TALLAHASSEE - July is National Military Consumer Protection Month, and Attorney General Ashley Moody is highlighting resources designed to help protect military members and Veterans from scams. Florida is home to more than 100,000 service members and 1.5 million Veterans. To help prevent these military members from falling victim to scams, Attorney General Moody is highlighting the office's Military Consumer Protection Guide and Scams at a Glance: Protect Our Patriots resource. To read more, click here.
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighting the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday, which runs through Labor Day weekend. The sales tax holiday was part of the Framework for Freedom Budget and is estimated to save Florida families nearly $230 million over the summer. To read more, click here.
The Robotics and Advanced Technology Center at James A. Haley VA in Tampa is using cutting-edge technology to improve the lives of Veterans.
The center’s mission is to enhance patient care through the development and application of advanced technologies for rehabilitation.
The Exoskeleton-Assisted Ambulation Program was introduced in April 2022 as the center’s first clinic program. It employs the use of six different robotic exoskeleton devices to aid the rehabilitation and restoration of gait. The clinic treats Veterans who have suffered spinal cord injuries, strokes, or Veterans who have difficulty walking due to other neurologic injuries or illnesses. To read more, click here.
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In a world where physical wounds are often visible and readily addressed, the invisible scars left by trauma can haunt the lives of those affected, especially as they go unnoticed by society.
At Orlando VA, a groundbreaking approach to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) services is changing the narrative, providing a beacon of hope for Veterans and their families.
The Orlando PTSD team provides intensive virtual care options, as well as specialized treatment for highest-risk Veterans. The specialized programming combines trauma therapy with Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help Veterans learn skills to manage suicidality, emotions, stress and relationships in order to also be able to confront trauma. To read more, click here.
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On June 14, 2023, President Joe Biden signed into law the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023, which directs the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for Veterans benefits in 2024 equal to the COLA applied to Social Security benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration. To read more, click here.
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 Former Marine, professional baseball player and broadcaster Rick Monday, center left, joined retired Army Command Sergeant Major and Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Littrell, center right, on May 25 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to tape a series of public service announcements on behalf of the Florida Governor’s Challenge. The PSAs will help raise awareness of Veteran suicide prevention efforts in Florida. Joining Monday and Littrell during the taping were members of the Governor’s Challenge staff.
 Local dignitaries and Veterans' advocates including FDVA Executive Director James S. “Hammer” Hartsell honor the flag during the singing of the National Anthem as part of a July 5 ceremony honoring the one-year anniversary of the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie.
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The nonprofit Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation is planning a monument to honor Floridians who served in our nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The planned location of the monument, scheduled for completion in 2024, is at Veterans Memorial Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla. To read more, click here. |
 The 2023 edition of the Florida Veterans' Benefits Guides is now available in a second run of 75,000 copies, courtesy of the Florida Veterans Foundation. Click here to view their website. The full-color guides are a valuable tool, providing essential information on various benefits and services available to Florida Veterans. To order or view the 2023 Florida Veterans’ Benefit Guide, visit https://floridavets.org/resources/va-benefits-guide/
 If you served in the Vietnam, Gulf War, or Post-9/11 eras, you may be eligible for expanded VA benefits under a new law, known as The PACT Act. Visit http://va.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MY-VA-411 to learn more. For assistance, you may contact one of our Florida-based Veterans' Claims Examiners at (727) 319-7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@fdva.fl.gov.
 Serve our nation’s heroes by joining our team today. With a recent pay raise for all state employees and a new competitive pay structure with sign-on bonuses for our direct care staff, working in one of Florida’s nine state veterans’ homes can be rewarding. Click on the graphic above to visit our position openings or visit https://bit.ly/3AuWCED.
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