GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON VETERANS’ SERVICES

1. GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON VETERANS’ SERVICES Veterans’ Benefits and Support System

2. Veterans’ Services • Federal • State • County • Service Organizations • Private Organizations

3. Federal Veterans’ Services • Department of Veterans Affairs • Department of Defense • Department of Labor • Department of Education • Small Business Administration • National Personnel Records Center

4. Department of Veterans Affairs • Veterans Benefit Administration • Service-Connected Compensation • Non-Service Connected Pension • Education (GI Bill and Vocational Rehabilitation) • Survivor Benefits • Veterans Hospital Administration • VA Medical Centers • Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) • Vet Centers • Rehabilitation Centers • Veterans Cemetery Administration

5. VA Health Care • VA Hospitals • Portland VA Medical Center • Roseburg VA Medical Center • VA CBOCs • Bend • Bandon • Brookings • Eugene • Klamath Falls • Salem • Warrenton

6. VA Health Care • Vet Centers (PTSD) • Portland • Salem • Eugene • Grants Pass • White City Rehabilitation Center

7. VA Cemetery Administration • Willamette National Cemetery • Eagle Point National Cemetery • Roseburg National Cemetery

8. Department of Defense • Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) • U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program

9. U.S. Department of Labor • Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) • Protects civilian job rights and benefits of veterans • Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) • Provides veterans with tools for workplace success

10. U.S. Department of Education • Troops to Teachers • Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Education and Defense Department program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and expertise are most needed.

11. Small Business Administration • Patriot Express Loan • The U.S. Small Business Administration has implemented the Patriot Express Loan for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses.

12. National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) • Maintains most military records, including separation documents and DD-214s, service medical records, 201 files, and others.

13. State Veterans’ Services • Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs • Oregon Military Department • Oregon Employment Department • Oregon Department of Education • Oregon Department of Human Services • Oregon Housing and Community Services • Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

14. Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs • ODVA has seven main areas that serve veterans: • Claims and Counseling • ORVET Home Loans • Small Business Repair Loan • Educational Aid • Veterans’ Home • Conservatorship • Emergency Grant

15. ODVA Claims and Counseling • OVDA maintains a staff of accredited Veteran Service Officers who represent veterans in their claims with the federal VA. VSOs also refer veterans to needed services, such as mental health, addiction rehabilitation, and employment services. VSO are a gateway to VA benefits and health care.

16. ORVET Home Loans • ODVA has been providing low-interest home loans to veterans for more than 60 years. Veterans who have discharged in the last 30 years are eligible for an ODVA home loan.

17. Small Business Repair Loan • While deployed, many veterans’ businesses have suffered setbacks. To help veterans re-establish their business, ODVA, in coordination with the Department of Economic Development, has implemented a small business repair loan. Qualified veterans may obtain loans up to $20,000.

18. Educational Aid • ODVA offers veterans who are attending college an educational aid of $150 per term. At this time, this money cannot be provided at the same time the veteran is receiving federal educational assistance. However, ODVA has a bill slated for the 2009 legislature to allow concurrent receipt of both benefits.

19. Veterans’ Home • ODVA completed the construction of the state’s first Veterans’ Home in 1997. “A Place Where Honor Lives,” the Veterans’ Home is a 151-bed skilled nursing facility for veterans and their spouses. ODVA would like to build a second Veterans’ Home in the near future.

20. Conservatorship • There are times when the federal VA deems a veteran unable to handle his or her own financial affairs. ODVA maintains a Conservatorship unit that can be appointed to handle the finances of these vulnerable veterans.

21. Emergency Grant • ODVA established an emergency grant system to help veterans who have health and welfare emergencies, such as evictions, power shuts offs, and lack of basic necessities. ODVA’s one-time emergency grant has helped hundreds of veterans get over the hump and allow them to get back on their feet.

22. Oregon Military Department • Reintegration Team • Works with veterans to direct them to federal, state, local, and grassroots services, including VA benefits, health care, mental health, addiction rehabilitation, employment, family support, and education. Provides support to veteran and family during reintegration period after deployment.

23. Oregon Employment Department • Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) • Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS) • Temporary Unemployment Insurance • Recently discharged veteran attending college and not working

24. Oregon Department of Education • Tuition Waiver Program • Tuition for bachelors degree waived for dependents of soldiers killed on active duty or 100 percent disabled since September 2001

25. Department of Human Services • Health Care (low-income OHP/Medicaid) • Food Stamps • Vocational Rehabilitation • Mental Health • Addiction Rehabilitation • Senior Services

26. Oregon Housing and Community Services • Home Ownership • Affordable Housing • Affordable Rental Housing • Low-Income Housing • Emergency Housing • Low Income Energy Assistance Program • Oregon Energy Assistance Program • Low Income Weatherization Program • Food Programs

27. Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation • Service-connected disabled veterans receive free parks pass.

28. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife • Service-connected disabled veterans with a disability rating of higher than 25 percent receive free hunting and fishing license

29. County Services • County Veteran Service Officers (34 Counties) • Mental Health • Addiction Rehabilitation • Housing • Property Tax Assessment Reduction for Disabled Veterans • Programs specific to each county

30. Air Force Sergeants Association American Ex-Prisoners of War Association American Legion (VSO) American Merchant Marine Veterans American Red Cross American Veterans - AMVETS (VSO) Blinded Veterans of Oregon Disabled American Veterans (VSO) 1st Marine Division Fleet Reserve Association Greater Salem Veterans Organizations Jewish War Veterans of the US Korean War Veterans Association Marine Corps League Military Officers Association of America Military Order of the Purple Heart (VSO) Military Order of the World wars National Association of Atomic Veterans Navy League of the United states Non Commissioned Officers Association Paralyzed Veterans of America (VSO) Retired Enlisted Association United States Navy Association United Veterans Groups of Oregon Veterans of Foreign Wars (VSO) Vietnam Veterans of America Women Veterans Association Women Marines Association American Legion, AMVETS, DAV, Military Order of the Purple Heart, PAV, and VFW all have Veteran Service Officers who represent veterans in their claims before the federal VA Service Organizations

31. Helmets to Hardhats Returning Veterans Resource Project NW Gold Star Wives of America Silver Star Families of America Blue Star Mothers Of America Veterans of Oregon Operation Love Boxes Operation Home Front Central City Concern Northwest Indian Veteran Association Faith-Based Organizations Salvation Army Union Gospel Mission Interfaith Hospitality Network Church Fellowship Funds Private Organizations