Welcome to the July edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter.
We accepted our first resident earlier this month at the new Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie, and are preparing to admit our first resident later this month at the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Orlando. With the opening later this month of our Orlando veterans’ home, Florida will have nine active veterans’ homes, more than any other state in the nation. I’m proud of our health care professionals and support team members who are improving the lives of our Veterans. If you have an opportunity to visit one of our veterans’ homes, please take the time to thank them for their service to our resident heroes.
In preparation for my participation next month in the annual training conference of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, I represented Florida and the southeast district of NASDVA during their July Executive Committee Meeting. NASDVA is a great association of state veteran leaders who share best practices, look for gaps in services and advise the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on policies impacting our nation’s veteran community. I’m proud to be associated with these passionate national leaders.
I met with State Sen. Tom Wright and State Rep. Patt Maney on the campus of the University of South Florida July 14 to learn more about alternative treatments and therapies for Veterans with traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress. The results are encouraging and much work has been done both nationally and in our state, but experts agree we need more focus on unconventional ways to provide non-medicinal means to our nation’s heroes suffering from TBI and PTSD.
Earlier this week in Tallahassee, I hosted the Florida Governor’s Challenge Conference supporting our state’s ongoing veteran suicide prevention efforts. This was our first non-virtual meeting in two years and it was good to see old colleagues again who provide mental health resources for our Veterans and their families. You can find out more about this initiative by visiting www.SaveFLVets.org. Take the Watch Standard Training while you’re visiting our site. We appreciate your support.
At press time, I’m in my former stomping grounds in Pensacola meeting with members of the Florida Defense Support Task Force and visiting NAS Pensacola. Once again, we’re sharing best practices and looking for additional ways to assist our active duty service members, Veterans, and family members.
A reminder that if you need to contact us, our Veterans’ Claims Examiners are available by calling (727) 319-7440 or via e-mail at VSO@fdva.state.fl.us. These wartime Veterans can also be found at most VA Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics to provide access to earned services, benefits and support.
Thanks for reading. Please share with a friend and be safe as you travel during the summer months.
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