1. Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
Virginia Caregiver Coalition
Martha Johnson Mead, Special Projects Coordinator
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
March 21, 2013
Battlefield
Homefront

2. VETERANS IN VIRGINIA
Veteran/Family
QOL
 Virginia has approximately 837,051 veterans
 1 in every 10 citizens is a veteran, 1 in 5 in Hampton Roads
 By 2016 Virginia is projected to have the 4th largest veteran
population in the nation
 Virginia ranks seventh among the states in total veteran
population and fourth in younger veterans (age 20 – 49)
 Virginia has the largest percentage of women veterans, 18%
 Governor’s goal is to become the most veteran-friendly state

3. 3
WE ARE VIRGINIA VETERANS
VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM
 The Virginia Department of Veterans Services:
 Established in 2003; first Commissioner appointed
in 2004
 Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
 Benefits Services
 Veterans Care Centers
 Cemeteries
 G.I. Bill and Educational Assistance
 Virginia War Memorial

4. Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
MISSION
Veteran/Family
QOL
The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP), in cooperation
with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Services and the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative
Services, monitors and coordinates behavioral health and
rehabilitative services and support through an
integrated, comprehensive and responsive system of public and
private partnerships. VWWP facilitates these services for Virginia
veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard and Armed Forces
Reserves (not in active federal service), and their families especially
those affected by stress related conditions or traumatic brain injuries
resulting from military service.

5. 2.1 Million Deployed OEF/OIF
1/3 PTSD and/or TBI
50,000 physical wounds and
16,000 severely wounded
WHY?

6. Executive
Assistant
Executive
Director
Region 5
Director
Regional
Coordinator &
Staff
Community
Services Boards
(9)
Region 4
Director
Regional
Coordinator &
Staff
Community
Services Boards
(8)
Region 3
Director
Regional
Coordinator &
Staff
Community
Services Board
(10)
Region 2
Director
Regional
Coordinator &
Staff
Community
Services Board
(5)
Region 1
Director
Regional
Coordinator &
Staff
Community
Services Boards
(8)
Special Projects
Coordinator
Community Providers Veteran Services Organizations Faith Based Community
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program

7. Albemarle
Amelia
Appo-
mattox
Buckingham
Campbell
Caroline
Charlotte
Clarke
Culpeper
Fairfax
Fauquier
Greene
Greensville
Halifax
Loudoun
Louisa
Lunenburg
Madison
Mecklenburg
Nottoway
Orange
Page
Pittsylvania
Powhatan
Prince
Edward
Rappa-
hannock
Stafford
Region 2
Northern
Henrico
Isle Of
Wight
King
George
New
Kent
Surry
Sussex
Norfolk
Portsmouth
Amherst
Augusta
Nelson
Rockingham
Alleghany
Bath
Bedford
Bland
Botetourt
Buchanan
Carroll
Craig
Floyd
Franklin
Giles
Grayson
Henry
Highland
Lee
Mont-
gomery
Patrick
Pulaski
Russell
Scott
Smyth
Tazewell
Washington
Wise Wythe
Alexandria
Lynchburg
Rockbridge
Hampton
Charles
City Co.
York
Region 1
Northwestern
Region 5
Greater
Hampton
Roads
Region 4 Central
Region 3
Southwest
Arlington
Charlottesville
Statewide toll free number: 1-877-285-1299
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
Regional Consortia
Middlesex
Matthews
Lancaster
Chesapeake
Virginia Beach
Chesterfield
Dinwiddie
Richmond

8. INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION
A SYSTEMS APPROACH
Veteran/Family
QOL
 Program grounded in the Code of Virginia
 State funded; augmented with grants and donations
 Reinforced by Executive Order 29
 Inter-Secretariat Letter of Support
 Interagency Executive Strategy Committee
 Interagency Advisory Council
 Strategic Plan in Place

9. VWWP
Commissioner
Department of
Veterans
Services
Commissioner
Department of
Health
Commissioner
Department of
Aging &
Rehabilitative
Services
Commissioner
Dept of
Behavioral
Health &
Developmental
Services
Adjutant
General
Virginia
National
Guard
Virginia
Armed
Forces
Reserve
Component
Director
Medical
Assistance
Services
Director
USDVA
VISN 6
Commissioner
Virginia
Employment
Commission
Director
Dept of
Health
Professions
INTERAGENCY
EXECUTIVE
STRATEGY
COMMITTEE

10. 10
What We Do
 Comprehensive Assessment of Individual
and Family Needs
 Case Management/Care Coordination
 Marriage and Family Support
 Outreach and Community Education
 Linkage to VA Benefits, Financial Assistance,
Employment and Education Programs
 Homeless Services

11. 11
WE ARE VIRGINIA VETERANS
VIRGINIA WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM
FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12
Veterans and
their families
served
N/A 1,650 3,617 5,283
Community
events attended
by
VWWP staff
335 573 615 822
Virginians
reached at
events
9,500 19,000 13,450 17,450
Military
personnel and
families
reached at
VWWP briefings
2,795 4,400 6,550 4460
Annual Services Provided

13. Primary Nature of Requests for Assistance
from Regional Consortia – June 2012
Employment
Financial Aid
Housing
37%
PTSD/TBI
MH or Family
Counseling
26%
Other
23%
VA Benefits
Medical
GI Bill
14%

14. Era of Service for Veterans Served
by Regional Consortia – June 2012
Non-Combat
Related
24%
Vietnam
15%
Afghanistan
Iraq
48%
WWII Korea &
Other Combat
6%
Desert
Storm 7%

15. Branch of Service for Veterans Served
by Regional Consortia – June 2012
Air Force 5%
Marines
18%
Army
65%
Coast Guard
1%
Navy 11%

16. Gender of Veterans and Family Members
Served by Regional Consortia – June 2012
Male
81%
Female
19%

17. VWWP Statewide Goals
Serve Veterans
 No Wrong Door
 Employment V3
 Reentry
Emphasize Families
 SAMHSA Policy Academy
 Schools
 Caregiver Summits/Conference
Strengthen and Foster Partnerships
 IESC and Advisory Committees
Grow and Sustain VWWP
 Grants/Foundation

18. VWWP Statewide Goals
• Educate and Inform
 Conferences/Training (Caregiver Forums)
 Website
 VISTAs
 AmeriCorps, Virginia Veterans Corps
 Virginia Funeral Directors Association

19. V.A. Resources for Veteran Caregivers
VA Caregiver Support Line
Toll Free: 1-855-260-3254
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. -11:00 p. m. ET
Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET
Helps callers learn about VA assistance
Helps caller access services and benefits
Connects caller with local family Caregiver Support
Coordinator at VAMC if nearby

20. V.A. Resources for Veteran Caregivers
Other VA Resources for Qualifying Family:
Adult Day Health Care Centers
Home-Based Primary Care
Skilled Home Care
Home Health Aide Program
Home Telehealth
Respite Care
Home Hospice Care

21. V.A. Resources for Veteran Caregivers
Caregivers of Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2010 – Services for Family
Caregivers of Post 9/11 Seriously Injured
Must qualify and be enrolled with VA
Monthly Stipend
Travel Expenses
Mental Health Services and Counseling
Comprehensive VA Caregiver Training
Respite care
 www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/Caregiver_Services.asp

22. Resources for Veteran Caregivers
National Military Family Association
Spouse Scholarships
Operation Purple Program
Military Officers Association of America
www.moaa.org
Online Caregiver Manual
www.Veterancaregiver.com
Peer and Resource Support
DARS Services
VDVS and VWWP Services

23. VWWP Training Portal
www.WeAreVirginiaVeterans.org
Online courses
CEU/CME credits

24. Family of Heroes
Technology/Features:
• Accessed on any computer with an internet connection
• Takes 1-hour (broken to modules)
• Fully private and confidential
• Integrated local resource list (VA and non-VA)
Online, role-playing resiliency training simulation
where family members learn essential skills to
manage common challenges facing families in
adjusting to post-deployment life.
1. Managing expectations,
2. Identify post-deployment stress
3. De-escalating arguments, negotiating
responsibilities
4. If needed, motivating the veteran to seek
help for PTSD, TBI, or thoughts of
suicide

25. VWWP Goal: A Well Coordinated System
of Care and Support for Our Veterans and
Their Families through Partnerships
25
Behavioral
Healthcare
Healthcare
Financial
Assistance
Housing
Transportation
Care
Coordination
Crisis
Intervention
Employment
Vocational
Rehab
Outreach
Education

26. Our community,
our strength!