May/June 2010
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May/June 2010 Volunteer Excellence Help for Haiti Protecting Veterans’ Information Hiring Homeless Veterans Features Help for Haiti 6 VA joins the relief effort to help the island nation recover War Stories 9 Veteran who inspired “Dear John” character recovers from PTSD 6 Protecting Veterans’ Information in the Digital Age 12 Acting DAS for Information Protection and Risk Management offers tips Putting Ideas into Action 14 VA to implement employee ideas to transform claims services Hiring Homeless Veterans: A Promising Initiative 16 The Waco VA Regional Office responds to the Secretary’s charge Falling Waters: A Wellspring of IT Training 18 New center delivers training to IT professionals nationwide Opportunites to Give: Made in America 20 14 Youth volunteer puts her “passion to help others” toward serving veterans Going to Their ‘Happy Place’ 23 An army of volunteers helps make the Winter Clinic a week to remember Departments 3 Tribute/Letters 31 Medical Advances 4 Management Matters 33 Have You Heard 5 Outlook 36 Honors 23 26 Around Headquarters 39 Heroes 30 Introducing 40 Volunteers VAnguard VA’s Employee Magazine May/June 2010 Vol. LVI, No. 2 Printed on 50% recycled paper On the cover Marwah Ahmed, 17, is the 2009 Editor: Lisa Gaegler recipient of the James H. Parke Memorial Assistant Editor/Senior Writer: Gary Hicks Scholarship for her volunteer work at the Photo Editor: Robert Turtil VA medical center in Washington, D.C. Staff Writer: Amanda Hester Ahmed, a high school senior, has been volunteering at the D.C. VAMC since she Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D) was 13. She has served in a variety of departments, including the lab, research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the director’s office. She volunteered 810 Vermont Ave., N.W. more than 200 hours at the medical center Washington, D.C. 20420 during 2009. Ahmed received a $20,000 (202) 461-7427 scholarship. photo by Robert Turtil E-mail: [email protected] www.va.gov/opa/publications/vanguard.asp 2 VAnguard • May/June 2010 FEEDBACKOUTLOOKTRIBUTE Sumner G. Whittier: A Lifelong Commitment to Public Service Not many VA employees re- capacities at the local level, president were ever present director of Blue Shield in member the spring day back he ran for state office and was and in use at VA during his Michigan. In 1963, he became in 1959 when VA Administra- elected senator, representative tenure, and he infused them executive director of Easter tor Sumner Whittier stood and lieutenant governor for into the institutional culture. Seals. In 1972, he became a in front of the headquarters the Commonwealth of Mas- He oversaw many changes director at Social Security, building and beamed with sachusetts. He joined VA in that brought VA into the where he remained until he pride as two bronze plaques January 1957 as chief insur- modern era. He ensured VA’s retired in 1991 at age 80. Not emblazoned with Lincoln’s ance director, and in Decem- continued progress to deseg- content to sit on the sidelines, words “to care for him who ber, after less than a year on regate veterans’ services that he continued to be active in shall have borne the battle the job, President Eisenhower began in 1953, and witnessed politics, and at 94 published and for his widow, and his appointed him to head the VA’s entry into the electronic his second book, “Sonnets to a orphan … ” were mounted entire VA. age when the first computer Saint,” in memory of his wife. on the front. Fifty years later, Whittier personified the system was installed at the After a long illness, Sum- the plaques still adorn the humanistic leadership style Philadelphia district office in ner Gage Whittier, VA’s fifth entrance to greet employees, and inspired his employees November 1959. Administrator (1957-1961), visitors and the public alike. by leading through example: Whittier left VA in Janu- died on Jan. 8 at age 98. That simple act became one of he was a morale builder. In ary 1961 to become executive By Darlene Richardson Whittier’s many legacies and 1958, Whittier established the unintentionally gave VA its first VA employee newsletter enduring motto. and held a contest to come LETTERS Women Veterans keeping” magazine to select Program one individual who had made I read with great interest the the most significant achieve- article, “She Served, She De- ment in government on behalf serves …” (March/April). In of women. That publication the otherwise terrific article, I awarded her $25,000. President noticed an apparent oversight. Donald J. Rosenblum Eisenhower The article by Connie Raab Volunteer congratulates Sumner Whit- failed to mention the contri- Washington, D.C., VAMC tier after he butions of Susan H. Mather, is sworn in as M.D., under whom Ms. Raab Remembering a Hero VA Adminis- and I served. Dr. Mather was I believe that the back cover trator in 1957. an early and effective advocate of the March/April issue was for women veterans, especially very disrespectful to Robert L. in the health care arena. In- Howard. deed, many of the advances This gentleman was a AP made by women veterans can Medal of Honor recipient! He in large measure be directly deserved to be remembered as Whittier was unique up with a name for it. We are attributed to Dr. Mather’s dili- a hero, not as an afterthought. among VA Administrators: he all familiar with the winning gence and hard work. Lynn M. Walter was not a military careerist or name: VAnguard. Fifty years It was no surprise that her Accountant an industrialist like his prede- later, that employee newsletter accomplishments were recog- Administrative & Loan cessors, and he was the first has grown into a slick, modern nized by an independent panel Accounting Center ever to serve in elected public magazine that serves as a uni- assembled by “Good House- Austin office prior to coming to VA. fying link for all employees. Whittier graduated from That same year he insti- Boston University in 1935 and tuted the VA pledge of service: We Want to Hear from You served in the Navy for three “The VA is dedicated to ad- Have a comment on something you’ve seen in VAnguard? years during World War II. minister veterans’ laws effec- We invite reader feedback. Send your comments to van- He was discharged as a lieu- tively, expeditiously, and with [email protected]. You can also write to us at: VAnguard, Office tenant. Later, he was elected to sympathetic understanding, of Public Affairs (80D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 city council in his hometown and to exercise constructive Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20420. Include of Everett, Mass., and became leadership in the field of veter- your name, title and VA facility. We may need to edit your smitten with public service. ans’ affairs.” As a Lincoln afi- letter for length or clarity. After serving in various cionado, quotes from the 16th VAnguard • May/June 2010 3 MANAGEMENT MATTERS Helping Veterans Achieve their Employment Goals Ruth Fanning Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment As director of VA’s Vocational program provides the services Employment Opportunities level wages at the conclusion Rehabilitation and Employ- and assistance necessary to Act, veterans recruitment of the on-the-job training if ment VetSuccess program, ensure each eligible veteran appointment, veterans pref- the training progresses satisfac- I lead VR&E in fulfilling its is capable, to the maximum erence, 30 percent or more torily during the probationary mission to help veterans with extent possible, of living in- disabled veterans, disabled vet- period. service-connected disabilities dependently and participating erans enrolled in VA training Whether hiring the vet- and certain service members in family and community life programs—such as the VR&E eran directly through a special awaiting discharge due to a activities, with the added po- program—and Schedule A. hiring authority, an on-the- medical condition prepare tential of eventually returning Federal agencies may also use job position, or providing for, find and keep suitable to work. VR&E’s non-paid work expe- training through a non-paid employment. For individu- Services/benefits may in- rience program in conjunction work experience program, the als with disabilities so severe clude, but are not limited to, with the Office of Personnel manager also benefits from the that they cannot immediately the following: Management’s hiring authori- continued involvement of the consider work as a viable op- n assistive technology; ties to quickly employ veterans veteran’s case manager, who tion, VR&E offers services to n specialized medical, health, non-competitively. provides ongoing support, as- improve their ability to live as or rehabilitation services; The non-paid work ex- sistance with any job-related independently as possible. n services to address personal perience is an internship pro- issues such as accommoda- In fiscal year 2009, more or family adjustment issues; gram that provides veterans an tions, and continual follow-up than 11,000 veterans success- fully entered suitable employ- In fiscal year 2009, more than 11,000 veterans successfully ment or achieved their goals of living independently at home entered suitable employment or achieved their goals of and in their communities. living independently at home and in their communities. The following are ser- vices and benefits that may be n independent living skills opportunity to obtain training until the veteran is determined provided by VR&E to assist training; and practical job experience successfully adjusted in his or veterans in achieving employ- n connection with communi- and allows the federal man- her new career. ment goals: ty-based support services; and ager to “try out” a veteran in VR&E’s new and n comprehensive vocational n services that may eventually an entry-level position.