 | Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) have announced over $44.2 million in Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) grants that will be distributed among 181 organizations across the state. Approved by | | | TVC Commissioners at their meeting on May 16, 2024, FVA grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and local government agencies throughout Texas that provide direct services to veterans and their families. This is the largest amount of grant funding awarded in the history of the TVC and is anticipated to serve more than 41,000 veterans and their families. Find out more about the grants at FVA. | | | | | TVC seeks advisory committee members for developing veteran services | TVC invites citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of veteran services by joining TVC advisory committees. Advisory committee members are volunteers who share their skills and knowledge to help the TVC more | | | effectively achieve its mission of advocating for Texas veterans and improving the quality of life for them and their families. TVC is seeking applicants for its three advisory committees: - Veterans Services Advisory Committee
- Fund for Veterans’ Assistance Advisory Committee
- Veterans County Service Officer Advisory Committe
| | | | | | | | | | Claims adjusts processes to better assist veterans | By standardizing operations and reducing the wait time for authorization to access VA data, the TVC Claims Department is improving its efficiency in assisting veterans. This also improves tracking a veteran’s claims status for TVC Claims Benefits Advisors (CBAs). To uniformly achieve these process improvements throughout TVC’s Claims staff and locations across the state, Claims created a new, internal Mentor, Trainer, and Liaisons team. Team members have standardized the input of Claims information and reduced the amount of time, by months, that it takes to gain access to VA data. Plus, it facilitates work on a veteran’s claim between CBAs. “By developing and using checklists and standardizing the way of inputting information in our Vet Pro system, it makes the next CBAs’ job easier by looking at the last interaction and know what they need to do to assist the veteran,” | | | said Claims Southwest District Manager and Army veteran Mike Jaeger, pictured. Read | | | | LaJohn McDonald, Navy veteran and Military Veteran Peer Network Peer Services Coordinator talks about his experience getting connected to a veteran network and emphasizes that veterans need not go it alone. “Regardless of discharge status, regardless of where they are, help is available. When you connect with us you’re connecting with fellow veterans … when you connect with us, you can expect to have someone to put a heartbeat with the resources that you are needing.” Watch McDonald discuss helping those struggling with alcohol use, finding housing and getting veteran-to-veteran assistance at Peer. | Get connected with other veterans in your area through MVPN. | | Hill Country VCSOs expand training, program knowledge to offer more service | While working with veterans on benefits and services, Veteran County Service Officers (VCSOs) may discover a veteran needs or qualifies for more services. Knowing what’s available and how to get it, including the various processes, programs and people involved, can be challenging—especially because of the number of programs available from the VA and many other organizations. VCSOs in Hill Country came together for training from the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) on the Care Giver Program, travel payments, home health care, and other VHA services. This VHA training was in addition to the VCSOs usual training for disability compensations claims. Kerr County VCSO and Air Force veteran Jenna Sanchez coordinated these efforts. “We must be able to provide not just assistance but knowledge of available programs for veterans on both the claims benefits and health care side,” said Sanchez. “We want to help ease the veteran experience and ensure they are aware of all programs to make a better quality of life. That is what we are here for.” Additionally, Sanchez, pictured, coordinated with TVC to provide | | | deeper training with claims processes, including a mock VA appeals board hearing. Find out more at Hill Country VCSOs. | | | | | Military skills help veteran entrepreneur success | “I actually find that it’s a huge benefit being previous military,” said Shawn Patterson, Army combat veteran and owner CenTex Inspection Services, which serves homeowners. Watch Patterson talk about why he wanted to be a business owner and how he overcame challenges and barriers to be successful. Plus, the TVC’s Entrepreneur Program helped him with branding his business and to waive fees. Texas veterans with a business dream: connect with the TVC Entrepreneur team. | | Watch discussion on women veterans topics and challenges | Dr. Krystle Matthews, Texas Veterans Commission Women Veterans Program Director and Army veteran discusses women veterans challengs and needs ahead of Women Veterans Day. She also talks about how to get connected through the Women Veterans Network. Watch this TVC/KXAN NBC Austin women veterans feature. | | Women Veterans Day highlights historic legislation that allowed women as full service members | | | | | Veteran Employers of the Year announced | TVC’s annual Veteran Employer of the Year awards recognize businesses and organizations which demonstrate a strong commitment to employing veterans and leading effective veteran employment initiatives. Find award winners and discover information about their veteran workforces at Veteran Employers of the Year. Thank you and congratulations to all. | | Medal of Honor recipient O’Malley visits with Veteran Employment Service team | When a traveling Vietnam Wall was exhibited in Temple, the local TVC Veteran Employment team visited to honor and remember, show fellow veterans appreciation, and help veterans connect with their benefits. Seeing the wall was “powerful.” The experience became even more impactful as two of the team met Robert E O’Malley, the first Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. O’Malley was cited “for conspicuous gallantry in combat as a corporal in Vietnam on 18 August 1965.” Shown from left are TVC Veteran Career Advisor and Army veteran Reynolds “RJ” Jolly, O’Malley and TVC Veteran Employer Liaison and Army veteran James Nickerson. | | New Ellis County Veterans Treatment Court utilizes Employment Services | Ellis County just started its Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) this May. The program is designed to provide justice-involved veterans with the resources and assistance they need for a successful return to the community. That includes job readiness. Providing job readiness services for veterans in the Ellis County VTC is TVC Veteran Employment Services Rural Veteran Career Advisor (RVCA) and Air Force Veteran Danny Wyatt. Discover what that involves at Ellis VTC. Shown from left, Ellis County VTC Managing Director and Marine veteran Brent Dorrough, Judge William Wallace, Army and Marine veteran, and TVC RVCA Danny Wyatt, Air Force veteran. | | El Paso preps soldiers for civilian careers with Off-Base Transition Training workshops | Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops cover crucial aspects to prepare for post-military professions and job searches. This includes hands on work with resume development, interviewing skills and other job search skills. OBBT also provides labor market information. A recent OBTT workshop series held in El Paso in early May attracted 157 participants to 12 employment workshops. Find out more about the workshops at El Paso OBTT. Pictured, El Paso’s OBTT workshop in action. | | Health Care Advocates help with VA medical issues | | Take TVC’s customer satisfaction survey | Let us know how we are doing. It’s quick. The TVC survey is only five questions. | | | | | | | Follow TVC on social media! | | | | | The mission of the Texas Veterans Commission is to advocate for and provide superior service that will significantly improve the quality of life for all Texas veterans, their families, and survivors. | | | | |
