From the Lehigh County Director of Veterans Affairs: “See attached flyer [click on the image to the right] for the upcoming Mental Health First Aid training on April 6. You can register using the attached or visit the website listed on the flyer. There is no cost for the training … (more…)
As we reported in a 19 September blog, Bethany United Methodist Church located in the Macungie/Wescoville area, intended to conduct two workshops to promote a better understanding of PTSD with the ultimate intention of starting a peer-to-peer support group afterwards.
As a result of those meetings, we have learned that the church has started two of these types of support groups instead: one for male veterans and another for women, whether veterans or spouses or ‘significant others’ — which makes this group unique to the valley when looked at from a veteran’s context. (more…)
### As of 27 September 2019
Regarding veterans benefits and services in this valley,we most often think of those provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). The smattering of state veterans benefits are hardly given a thought. Admittedly, for the average veteran they are nonexistent.
However, veterans and their families sometimes forget that county-level human services resources do exist which might be useful to them. After all, Pennsylvania state government depends upon its counties to deliver the majority of its organized, social services. Unfortunately counties are generally inexpert at marketing or advertising the value of their Department of Human Services services to veterans and their families
Yet, to know of these resources is important, even for those receiving VA or DoD veterans benefits. (more…)
LVMAC Scholarship Program— For those from the Lehigh Valley —
Typical annual scholarship is at least $1,000 (more…)
As one of our original collaborations, an exercise in looking out for the well-being of our returned veterans via fly fishing activities has with the perseverance and hard work of Trout Unlimited – Hokendaqua eventually evolved into one of our most successful efforts. (more…)
A terrible subject, we know, but our guidance maybe of use to you. It is the result of some questions asked of us lately. ### As of 6 October 2018
One of our member organizations, the Lehigh Valley-Bucks Chapter of the American Red Cross, wants to re-establish its Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) program in Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties. As a first step, a special kind of volunteer, working with the regional project manager for the program, must be found.
What is the Red Cross’ SAF program in the first place? It is a longstanding program which supports our service members in the military by connecting them with their families during emergencies, providing them resilience training to deal with the challenges of deployment, and linking their families with local community resources. (more…)
[Editor’s Note: This is what is what used to be called a “late wire” before the days of high technology, but here it goes … hoping this reaches you, if it applies, in time.]
Growing up as a military child has both its advantages and difficulties; and the military services have always depended upon stable families to help ensure unit readiness. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Department of Defense’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy has partnered with Penn State University’s Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness to implement what is called the THRIVE Initiative in yet another effort to empower military parents as they nurture their children. (more…)
Since it is operated by our Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and not the Department of Education, you may have never thought to look for an educational program for your children on their website. Therefore, for those of you rated with a 100% permanent disability from the military or the VA — or your spouse died in a war, you might want to know about this program. Every dollar helps to give your children a better life. We took this from their Transition Assistance News article of May 2018, verbatim: (more…)