July 2017 Newsletter

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July 2017 Newsletter


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Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs

One Judiciary Square           
441 4th Street, NW
Suite 870 North
Washington, D.C., 20004
202.724-5454

www.ova.dc.gov


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Veteran Crisis Line - phone

Veteran Crisis Line - Chat

Crisis line text

Women Vet Call Center

Women Vet Chat

CRRC

Click here for more information about the Washington D.C. VA Community Resource and Referral Center. 


DCVAMC

Click here for more information about the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center.


We're Hiring! 

DCHires

On Wednesday, July 19, 2017, the DC Department of Human Resources will sponsor, in partnership with the DC National Guard and the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, a DC Veterans Hiring #DCHIRESVETS event.

This event will offer veterans the opportunity to participate in professional development workshops, connect with District and federal agencies as well as private sector companies.

On-the-spot contingent job offers will be issued from the following:

  • DC Department of Forensic Sciences
  • DC Department of Transportation
  • Office of Contracting and Procurement
  • DC Department of Human Resources
  • DC Department of Human Services
  • DC Water

Other participating agencies include:

  • District of Columbia National Guard
  • Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs
  • Metropolitan Police Department
  • DC Department of Energy and Environment
  • Office of the State Superintendent of Education
  • DC Department of Regulatory Affairs
  • Office of the Attorney General
  • Department of Public Works
  • DC Child and Family Services
  • Department of Employment Services
  • Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Federal Agencies include:

  • National Institues of Health
  • U.S. Dept. of Labor Veterans Education and Training Service
  • U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

Private Sector Corporations include:

  • PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC
  • KPMG
  • Military.com/Monster.com
  • U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS)
  • First Financial Group
  • Squadron Defense Group
  • The Home Depot
  • Creative Business Solutions, Inc.
  • New York Life

    Please use our hashtag, #DCHiresVets, when talking about "DC Hires Vets" on social media!

    Visit dchr.dc.gov frequently for updates on the DC Hire Vets event.

    Please contact dchr@dc.gov with any questions or concerns.

    We thank you for your service and look forward to seeing you at the event!

    Click Here to Register


    In Case You Missed It

    mental health

    On Tuesday, June 27, 2017, the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs partnered with Serving Together to host the District's first Veterans Mental Health First Aid course!  Mental Health First Aid training aims to increase mental health literacy and to decrease stigmatizing attitudes in our communities. Like regular First Aid or CPR, Mental Health First Aid is designed to give people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. We look forward to hosting more courses in the near future! 


    senior fest

    On Thursday, June 29, 2017, the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs joined Mayor Bowser, the D.C. Office of Aging and several other District agencies at Kenilworth Park for Senior Fest!  Seniors from all over the city had the opportunity to socialize with each other while enjoying live entertainment, music, various board games, various health exhibits and a very nice lunch out on the park site.  


    Veteran Resource of the Month

    headstrong


    Headstrong, founded in 2012 by a combat veteran, provides confidential, cost-free, and frictionless mental health care treatment for post-9/11 military veterans and their families that works. In partnership with Weill Cornell Medical College, one of the Nation’s leading mental health care centers, Headstrong developed an effective, individually tailored and comprehensive treatment program for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Addiction Treatment; Anxiety & Depression; Trauma, Grief and Loss; and Anger Management, and Military Sexual Trauma.  To learn more, please visit www.getheadstrong.org


    From The Mayor

    MMB

    District Minute

    This week's District Minute features stories about the groundbreaking of a 19-unit affordable housing apartment building in Ward 4, the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program Kickoff, and the decrease in new cases of HIV in Washington, DC.  


    Minimum wage

    On July 1, 2017, Mayor Bowser marked the first increase to the minimum wage under the #Fightfor15 legislation that she introduced in 2016. The legislation was part of the Mayor's effort to give all residents a fair shot at pathways to the middle class. 

    Beginning July 1, 2017 the minimum wage for District workers will increase from $11.50 per hour to $12.50 per hour, and the minimum wage for tipped workers will increase from $2.77 to $3.33 per hour. This is the first increase to the tipped worker minimum wage in 12 years.


    Connect with your Mayor!

    Mayor Muriel Bowser

    John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | Washington DC, 20004

    (202) 727-2643

    muriel.bowser@dc.gov | mayor.dc.gov | @mayorbowser


    Featured Jobs, Fellowships, and Interships

    MOTA

    Mayor's Office of Talent and Appointments (MOTA) is seeking diverse and passionate individuals to work in DC Government. Candidates must submit their resume and any additional eligibility materials. Please click here for more information and how to apply.


    DOES

     

    The D.C. Department of Employment Services is here to help veterans who need assistance finding employment.  Check out their veterans services page to learn more about the veteran employment services DOES offers.  Don't hesitate to reach out to them.


    DCHR

    The D.C. government is looking for a few good candidates.  Click here to find out more about the opportunities we have to offer.


    Want Your Vacant Position Featured in the Newsletter?

    Each month the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs compiles a list of vacant positions.  If your government agency or nonprofit organization in DC would like to promote employment, or internship opportunities for D.C. Veterans please send an email message to ova@dc.gov.


    Upcoming Events

    DDS

    Are you a Veteran in need of vocational rehabilitation assistance? 

    The District of Columbia Department of Disability Services has partnered with the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs to provide dedicated vocational rehabilitation assistance to our veteran community. This program and separate and apart from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' vocational rehabilitation program.  If you have been denied or are currently using the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' program, you may still be eligible for District assistance.  Come speak with one of our counselors! 

    Overview:

    The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program provides vocational and rehabilitative services to individuals with disabilities to help them prepare for, secure, regain or retain employment. Persons with disabilities face some challenges in today’s modern workplace. We believe that people with disabilities, given the right opportunities can work and be fully integrated into mainstream society and the work place. Vocational rehabilitation services can reduce or remove barriers to employment.

    Eligibility:

    To be eligible for VR services, a person must have a physical or mental impairment that is a substantial impediment to employment; be able to benefit from VR services in terms of employment; and require VR services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain employment. Priority is given to those individuals
    who have the most significant disabilities.

    Location:

    You can meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affair office space located at 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 870 North.  

    Time and Date:

    9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday, July 11, 2017

    9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday, July 25, 2017

    9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 8, 2017

    9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 22, 2017

     Scheduling:

    You can schedule an appointment by calling our office at 202-724-5454.  You can also walk-in on those days the counselor has office hours. Please note, however, appointments will be seen before walk-ins and space is limited.   


    advisory board

    Mayor’s Advisory Board on D.C. Veterans Affairs Monthly Meeting

    One Judiciary Square 
    Thursday, July 13, 2017, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
    441 4th St. NW, Washington DC 20001
    1114 South Conference Room

    This meeting is open to the public.  Please come out and join us! 

    Please note that the date has changed due to July 4th holiday. 


    legion

    VA Claims, Pensions, and DD-214 Upgrades

    On Thursday, June 27, 2017, the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs will be hosting an accredited Veteran Service Officer from the American Legion to provide claims, benefits, pension, and DD-214 upgrade counseling.  The claims officer will be on deck from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.  If you have questions - trust us - this guy has the answers!  Give us a call at 202-724-5454 to schedule an appointment.  Walk-ins are welcome!  Please note, scheduled appointments will be seen before walk-ins.  

    August counseling dates will be announced shortly! 

     Click to edit this placeholder text.


    roundtable

    Veteran Round Table Discussions

    The Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs will be holding two round table discussions every month over the summer.  If you are a D.C. Veteran with some ideas about how we can help our community, come out and join us!  Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 2, at 12 pm. If you would like to participate, just give us a call at 202-724-5454!

    Please note our July 19 round table is cancelled due to the Veteran Hiring Fair.  


    VHP

    The Veterans History Project (VHP) of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center is primarily an oral history program that collects and preserves the firsthand interviews of America's wartime veterans. VHP relies on volunteers, both individuals and organizations, throughout the nation to contribute veterans’ stories to VHP. In addition to audio- and video-recorded interviews, VHP accepts memoirs and collections of original photographs, letters, diaries, maps and other historical documents from World War I through current conflicts.

    The Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs will be conducting VHP interviews every week.  If you are a veteran - we would love to hear your story!  Once your interview is complete, we will submit the recording to the Library of Congress for preservation.  

    Please give us a call at 202-724-5454 to schedule an interview. 


    Want Your Event Featured in the Newsletter?

    The Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs Newsletter is distributed to over 3,700 subscribers every month. If you would like your event to be featured in our calendar, please submit the following details: what, when and where the event will take place. If available, please provide a link to direct readers to more online information.  Please send all inquiries and posts to ova@dc.gov.


    Click Here To Signup For News From The Mayor's Office Of Veterans Affairs

    Director Ely S. Ross

    202-724-5454

    www.ova.dc.gov