CVSO Office Updates
Happy October!!
Thank you for your grace and patience during the month of September while our service officers attended our annual fall conference. During this training, one of our very own service officers, Nathan Pike, was once again nominated to serve the CVSOs of Minnesota in the position as chaplain of our association. Thank you, Nathan, for your service to this great state. We are honored to have you serving in this role.
Some Important Dates for the Month of October:
October 7, 2023: MN Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day
If you are experiencing crisis, please call: 988 then press 1 OR
text: 838255 OR call 911. I believe you are worthy of being here
on this earth and worthy of living a happy and fulfilling life.
Don't take this battle on your own, we are here for you!
October 13, 2023: HAPPY 248th BIRTHDAY NAVY!
October 26, 2023: National Day of the Deployed:
A day set aside to honor all of the brave men and women who have
been deployed and are sacrificing, or have sacrificed, their lives to fight
for our county and acknowledges their families they are separated from.
Our office is continuing to work together to navigate changes and
challenges that come with hiring a new CVSO. You may notice that
Fridays are now open for appointments. If you happen to schedule an
appointment for that day, please be prepared to meet with both myself
and either Nathan or Jennifer as they are continuing to walk me through
the claims process. I may not be able to go through the claims process
quickly, but I’ll do my very best to keep up 😊.
Have a wonderful October! Please always feel free to reach out to our office with any questions or concerns. I’m enjoying getting to know you as you show up and/or make calls to this office.
 Tiffany Canfield
Veteran Services Manager
Veteran Services Office Snapshot
August 2023:
Total claims submitted to VA:
- Compensation: 124
- VA Healthcare: 15
- DIC: 3
- Burial: 24
- Survivor’s Pension: 0
- CHAMPVA: 1
- Records Request:8
- Special Monthly Pension: 1
Points of contact with veterans (office visits, incoming mail, phone calls returned, emails returned, etc.): 569
Veterans in office: 119
Outreach visits: 6
Total phone calls: 453
Average number of calls per day: 15
Average call length: 2 minutes and 36 seconds
Karen's Korner
The Rochester VA Clinic will be having a drive-up flu shot clinic on Thursday, October 5th and 12th from 1 - 3 pm. In case of inclement weather, the shots will be given inside.
MaxAbility - Growing Your Workforce
Discover Your Future Employees at the SE MN
Rochester Job & Career Fair!!
You're cordially invited to the inclusive and empowering Rochester Job & Career Fair, where every individual's potential shines, brought to you by the collaboration of MaxAbility and JobsHQ as well as our partners at CareerForce and Southeast Co-op! We're excited to showcase a remarkable array of opportunities that cater to all job seekers! Get ready to be a part of something truly exceptional!
When: Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 10 am - 1 pm
Where: RCTC Sports Center/Fieldhouse
Embrace the opportunity to connect with a wide spectrum of talent, finding exceptional individuals is paramount, and we're here to help you discover qualified talent to join your team. At this year's event, we're thrilled to emphasize our commitment to embracing diversity and inclusivity. From emerging talent to seasoned professionals, honorable veterans seeking new pathways, including job seekers with disabilities, we're dedicated to helping you discover your true potential in a supportive and vibrant environment. Your future colleagues are waiting to meet you!
Prepare to be inspired, motivated, and excited about the potential collaborations that await you. Don't miss this remarkable opportunity to engage with top-tier talent and visionary companies. Let's shape the future together! We look forward to welcoming you to the Rochester Job & Career Fair!
MaxAbility, CareerForce and the JobsHQ Team
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Are you a job seeker looking for opportunities with inclusive employers?
MOPH Open House
The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Lloyd/Swenson Chapter 7110 will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 11 am - 2 pm at VFW Post 1215 in Rochester. There is no cost and there will be no fundraising.
Meet and talk with special guests, including:
* Jennifer Shumaker - Olmsted County Veterans Service Officer and Army
National Guard Retiree
* Erick Kerska - Colonel, US Army Reserve, Retiree
* Dave and Kay Swenson
All Purple Heart Recipients and a guest are welcome
There will be door prizes, food and beverage and fellowship
Questions can be directed to:
Michael Quinn at 507-254-5386 mquinn401@gmail.com
Rich Daly at 507-884-6250 richdaly5@gmail.com
VA Welcome Kit
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.
Download your VA Welcome Kit
Feel free to share this guide with friends or family members who need help with their benefits too. You can print out copies for yourself and others:
Download our guides to VA benefits and services
For Veterans
Advance Care Planning
There is no one way to get started with Advance Care Planning – a process of deciding what treatments you would or would not want if you were ill or injured and no longer able to make those decisions for yourself. It is a process that includes choosing who you want to make those decisions for you.
You may know what choices you would make but have no idea about who you’d like to make choices for you if you cannot do so. Or, you may know who you want to speak for you but you are not sure what you would want.
In any case, all the information you need to get started is here:
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Advance Directives- An Advance Directive is a legal form that helps your doctors and loved ones understand your wishes about medical and mental health care and make decisions about your care, if you are not able to make decisions for yourself.
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Choosing a Person to Make Decisions- Part of the Advance Care Planning process involves choosing a person to make decisions for you if you were not able to do so. This person is called your Health Care Agent.
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Talking with Loved Ones- Tips and resources for talking with loved ones about what is important to you when making medical decisions.
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Help Setting Health Care Goals- Healthcare providers or social workers can help setting health care goals. Palliative Care and Hospice Care can work with you to meet those goals.
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Group Visits- VA offers interactive groups where Veterans and caregivers can join their peers to learn more about the process of planning for future health care needs.
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Other Types of Advance Care Planning- These include DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) and Organ and Tissue Donation.
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More Resources- Helpful websites, forms and workbooks.
Click HERE for a two-page document which provides information on Advance Care Planning and includes a Values Worksheet.
Rochester Kiwanis Club
Once a month the Rochester Kiwanis likes to host and honor a military veteran, active or not, by inviting them to enjoy a free luncheon, meet other Kiwanis Club members and enjoy whatever the program may be for the day.
The Kiwanis meet as a club every Thursday from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Rochester Eagles Club, located at 917 - 15th Avenue SE.
You will not be asked to speak but you will be given a brief biographical form to fill out so that you will be properly introduced, recognized, and honored for your military service.
The Kiwanis would like to thank all of you for your military service.
Please contact Dave Nelsen at 815-243-1223 if you might be interested.
Dear GI Bill Student
In case you missed it, the Department of Education has announced that payments on federal student loans, which had been paused since the COVID-19 emergency, will resume in October 2023. Interest on those student loans will resume beginning September 1, 2023. If you have no federal student loans, this will not apply to you.
The Department of Education is also notifying borrowers before their payments restart, but they wanted to make sure you had plenty of time to prepare. VA cannot answer questions about your student loans.
If you have questions about how the restart will work, what steps you need to take to resume your payments or change account information, or how to switch to a different repayment plan, you can find the following resources on the Department of Education website:
Respectfully,
VA Education Service
Education Scams
How To Spot Education Scams And Protect Your Benefits!
Now is a great time to further your education or jumpstart a new career. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits help Veterans or their loved ones pay for college, graduate school and training programs. Unfortunately, Veterans are often a target of deceptive recruiting practices by educational institutions.
Educational institutions may use predatory practices to manipulate Veterans into enrolling in misleading or fraudulent education programs that do not provide accredited degrees, transferable skills/credits and may deplete all education entitlements.
During this back-to-school season, VA is committed to ensuring Veterans and their beneficiaries have the information they need to make informed choices about VA education benefits and approved programs.
What are the types of Scams Targeting Your Education Benefits?
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Job Scams. Job Boards or Advertisements targeting specific demographics may be misleading or fake and require you to give personal information or money to get a job. You can find free, official information about federal jobs at usajobs.gov, FedsHiresVets.gov, and CareerOneStop.org. Your State’s Department of Labor may have job listings, contacts for local job offices, and resources for counseling and referrals.
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Student Loan Scams. Educational institutions may promise immediate student loan forgiveness or debt cancellation to entice Veterans to enroll in classes. For most borrowers, Loan Forgiveness is only available through programs requiring many years of qualifying payments or other qualifying criteria. Here is a list of student debt relief “do’s and don’ts” to help borrowers avoid Scams.
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Scholarship Scams. Educational institutions may “guarantee” Veterans a scholarship in exchange for a redemption/processing fee.
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Seminars. Veterans may be promised a scholarship and financial aid under the guise of high-pressure sales pitches where they feel pressured to pay a fee immediately or risk losing the so-called “opportunity.”
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Free Gifts. Veterans may be promised incentives such as free laptops, gift cards, or other “freebies” for enrolling in courses.
How can you protect your education benefits?
- Choose GI Bill Approved Schools. Use the WEAMS Institution Search Tool to find GI Bill approved schools.
- Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Compare the benefits you’ll receive at different schools.
- Learn about the Principles of Excellence Program. This program requires schools that receive federal funding through programs such as the GI Bill to follow certain guidelines.
- Check out the National Resource Directory Database. This database provides validated resources that support recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration for Service members, Veterans, family members, and caregivers. Scammers may try to appear legitimate by using official sounding names, logos, websites, or showcasing a false affiliation with the VA.
- Find schools that take part in the Yellow Ribbon Program. This program can help you pay for school costs not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
VA recognizes the importance of identifying unfair, deceptive and misleading practices toward Veterans and their beneficiaries pursuing a career. If you are receiving VA education benefits and suspect you are a victim of fraud, please contact the VA Office of Inspector General at VAOIG Hotline. You may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you miss a VA benefits payment, identify a discrepancy in payments, or find suspicious activity with your direct deposit account, contact the VA immediately at 1-800-827-1000.
CHAMPVA Issue Notification
VA’s Integrated Veteran Care team has identified a syncing error between two systems used to process claims for the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), which resulted in incorrect calculations of annual out of pocket expenses (also known as Catastrophic Cap) for certain beneficiaries. Specifically, in the CHAMPVA program, an enrolled beneficiary can only be charged a maximum of $3,000 dollars annually for health care costs. However, as a result of this syncing error, some beneficiaries were overcharged and others were undercharged by VA for care between October 1, 2021 and September 1, 2023.
Upon identifying an initial issue with these calculations in March 2023, the VA immediately halted CHAMPVA claims processing while the issue was being investigated. Since then, they have identified the following impacts:
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Overcharges to CHAMPVA beneficiaries: Since, October 1, 2021, VA has overcharged a total of 6,144 distinct families. These families are owed a total of $2,426,520 by the VA, and they will be paid back directly by the end of this calendar year.
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Possible undercharges to CHAMPVA beneficiaries: The VA is urgently working to identify the beneficiaries who may have been undercharged. They are evaluating whether any funds are owed to the VA as a result of these undercharges, and if so, they will explore all options for debt relief.
The VA deeply apologizes to all impacted beneficiaries and Veteran families, and they will do everything they can to ensure that nobody is further adversely impacted by their error. The VA is working as quickly as possible to identify and contact all impacted families to inform them of this issue.
The VA has now fixed the issue between the systems, and they continue to test systems and validate to ensure that no future beneficiaries are impacted. They will continue to monitor closely for any follow-on systems errors to ensure that this does not happen again. The Integrated Veteran Care team is also beginning to process claims again, after having halted processing to address this issue. Since they paused CHAMPVA claims processing for several months, they now have 25,000 claims pending, which they will work through with the utmost urgency. The VA has already processed the majority (approximately 750,000) of these claims.
While this issue – and other recent VA processing issues – have only impacted a small percentage of those they serve, it’s unacceptable for even one Veteran or beneficiary to be impacted due to these errors. They are taking immediate steps to prevent issues like this from happening in the future, and to ensure that when issues do arise, they are identified and fixed much more quickly. They will continue to work urgently to understand this issue, address it, and – most importantly – take steps to ensure that beneficiaries are not further impacted by their errors.
Medical Equipment Available
Are you in need of medical equipment, such as a wheelchair (both manual and electric), walker, electric hospital bed, crutches, etc? Do you have medical equipment that you want to donate to other people in need?
The Kasson American Legion has medical equipment for use by anyone in the area (veterans, cancer patients, accident victims). The equipment is free to use and all they ask is that you return it when you are done so someone else can use it.
For more information, please call Dick Denny at (507) 259-2081. Equipment pick up and drop off is by appointment only.
Women Veterans Over 40 Discussion Group
This group will provide an opportunity for women veterans 40 years old and over to come together for support and community while learning creative ways to choose joy, spread joy and receive joy using evidence-based approaches to support stress relief, resilience, productivity and healthy living.
Sessions include:
* Discussion on relevant physical, emotional, spiritual health and wellness
topics
* SMART goal development and accountability
* Aromatherapy education for overall wellness and application for targeted
support
* Education and preparation of aroma stick, rollerball or spray for application
at home
Hosted by: Dr. Letticia N. Callies, DMin, MA, CCA
Where: VFW Post 1215 (back conference room)
2775 - 43rd Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
When: October 3, November 7 and December 5
Time: 6 - 8 pm
ID Cards at the Rochester VA Clinic
VA ID Cards may be obtained at the Rochester VA Clinic by appointment only on the following date:
November 16, 2023
Please call the VA at 1-866-414-5058 to make an appointment in Rochester.
*The Minneapolis VA Medical Center issues ID cards daily.
Click HERE for more information on veteran ID cards.
PTSD Support Group
Olmsted County Veteran Services is offering a support group for veterans that have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), or those who have signs and symptoms of PTSD, and their family members. Sometimes the most painful injuries aren't physical. Whether it's PTSD, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), combat stress or any other mental health condition, we're here to help you get through it. The group is facilitated by Jennifer Shumaker, veteran and Olmsted County Veterans Service Officer.
Where: VFW Post 1215
2775 - 43rd Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
When: October 26, November 30 and December 28
Time: 6:30 to 8 pm
For more information, please contact: jennifer.shumaker@olmstedcounty.gov
Post-9/11 Veteran Service Bonus
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) has a long history of awarding service bonuses to Minnesota Veterans who served in America’s wars. Starting in 1919 after World War I, through World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and now the Global War on Terrorism. MDVA recognizes the sacrifices and courage Minnesotans took to defend our country.
The 2022 Legislature passed, and Governor Walz signed, the first-ever Veterans Omnibus Bill that included funding for a service bonus payable to eligible Veterans who served from 9/11/01 to 8/30/21. MDVA is honored to facilitate this program for eligible Veterans, currently serving service members, or Veterans' beneficiaries.
Application Process
Due to the large volume of applications, users may experience some issues with the application portal. Thank you for your patience.
MDVA began processing payments the week of July 25, 2022. Applicants can expect their mailed check approximately 12 weeks after approval.
The application opened July 7, 2022, and will run until June 30, 2024, or until funds have been exhausted.
Visit the application portal, review and answer the initial pre-screening questions to assist in determining your eligibility.
If it is determined that you may be eligible for the bonus, you will be directed to the application.
- If you have previously applied for the Minnesota GI Bill or Veteran Owned Business Certification, you will login with your existing username and password.
- If you have never applied for the Minnesota GI Bill or Veteran Owned Business certification, you will be prompted to create an account.
If it is determined through the pre-screening questions that you may not be eligible for the Post-9/11 Veteran Service Bonus, then you will be directed to your County Veteran Service Office for additional assistance or guidance.
Please see the MDVA website for Frequently Asked Questions.
**UPDATE**
Governor Walz Signs Veterans and Military Affairs Bill into Law
On May 15, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed into law a comprehensive veterans and military affairs bill that will move the state closer to its goal of becoming the fourth state to end veteran homelessness, expand service bonuses for veterans, fund Veteran’s Homes, and invest in the readiness of the Minnesota National Guard.
Service and Retention Bonuses
The bill includes an additional $15 million for service bonuses for post-9/11 era veterans and Gold Star Families and $3 million for reenlistment bonuses for members of the Minnesota National Guard. The bill also expands eligibility for the 9/11 bonuses to include veterans who currently live in Minnesota but were not Minnesota residents when they entered service.
Guiding Partners to Solutions
New outreach program connects social workers with residents in need in various community locations
Olmsted County, in partnership with Family Service Rochester, is pleased to bring its Guiding Partners to Solutions (GPS) program to residents in need at various community locations.
GPS is a team of social workers that serves county residents struggling to connect with resources or services they may need. GPS works to reduce barriers and connect individuals and families with housing, cash, food, and insurance assistance and provides help in applying for these benefits.
Guiding Partners to Solutions (GPS) social workers will be available at the following locations:
- Tuesdays, 8 – 10 am
Riverside Central Elementary School
506 - 5th Avenue SE, Rochester NOTE: This is only open to families
with children at Riverside Central. This is NOT open to the public.
- Tuesdays, 3 – 5 pm
The Hylands apartment community
2800 Charles Ct. NW, Rochester
- Thursdays, 11:30 am – 1 pm
The Salvation Army Social Services Center
115 - 1st Avenue NE, Rochester
- Thursdays, 1:30 – 5 pm
Rochester Public Library
101 - 2nd Street SE, Rochester
Saturday Meal Programs
Christ United Methodist Church
400 – 5th Avenue SW, Rochester, MN
Saturday Noon Meal Program
* 11 am: coffee, hot chocolate and light snacks
* Noon: Hot meal served
Please enter the church via the west door on 5th Avenue and join us in the lower level of the church in Wesley Hall
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Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Ruby's Pop-Up Pantry
2703 - 9th Avenue NW, Rochester, MN
Ruby’s Pantry is for ANYONE that eats! There is no income or residency requirement and Ruby’s Pantry is for anyone looking to extend their monthly grocery budget. Each guest donates a $25 donation and receives an abundance of grocery items. Please bring two totes or baskets. Drive thru distribution. Ruby’s Pantry is not government funded and is a 501 C3. Each donation is used to cover operational costs like trucking, gas, and warehouse staff. All of the food is donated by corporate food donors making it possible to reach more families each month at locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Next Pop-Up Pantry is Saturday, October 14, 2023
DAYS AND HOURS: 2nd Saturday of the Month. Registration begins at 9 am. Food bundles available 9 -10:30 am
Seasons Hospice Ongoing & Special Programs
All grief group participants of Seasons Hospice must be registered 24 hours in advance. To register or for more information, click on the blue button and you will be directed to their website.
Jobs at the MN Department of Veterans Affairs
Interested in serving Veterans? Looking to make a difference in your community? Consider a career with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)! Roles in healthcare, nursing, facilities management and program management are featured below. MDVA proudly offers competitive pay, generous benefits as a State of MN employee, welcoming and supportive teams, and most importantly, meaningful careers.
To see full job posting and apply:
1. Go to https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/ and select your applicant type:
External Applicants or Current Employees or Accessible Applicant Portal.
2. On the Careers landing page, enter the Job ID in the Search Jobs field.
Click on the posting.
3. Select “Apply for Job” button. New users will need to create an applicant
account to apply.
JOBS
Local Service Organization Meetings
For a full list of local organizations and meetings, please click on the blue button.
"To promote the interests and welfare of veterans, their dependents and survivors and to enhance their quality of life through counseling, claims assistance, education, advocacy and special projects."
2100 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 200
Rochester, MN 55904
507-328-6355
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