News Blog
Tidbits
LVMAC Tidbit — VA’s new online tool helps Veterans make informed health care decision: VAntage Point
This is a step forward which local health networks might want to emulate. They should at least participate. Regardless of the controversy which stimulated it, such willingness on the part of the VA to be transparent should prove useful to Read more…
Tidbits
LVMAC Tidbit — 2016 marks first year of zero combat amputations since the start of the Afghan, Iraq wars | Health.mil
An analysis by the Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR) recently reported 2016 marks the first year of zero combat amputations since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began. Source: 2016 marks first year of zero combat amputations since the start Read more…
Tidbits
LVMAC Tidbit — Veterans Choice Program about to be extended
S.544, a bill to amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes, headed to the President for signature on 7 April. This was relatively Read more…
Forward Observer
Forward Observer — VA finally establishes presumptive condition rules for exposure to contaminants in water supply at Camp Lejeune and other Marine Corps locations
VA to provide disability benefits for related diseases
On 14 March 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) proposed regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection for eight diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina became effective. On September 9, 2016, VA had published in the Federal Register (81 FR 62419) a notice of a proposal to amend 38 CFR 3.307 and 3.309. The Congress did not intervene. (more…)
Tidbits
LVMAC Tidbit — Team River Runner Comes to the Lehigh Valley
Team River Runner has entered the Lehigh Valley and is now an LVMAC member. Its mission is to create an environment of healthy adventure, recreation and camaraderie for healing active duty, veteran service members and their families through adaptive kayaking. Read more…
LVMAC NEWS
LVMAC News — Scholarship Season Has Begun, Suspense is 31 May 2017
Mr. Richard Moore, the Chairman of our Scholarship Committee, has announced that the LVMAC scholarship application period started 15 March and will end 31 May 2017. Applications postmarked after 31 May will not be considered. Some changes have been made Read more…
LVMAC NEWS
LVMAC News — Lehigh Valley Community Foundation Steps Forth to Assist Our Veterans
At the 18 January Council Meeting, Vice President Michael Vath announced the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation had recently awarded our organization a Community Partnership Grant of $5,000 towards its efforts to assist in eliminating homelessness among our Lehigh Valley veterans. The Foundation, an important and respected part of the warp and woof of this community’s fabric, whose origin lies 1967 with Bethlehem’s 225th anniversary celebration and the donations of school children and steelworkers among others, promotes philanthropy in order to improve the quality of life in our region, encourage collaboration among area philanthropists, and to serve as a source of information and expertise regarding charitable giving.
The funds will be used by the Lehigh Valley Homeless Veterans Action Committee (LVHVAC), an LVMAC coalition whose membership consists of the leading organizations which address the plight of homeless veterans in Lehigh and Northampton counties and are willing to combine their efforts with those of the local Allentown VA Outpatient Clinic’s homeless team, whether or not they are VA contractors. The committee was formed out of the belief that in order to be successful, outreach, assistance and recovery efforts required more integration and the use of a continuum of care approach in the Lehigh Valley. There was also a need for a forum where these organizations could sometimes problem-solve together with the local VA. (more…)
LVMAC NEWS
LVMAC News — Looking for a BraunAbility EnterVan?
The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council is looking for a severely disabled veteran in need of a wheel-chair modified automobile.
A local member of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) has a 2010 Dodge modified Mini-Van for donation to a veteran residing in Lehigh or Northampton Counties. This is the same type of vehicle provided by the VA to a wheel-chair bound, service-connected disabled veteran. While the vehicle title transfer and licensing are provided at no charge, the individual must be able to afford the insurance and upkeep. (more…)
Forward Observer
Forward Observer — Calling All Veterans. Need Your Help for a Good North Valley PIT Count
Recently we learned the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless Advisory Board (LVRHAB) is conducting a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) homeless point-in-time survey the evening of 24 January extending through 25 January.
HUD is the government agency overseeing home mortgage lending practices and is centrally involved in solving the issue of homelessness by the nature of its purpose. Every year it conducts a Point in Time (PIT) Count of the un-housed on the predicted coldest day of the year. The count involves seeking out those who are unsheltered and those in emergency shelters or transitional shelters — that is, homeless households. The numbers obtained are important to HUD’s reporting of its accomplishments and to their funding practices. But as its name may imply, its tendency is to focus geographically on urban areas. (more…)