Veterans Support

LVMAC Tidbit: Suffering from Military Sexual Trauma?

Lehigh Valley Health Network Wishes to Help

The Veteran Health Program of Lehigh Valley Hospital Network (LVHN) has been conducting focus groups with women veterans and service members who experienced military sexual trauma (MST). The intent of these focus groups is to learn how MST has affected their healthcare.

On 10 February beginning at 5:30 p.m., the final focus group will be held at Moravian College’s Reeves Library on the main campus.

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By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: Op Homefront Changes Lives

One of the more worthwhile national, military support organizations to have arrived on the scene since the second Gulf War is Operation Homefront.  It focuses on those still serving and also those just discharging.  While it cannot replace the value of certain, long-established, chartered veterans service organizations and their grassroots support activities (one would be ignorant to think so), it is definitely a value-for-the money organization which attempts to address some of the more pressing concerns of military families in often imaginative ways. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News: Businesses! We Need Your Help and Thinking

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, working with the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council and others, intends to create a formal Veterans and Military Affairs Council.  More immediately, it is in the process of making a baseline assessment of those chamber of commerce initiatives most needed.   It realizes it must get beyond anecdotal experiences to have informed efforts.  Therefore, as part of the assessment, it must conduct a short survey to uncover what problems — if any — local employers are facing in finding, hiring and retaining veterans as employees. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: Veterans’ Trust Fund Notification of Funding Availability for 2020 Just Announced

We just received word that the period for submitting a grant application to the Veterans’ Trust Fund  this from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  A Governor’s press release is undoubtedly forthcoming, but considering the short deadline,  looking at the deadline, we decided not to wait and are spreading the word now.  Please help us to through your networks.  See below: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: Chess, “the Fairy Tale of 1001 Blunders”, Finds a Purpose

According to some, there is a growing body of empirical evidence that chess can help ease the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — helping with both cognitive functioning and mental health.  In some parts of the country, chess clubs have actively worked with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and the VFW.  And, chess brings people from all walks of life together more casually through the pleasure of a game — something often missing in our society.  Its benefit can be manifold. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: Victory House Requests A Minute of Your Time!

From the Executive Director of Victory House of Lehigh Valley:

We are excited and honored to be one of ten non-profit organizations chosen by Wind Creek for a chance to win $25,000! Please help us celebrate along with Wind Creek in their grand opening festivities. It does not cost you anything but a minute of your time to watch our video and VOTE for Victory House.  A Vote for Victory House is a Win for Victory House and a Win for Wind Creek Bethlehem.

Please view our video between September 23rd and 30th and then vote.
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By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer: Bethany Church Launches Effort to Address PTSD and Trauma

LVMAC Poster Art 2005It is in the formative stage, but the Bethany Church located in the Macungie area, will be hosting two workshops to promote a better understanding PTSD — with the intention of starting a peer-to-peer support group afterwards, if successful.  Led by Scotty Coyle, Pastor of Discipleship and also a current war, combat veteran, the approach is non-clinical, for he is not a clinical psychologist.  However, he is an experienced counselor who has studied PTSD treatments.

It is unfortunate that some veterans (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: Have You Considered Our Counties’ Departments of Human Services as a Useful Resource for Veterans?

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…)

By LVMAC, ago