vet", to encourage more employers to hire more veterans. The 100-day campaign begins September 7, 2015 with a goal of 100 employers hiring 100 veterans in 100 days.
Togus Gives Progress on Caring for Maine Veterans
Monday, August 3, 2015 | Category: Health Care - ME
Maine Department of Veterans Affairs (Maine VA) administrators stated that the needs of Maine veterans continue to be met nearly a year after the national scandal rocked the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide. Maine VA currently has 50,000 veterans enrolled of which 85% will receive care in 2014. More staff and updated technology are critical to meet patient demand. Medical Center Director Ryan Lilly stated: "Our access is very good here in the state of Maine. It is not perfect."