January 2010

1. January 2010 VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM Because not all wounds are visible! Update on 2009 Progress Report to the Virginia General Assembly Dept. of Defense

2. Mission To establish an integrated, comprehensive and responsive system of services for veterans, Guardsmen and Reservists with Combat/Operational Stress Conditions or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and their families through a network of public and private partnerships in accordance with the Code of Virginia Sect. 2.2-2001.1

3. Increasing Demand • The veterans population in Virginia will continue to increase for several years. • The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and demands on our military will continue. Army leaders speak of an “era of persistent conflict projected to continue to 2028, if not longer.” • Evidence indicates that the impact of combat stress and traumatic brain injury on veterans and their families will continue to increase.Note: There is a delayed onset of many symptoms of combat stress and brain injury.

4. Virginia’s Response • The Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP) in 2008 within DVS. The VWWP has the full support of our statutory partners – Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and Dept. of Rehabilitative Services. • In its short existence, VWWP has become a model for other states, which are establishing similar programs.

5. Initial Implementation • A senior leadership team was established consisting of the Executive Director, an Executive Strategy Committee and an Advisory Committee. • Regional Directors were hired to coordinate the development of partnerships and programs crafted to meet the unique needs of different areas of the Commonwealth. • Ongoing supplemental funding is received from the Veterans Services Foundation.

6. Initial Implementation (cont.) • A Request for Applications was issued and contracts for services were negotiated with consortia of Community Services Boards, Brain Injury, and other service providers. • As of December 2009, the program is operational in all regions of the Commonwealth. • The VWWP Progress Report for 2008-2009 can be found at www.dvs.virginia.gov

7. Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Regional Consortia Catchment Areas Mark Taylor, Reg. Coord. Michelle Wickham, Donna Maglio & Kim Graves Mavis Worsley Region 2 Northern Frederick Region 1 Northwestern Clarke Loudoun Arlington Fairfax Warren Shenandoah Alexandria Dom Rolle Fauquier Camilla Schwoebel, Reg. Coord., Claude Boushey & Joyce Fye Rappa- hannock Prince William Page Rockingham Culpeper Madison Stafford Louis Alvey Highland King George Greene Orange Spotsylvania Westmoreland Augusta Charlottesville Bath Caroline Richmond Louisa Albemarle Essex Northumberland Rockbridge Fluvanna Nelson Alleghany Hanover *DVA VetPop 2007 Projection Goochland King William Accomack King & Queen Lancaster Henrico Lisa Robinson Amherst Buckingham Botetourt Powhatan Middlesex Cumberland Charles City Co. Richmond Matthews Craig Gloucester Lynchburg Appo- mattox New Kent Chesterfield Amelia James Roanoke Giles Northampton Buchanan Bedford Prince Edward Campbell Mont- gomery York Region 5 Tidewater Nottoway Prince George Bland Tazewell Dickenson Surry Newport Pulaski Dinwiddie Hampton News Charlotte Franklin Portsmouth Russell Wise Isle Of Wythe Floyd Sussex Lunenburg Wight Norfolk Pittsylvania Smyth Southampton Halifax Virginia Beach Brunswick Washington Carroll Henry Scott Patrick Suffolk Mecklenburg Chesapeake Lee Grayson Greensville Region 3 Southwest Edward McIntosh, Reg. Coord. Region 4 Central Thea Lawton, Reg. Coord. (5 Resource Specialists) Derek Burton, Reg. Coord., & Teri Herron

8. Six Components of Action Plan • Outreach to military facilities, veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve and their families • Community Education to improve general awareness of issues faced by veterans and military community • Partnership Development to involve an array of public and private providers in the VWWP network • Resource Development to obtain federal grants and funding from foundations • Service Delivery to provide direct assistance and support • Training to improve awareness of best practices among professionals

9. Outreach • Many veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve, as well as their families, are unaware of the array of services for which they may be eligible. • During 2009, VWWP attended over 80 events at military bases, National Guard or Reserve unit locations in Virginia. • Presentations were made to about 4620 military personnel and their families • Participated in events organized by the VANG Adjutant General, especially Yellow Ribbon events, as shown on the next slide.

10. Reaching Out in the Deployment Cycle From original of John H Brown, Jr. Director, VHA OEF/OIF Outreach Office Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) Pre-Mobilization Deployment PDHRA Screening 3-6 months Welcome Home Reintegration Post-Deployment Internet Website www.oefoif.va.gov YRRP Support (30-60-90-day Events) Combat Veteran Call Initiative Transition Assistance Advisors

11. Community Education • In order to inform veterans and their families of the services available to them, 313 presentations were made in 2009 with a total attendance of about 5618. • In addition, 5 media (TV or radio) appearances were made and at least 25 articles regarding VWWP were published in newspapers.

12. Partnership Development • The most significant federal partner is the Department of Veterans Affairs. Significant progress has been made in understanding the numerous VA programs and developing working relationships at the local level. (The following maps demonstrate some of the complexity of the VA which really is comprised of multiple systems and subsystems). • During 2009, VWWP reached out to over 360 organizations to establish a working relationship on behalf of veterans and their families. • VWWP has been approved as a partner in the Defense Center of Excellence “Real Warriors Campaign”www.realwarriors.net

13. U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Facilities Serving Virginia (Jan. 13, 2010) Martinsburg WV VA Medical Center Domiciliary Frederick VISN 5 Clarke Wash DC Planned Domiciliary Loudoun Fairfax Warren Arlington Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Shenandoah Alexandria Fauquier TMH Rappa- hannock Prince William Planned Outpatient Clinic Page Culpeper TMH Tele-mental health Rockingham Madison Stafford Highland King George Greene VISN - Veterans Integrated Service Network Orange Augusta Spotsylvania Westmoreland Charlottesville Bath Caroline Richmond Louisa Albemarle Essex Northumberland VISN 6 Rockbridge Fluvanna Nelson Alleghany Hanover Goochland King William Accomack King & Queen Lancaster Henrico Amherst Buckingham Botetourt Powhatan Middlesex Cumberland Richmond City Charles City Co. Matthews Craig Gloucester Lynchburg New Kent Appo- mattox Chesterfield Amelia James Roanoke Giles Northampton Buchanan Bedford Prince Edward Mont- gomery Campbell York Nottoway VISN 9 Prince George Hampton Bland Tazewell Dickenson Surry Newport Pulaski Dinwiddie News Charlotte Franklin Portsmouth Russell Wise Isle Of Wythe Floyd Sussex Lunenburg Wight Norfolk Pittsylvania Smyth Southampton Halifax Virginia Beach Brunswick Washington Carroll Henry Scott Patrick Mecklenburg Chesapeake Lee Grayson Suffolk Greensville Mountain Home TN HUD-VASH Vouchers: Hampton 175, Richmond 70, Salem 35, Alexandria 35, Mountain Home TN 70, Wash DC 280, Martinsburg WV 35, Durham NC 70

14. U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers Serving Virginia (Nov. 2, 2009) Martinsburg, WV Vet Center Morgantown, WV Mid-Atlantic Region Towson, MD Frederick Planned Vet Center Clarke Loudoun Mobile Vet Center Base Fairfax Warren Arlington Shenandoah Alexandria Fauquier Rappa- hannock Prince William Page Culpeper Rockingham Madison Stafford Highland King George Greene Orange Augusta Spotsylvania Westmoreland Charlottesville Bath Caroline Richmond Louisa Albemarle Essex Northumberland Beckley, WV Rockbridge Fluvanna Nelson Alleghany Hanover Goochland King William Accomack King & Queen Lancaster Henrico Southwestern Region - Dallas, TX Amherst Buckingham Princeton, WV Botetourt Powhatan Middlesex Cumberland Richmond City Charles City Co. Matthews Craig Gloucester Lynchburg New Kent Appo- mattox Chesterfield Amelia James Giles Roanoke Northampton Buchanan Bedford Prince Edward Mont- gomery Campbell York Nottoway Prince George Hampton Bland Tazewell Dickenson Surry Newport Pulaski Dinwiddie News Charlotte Franklin Portsmouth Russell Wise Isle Of Wythe Floyd Sussex Lunenburg Wight Norfolk Pittsylvania Smyth Southampton Halifax Virginia Beach Brunswick Washington Carroll Henry Scott Patrick Mecklenburg Chesapeake Lee Grayson Suffolk Greensville Johnson City, TN Vet Center Services include: individual, group, marital & family, bereavement, employment and sexual trauma counseling; community education; alcohol/drug assessments; info and referral to community resources.

15. Resource Development • Obtaining non-State funds is a major objective of VWWP. • VWWP partnered with the VCU School of Education Partnership for People with Disabilities to obtain a $398,700 three year training grant that will be used to both organize and provide professional training. • VWWP has participated in the submission of several other grants and has developed a system for identifying new opportunities.

16. Service Delivery – Regional DirectorsJan. – Dec. 2009 (12 months) • 277 Veterans Served – 48% Iraq or Afghanistan Housing 7% Combat Stress 21% Benefits 20% Financial Aid Employment 31% Other 21% Primary Nature of Requests

17. Service Delivery – Regional ConsortiaJuly – Dec. 2009 (6 months) • 295 Veterans Served – 35% Iraq or Afghanistan Housing 11% Combat Stress 42% Benefits 16% Other 16% Financial Aid Employment 15% Primary Nature of Requests

18. Direct Service Provided byVWWP and CSBs - 2009 In Nov. 2009, CSBs reported serving at least 1077 persons with “Military Status.”

19. Training • VCU conducted initial training events in each of the five regions involving about 250 service providers. • DRS Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center provided training for 225 service providers. • Four additional training events were conducted at the local level involving over 40 people at each event.

20. Major Goals for 2010 • Sustain existing capacity by renewing contracts with Regional consortia. • Use Unmet Needs and Gap analysis performed by VT Institute for Policy and Governance to adjust system as needed. • Implement a comprehensive outreach and community education program – especially to family members. • Strengthen partnership with Virginia National Guard and Reserve Units. • Conduct the Virginia is for Heroes conference on Feb. 18th

21. Success Story The USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment referred a Marine who was medically retired to the VWWP. He served two tours in Iraq and received a Purple Heart. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress and traumatic brain injury. His best friend in the military was recently killed in Afghanistan. He had severe anger issues, was unable to interact with the general public and was unemployed. Although he was being treated by the VA for PTSD and TBI, he needed additional support in his home community. He joined a community support group lead by a VWWP peer specialist. As a result, he has become very engaged in helping fellow veterans in the support group and is now ready to seek employment. He recently participated in a special ceremony to honor veterans from his community – including his friend – who died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.