March 10, 2015

Agenda

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. – Registration and networking10:05 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

– Pledge of Allegiance– Announcements

10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.– Podio – WMVC website – www.westmichiganveterans.com

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.– Paul Mulka, Career & Technical Education Director

Michigan Career & Technical Institute

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.– Amy Gould, Family Assistance Specialist State

Tuition Assistance and a minor issue with FTA and the CH 1606 and 1607 GI Bill.

11:30 a.m. – Noon– Lisa Martin, Health Systems Specialist, VA Wyoming Health Care Center

Veterans Choice Toolkit

MissionTo improve the lives of veterans, their families, and anyone that served in the Armed Forces by connecting them to all available services and resources throughout West Michigan.

• Week 1 Personal Transition – Addresses personal effectiveness and well-being.

• Week 2 Lifestyle Transition – Addresses living situation and community-life functioning.

• Week 3 Career Transition – Address the Transition Domains of employment, career and education. Features in-depth assistance with job preparation, resume writing, interviewing techniques, job searching, and career planning.

DATES:

• March 16 – April 3 (Women Veterans Only)

Detroit Public Television, 1 Clover Court, Wixom, MI 48393

• April 27 - May 15 – Michigan National Guard

3411 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing, 48906

• June 1 – June 19

Kent County Human Services Building, 121 Franklin SE, Grand Rapids, 49507

Sign-up Online!

MichiganVeterans.com/MIREBOOT

SAVE THE DATE Hidden Wounds of War Conference

MAY 15, 2015, 8:30AM-4:30PMA Conference to:

Promote the understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-traumatic Stress Injury/Disorder and Moral Injury.

Identify community resources.

Begin a dialogue to identify practical and effective strategies for treating our wounded veterans.

Establish a solid Community Referral Network to specifically treat combat related TBI, PTSD and Moral Injury.

• Showing of HBO Documentary “War Torn, 1861-2010”• Colin A. Ross, M.D. – Military Trauma: A Treatment Approach• Theodore F. Mauger, M.D. - The unique ways the brain can be

altered through combat and ways to heal• Chaplain Keizer, PTS Moral Injury• Offering FREE Continuing Education Credits for Social Workers

Michigan Veteran Community Action TeamCommunity Pilots

• Two initial Michigan Veteran Community Action Team (MiVCAT) pilots– Regions 4 and 10

• Four new pilots being initiated at this time – Regions 5, 6, 7, 9

• Expand to Regions 1, 2, 3, and 8 later in the year

• Connect service partners together to improve coordination and collaboration

• “No Wrong Door”• Community directed goals and

objectives

PILOT

PILOT

5

6

Partners from all organizations in the community bringing their collective efforts to bear to serve veterans and their families

Federal Veteran Service Partners

State Veteran Service Partners

City/County Veteran Service Partners

Community Veteran Service

Partners

Informal Support Network

Veterans and their Families

VCAT Focus is at the

Community Level

VCAT Approach

7

Update

Initial VCAT Kick off

Region 6, January 22, 2015, University of Michigan Flint

Region 7, February 10, 2015, Lansing Community College

Region 9, March 24, 2015 at Ann Arbor VA

Region 5, April 16, 2015 Delta College

Interviews, focus groups, and surveys

Building a community leadership group within each area

Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MCTI)

• “The Michigan Career & Technical Institute conducts vocational and technical training programs and provides the supportive services needed to prepare Michigan residents with disabilities for competitive employment”

• Paul Mulka, Director,

Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MCTI)

Michigan Career and Technical Institute

• Brief History

• Career Readiness Center• Career Assessment Services/Literacy Center/Employability

Skills Training/Education Center

• Support Services• Medical/Leisure/Social Work/Student Government/Case

Manager/MRS Counselor/Job Placement/Dormitory/Student Apartments

• Career and Technical Education• Automotive/Cabinetmaking/CNA/Culinary/Custodial/

/Industrial Electronics (Advanced Manufacturing)/Graphic Communications/Grounds Maintenance/Office Automation/Pharmacy Technician/Retail Marketing/Weatherization

• DHS/MRS/MCTI• Community Based Training

www.westmichiganveterans.com

An Overview of Podio

How Coalition Members Can Navigate and Use Podio to Better Serve

Veterans, their Families and Caregivers

The Need

Implementing the “No Wrong Door” philosophy

• Service providers need to be identified

• Their information has to be collected

• Service providers have to come together to educate one another

Collective Efforts

• Effective Coordination of Services

• Integration of Services

Collaborative Tool Requirements

Gather Information Share Information

Foster Communication within the VCAT

Produce Informative

Products that Aid the VCAT’s Mission

The Focus of Today’s Demonstration

• Coalition Based Service Provider Directory

• Assistance and Support Requests

• Collaboration Space for Working Groups

• Veterans’ Resources and Events

Podio’s Functionality

Coalition Based Service Provider Directory

• Allows member service providers to collect each others information.

• The ability to search and filter the directory to locate services for helping veterans.

• Organization and Coalition Member Directory

Assistance and Support Request

• Allows member service providers to request support or assistance with helping a Veteran.

• Ability to document case management (randomized ID number) with multiple providers assisting in the resolution process.

• Can store completed requests for others to reference navigation routes to obtain services.

Collaboration for Working Groups

• A space for VCAT working groups to collaborate remotely, store resources, document projects and capture action steps to achieve the groups objectives.

Veterans Resources and Events

• A central location for member service providers to locate events, documents, and helpful websites to better serve our Veterans, dependents and caregivers.

Workspace Example

Any Questions?

Natalie HarrisonNatalie.Harrison@altarum.org

State Tuition Assistance Program (MING-STAP)

Established by Public Act 259 of 2014

Michigan National Guard

What is the State Tuition Assistance Program?

The State Tuition Assistance Program is a State of Michigan funded tuition assistance program that pays for the tuition costs of eligible Michigan National Guard Service Members.

Who is eligible?

• All Michigan National Guard and AGR Soldiers & Airmen who are in an active drilling status.

• Mobilized or deployed Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers

Who is not eligible?

• National Guard Service Members who have accrued four or more periods of unexcused absences in the past 12 months.

• National Guard Service Members who are pursuing a lateral or lower degree.

How much does MING-STAP pay?

• $250 per semester hour

• $167 per quarter hour or $16.66 per clock hour

• $4,500 per fiscal year

• The annual cap can also be applied towards fees that are DIRECTLY associated with classes.

What can’t it be used for?

• Health Service Fees

• Building or Facility Fees

• Student Activity Fees

• Textbooks

Which degrees can you earn with MING-STAP?

• Associate

• Baccalaureate (up to 144 credits)

• Masters Degree or First Professional (up to 42 credits)

• Certificate

How do I apply?

• Go to www.michigan.gov/mingstap

• Complete the following documents:

– Application

– Statement of Understanding

– W-9

• Include a copy of Course schedule and tuition estimate

Send documents to:

• Email to: mingstap@michigan.gov

• Fax to: 517-481-7782

• Mail to:

DMVA – State Operations

3423 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Lansing, MI 48906

What are the deadlines to apply?

• Applications may be submitted up to 60 days prior to the class start date.

• Applications must be submitted no more than 14 days after the class start date.

Can I use it with other education benefits?

• Can be used with FTA and GI Bill, but only covers tuition and fees that aren’t covered by the FTA.

• You can receive MING-STAP if you have a Pell Grant

Note: MING-STAP cannot be used for books and fees

For More information go to:

http://www.michigan.gov/mingstap

Any Questions?

Veterans Choice Toolkit

Lisa Martin, Health System Specialist

VA Wyoming Health Care Center