April 2020 Edition of Forward March Veterans' COVID-19 Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 04/16/2020 04:59 PM EDT

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www.FloridaVets.org

April 2020

Our Mission

To advocate with purpose and passion for Florida veterans and link them to superior services, benefits and support.

From Executive Director Danny Burgess:

Welcome to another special COVID-19 edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter. As Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, I have the honor of overseeing an incredible organization that strives every day to repay the sacrifices made for our nation by our state’s 1.5 million veterans. We operate a network of six State Veterans’ Nursing Homes and one Domiciliary across Florida. More than 1,000 dedicated professionals work tirelessly to provide exceptional care to our veterans, including the more than 790 veterans who call our facilities home. Providing loving care to our resident veterans is our most important goal and an immense responsibility. I am so proud of the selfless service of our health care professionals operating under very stressful conditions. As a nation, I am proud to see we are rallying around our health care professionals, especially those in long-term care facilities, as they struggle to overcome this unprecedented national crisis. Those on the front lines need to know that we stand with them and appreciate their hard work.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest information on how we’re preventing the spread of COVID-19. Please share with your friends and family.

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Forward March! ‎

VA Under Secretary to Provide Florida Benefits Update

Please join VA Under Secretary for Benefits Dr. Paul Lawrence April 17 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time for a Tele-Town Hall. He will be presenting information on VBA’s COVID-19 response, Solid Start, Blue Water Navy and Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP). Call-In: 844-227-7557.

Claims Examiners Providing Help While Teleworking

FDVA's Veterans' Claims Examiners continue to connect veterans with earned services, benefits and support - but now from home via telework. To contact a teleworking Veterans’ Claims Examiner, call (727) 319-7440 and they’ll return your call within 24 hours. You may also contact them via e-mail at VSO@fdva.state.fl.us. For the latest on FDVA's COVID-19 response efforts, visit www.FloridaVets.org.

Visitor Access, Resident Admissions Suspended at State Veterans' Homes

FDVA is restricting visitor access to its State Veterans’ Homes until further notice, with the exception of essential visitors, such as ‎family members of those residents undergoing end-of-life care. In addition, we are temporarily suspending admissions in our network of state veterans’ homes. Thank you for your understanding.

President Signs Bill Expanding GI Bill Payments

President Trump signed into law a bill on March 21, which enables the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to continue providing the same level of education benefits to students having to take courses online due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The law gives VA temporary authority to continue GI Bill payments uninterrupted in the event of national emergencies, allowing for continued payment of benefits even if the program has changed from resident training to online training. GI Bill students will continue receiving the same monthly housing allowance payments they received for resident training until Dec. 21, or until the school resumes in-person classes. Students with specific questions can contact the Education Call Center at: 888-442-4551 between 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.

VA Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics Serving Veterans During COVID-19

Veterans who are concerned they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), flu or cold should contact the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center at 1-877-741-3400 (toll free) before coming to a VA facility. Clinical staff are available to provide 24/7 virtual care and support, including nurse advice and triage. This service is available at no cost to Veterans enrolled for care in VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8).

VISN 8 facilities include all VA Medical Centers and clinics associated with the following healthcare systems which are providing updates to their operations as they change (click on name of facility to go to their webpage):

Florida's National Cemeteries Working with Families

All U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries are open and continuing to provide interments for veterans and eligible individuals. All committal services and the rendering of military funeral honors are discontinued until further notice. Families choosing to continue with interment may schedule a committal service for a later date. Families wishing to postpone an already scheduled interment to a later date should contact the cemetery as soon as possible to convey their wishes. Contact your local cemetery for updates regarding closures. For more information, contact NCA at 202-891-9987. To ensure social distancing at the cemetery, witnessing family members will now be asked to view the interment from their cars or the road very near their cars. Families may visit the gravesite in the days following the interment consistent with CDC guidelines and local travel restrictions.

COVID-19 Project Relief Fund to Help Florida Veterans

TALLAHASSEE – COVID-19 is impacting many Floridians as well as Florida’s veterans, active duty military members and their families. As many businesses and organizations are being forced to close their doors, our veterans are unable to work and provide an income to support their families.

The Florida Veterans Foundation has teamed up with the American Legion of Florida to create the COVID-19 Project Vet Relief Fund. This will help with emergency assistance for those veterans who are affected by this pandemic around the state of Florida.

By combining the efforts and resources of both organizations, the project will help to raise the funds needed from corporations and individuals and equip them to support the expected demand of the veteran community.

Veterans in need of assistance will find the application form, requirements and guidelines listed on the website at www.HelpFLVets.org. Due to limited personnel access, they are not taking phone calls and will accept online/email applications only.

Women Veterans' Liaison Available

To contact the State Women Veterans’ Coordinator, call FDVA's Vanessa Thomas at (727) 319-7418 or e-mail ThomasV@fdva.state.fl.us

Health Department Provides COVID-19 Guidance

The Florida Department of Health is working closely with the Centers for Disease ‎Control and Prevention to monitor the current outbreak of COVID-19 and is ‎working to ensure the most up-to-date CDC guidance is disseminated to the public. Please visit their COVID-19 webpage at www.FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19.

Health Department Opens COVID-7 Hotline

For additional questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact ‎the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling toll free 1-866-779-6121 or ‎emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The Call Center is open 24/7.‎ In addition, you may visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/all-county-locations.html to locate and obtain contact information for your local County Health Department.

Vet Centers Open for Counseling Services

All Vet Centers in Florida, which provide readjustment counseling and outreach ‎services to veterans and families, are open and implementing ‎enhanced screening ‎protocols. At this time, veterans may appear in person or opt in advance for an optional ‎phone consultation.

Veterans and their families are encouraged to get connected to counseling services by calling the 24/7 Vet Center Call Center at 1-877-927-8387. Most Vet Centers are currently utilizing telehealth services through VA Video Connect and can also speak to individuals via phone to reduce any barriers to seeking necessary help.

Many veteran-related events scheduled for the months of April and May have been cancelled or postponed. All Honor Flight activities in Florida have been suspended through June 30. Consult your local news for specific closures and announcements.