Veterans’ healthVOLUME 3, 2011 matters RECLAIM Your Life through LEISURE Vietnam Veterans Howie Slater, Jim Wyatt, Antone interpersonal skills they’ve learned. Veterans can Sousa and Louis Workman get together to workout at reclaim their life through leisure and recreation.” the Presidio YMCA in San Francisco. They are enrolled “I really look forward to going to the Y,” said Veteran in the Presidio Fitness Program for Veterans, a form of Wyatt. “Of all the therapy I have received from the recreation therapy provided by the San Francisco VA VA, this program ranks at the top. It takes care of Medical Center in partnership with the Presidio YMCA. many needs. You can see and feel the positive results Chris Geronimo, Recreation Therapist in the PTSD in a short period of time. Chris was very tuned in to Outpatient Clinic at the San Francisco VA Medical our individual needs. He would tailor each individual Center and Director of the Presidio Fitness Program program for maximum results.” states, “In a nutshell, recreation therapy is a gateway Cont. on page 6 toward better health and wellness. It uses a holistic approach to augment a Veteran’s existing treatment plan and allows the Veteran to practice the coping and Veterans Howie Slater, Jim Wyatt, Antone Sousa and Louis Workman | SFVAMC Fitness Program VA NATIONAL NEWS VA Creates Women VA Reaches Out to Veterans to Explain Veterans Call Center Upcoming Changes to GI Bill Encourages Veterans to Visit VA Web Site to Learn More VA is reaching out to inform Veterans of recent changes made by Congress to the Post 9/11 GI Bill that took effect in 2011. General Allison Hickey, Under Secretary for Benefits, said “The Post 9/11 GI Bill is incredibly VA has embarked on a major important because it reduces the financial burdens of higher education so initiative to reach out to women that Veterans have an opportunity to achieve their education goals. VA Veterans in order to solicit believes it is important for Veterans to be aware of changes to the GI Bill their input on ways to enhance this year and learn more about how these changes may affect them.” the health care services VA provides to women Veterans. “It’s hard to believe how far we have all come with the Post-9/11 GI Bill the past two years,” stated General Hickey. “Today, more than 537,000 “We are taking a proactive students have received over $11.5 billion in GI Bill benefits to help them approach to enhancing take charge of their future.” VA health care for women Veterans,” said Secretary Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill effective Aug. 1, 2011, include paying Shinseki. “We are seeking the actual net cost of all public in-state tuition and fees, rather than the input of women Veterans basing payments upon the highest in-state tuition and fee rates for every so that VA can continue to state; capping private and foreign tuition at $17,500 per academic year; provide high quality health care and ending payments during certain school breaks, to preserve Veterans’ to the growing numbers of entitlement for future academic semesters. Also, certain students women Veterans.” attending private schools in select states can now continue to receive benefits at the same rate payable during the previous academic year. Representatives at VA’s Health Resource Center are placing Beginning Oct. 1, 2011, eligible individuals will be able to use the Post- calls to women Veterans 9/11 GI Bill for programs such as non-college degrees, on-the-job nationwide, asking them to training, and correspondence courses, and they will be eligible to receive share their experiences with a portion of the national monthly housing allowance rate when enrolled VA and suggest potential only in distance learning courses. enhancements that will further VA’s mission to provide the Complete information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill is available at: best care anywhere. www.gibill.va.gov. VA’s education information phone number is: 1-888-GIBILL-1 (442-4551). 2 Veterans’ healthmatters VA Launches New Prevention Initiative HUD, VA To Provide Permanent Housing to Serve 22,000 Veteran Families at and Support to Risk of Homelessness Thousands of Homeless Vets Nearly $60 Million in Homeless Funding part of Obama Prevention Grants Awarded Administration plan to end Nationwide Veteran homelessness On July 26, 2011, Secretary Shinseki U.S. Housing and Urban announced the award of nearly $60 Development Secretary Shaun million in homeless prevention grants Donovan and Secretary Shinseki that will serve approximately 22,000 announced that HUD will homeless and at-risk Veteran families provide $46.2 million to public as part of the new Supportive Services housing agencies in all 50 states for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. and the District of Columbia This initial $60 million award will to supply permanent housing serve Veteran families at 85 non-profit and case management for 6,790 community agencies in 40 states and homeless Veterans in America. the District of Columbia under VA’s new homeless prevention initiative. This funding, from HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive “This new homeless prevention Housing Program (HUD- program will provide additional VASH), is a coordinated effort comprehensive support to Veterans by HUD, VA, and local housing who have served honorably, and now agencies to provide permanent find themselves in a downward spiral housing for homeless Veterans. toward despair and homelessness,” “Over the past three years, said Secretary Shinseki. “This HUD helped thousands of program expands our capacity to act homeless Veterans find a before a Veteran becomes homeless permanent place to call home and to target the problem of family while VA provided medical homelessness. These grants would treatment, case management not have been possible without the and other services to address extraordinary partnerships forged their specific needs,” said HUD with community organizers who are Secretary Donovan. “We have firmly committed to making a positive no greater mission than to difference in lives of Veterans and prevent and end homelessness, their families.” especially for those brave men and women who risked their More information about VA’s homeless programs is available online at lives to protect our nation.” www.va.gov/homeless. A list of award recipients and details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are available online Find out about HUD-VASH at www1.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp. at www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ HUD-VASH.asp www.visn21.med.va.gov 3 VA Facility Highlights VA Central VA Northern California Health Care System Solar Power Up and Running in VANCHCS California Health The VA Northern California Health Care System is going green with Eco- Care System Friendly Solar Power that uses clean, renewable energy from sunlight. Medical Salute to VACCHS facilities use a huge amount of energy. Solar power is being widely adopted as On Aug. 5, VA Central part of the solution to that problem. California Health Care System hosted a gala ribbon cutting to McClellan Outpatient Clinic recently completed installation of 172 KW-AC reopen the front entrance of photovoltaic power systems to increase energy efficiency and reduce the Fresno Medical Center. The greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent a year, for a total of 30 percent by the event featured combat decorated end of 2015. The solar power system at McClellan utilizes 920 photovoltaic Veterans from World War II, modules and includes a mix of rooftop and carport solar panels. In addition Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, to using solar power, the carports also create shaded parking spaces. Iraq, and Afghanistan, including two women Veterans, as VIP McClellan was the first solar photovoltaic project in Veteran Integrated ribbon cutters. Congressmen Service Network 21 and generates about 300,000 kwh per year. This is Jim Costa (D, CA-20) and Jeff expected to save the facility more than $37,000 in annual electricity costs. Denham (R, CA-19) spoke about the quality of care and Solar power at Mare Island Outpatient Clinic has been running for ten compassionate treatment given weeks. Sacramento Medical Center’s project is complete and will come on to Veterans by VACCHS staff. line shortly. The project for Martinez Outpatient Clinic is scheduled to begin construction in the first quarter of fiscal year 12. The highlight of the ribbon cutting was a flyover of a VA Sierra Pacific Health Care System Vintage World War II T-34 Beechcraft airplane piloted by VASNHCS Veterans are introduced to Tai Chi retired Marine aviator Vince A weekly Tai Chi class is now Nastro. Wounded Warrior and offered at the VA Sierra Nevada VACCHS patient Sgt. Devin Healthcare System. Current Mathis was a ride along. participants include Veterans and staff members from all walks of This project took six months life and age ranges. All Veterans to complete and increased and staff members are invited to patient access to VA services. take part and learn more about Thickly insulated awnings now this wonderful program. completely cover the front of the hospital, a wheelchair lift Tai Chi is a gentle exercise method of slow, effortless and relaxed movements. assists disabled patients into the Its slow, fluid and weight-shifting motions improve bone strength, leg hospital, and a new sign is over strength and balance. The purpose of Tai Chi is to help the body return to a the door which says “The Price pattern of moving freely, calmly and effortlessly. of Freedom is Visible Here.” Several of the participants praise the benefits of the program. One Vietnam Improvements at the front Veteran patient, who suffers from PTSD, explained how the rhythmic entrance are part of $40 million exercises of Tai Chi have dramatically helped him reduce his own stress.