JUNE 7, 2023
REPORT TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Soldiers assigned to the Romanian 9th Mechanized Brigade and the 572nd Puma Squadron, the 101st Airborne Division, the 1st Armored Division, and the California Army National Guard hold an air assault demonstration at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, March 31, 2023.
PHOTO CREDIT: Department of Defense
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
James Gardner, Chair, USA ……………………………………………………………………...Eugene
Christine Gittins, Vice Chair, USA…………………………………………………………..Redmond
Robert “Bob” Van Voorhis, Secretary, USA………………………………………….. .John Day
John Howard, USN Medford
Reynold “Reyn” Leno, USMC……………………………………………………………Grand Ronde
Nell Stamper, USCG…………………………………………………………………………………...Astoria
Christina Wood, USAF……………………………..………………………………………….…..Portland
Christopher Waine, USA…………………………….………................................... Hermiston
Vacant Position…………………………...................................................................XXXXXX
ODVA STAFF
Kelly Fitzpatrick, USA ………………………………………………………………………………..Director
Dr. Nakeia Daniels, USA……………………………………………………..…….…..Deputy Director
Martha-Estela Garcia, USA…………………………………..Special Assistant to the Director
Jay DeFillipo……………………………………………………………………..….....Legislative Director
Nicole Hoeft………………………………………………….... Communications Division Director
Donna Haole-Valenzuela…………………………………..…………………Chief Financial Officer
Derek Simmons.…..…………………………………………..…………………………………… Controller
Cody Cox……………………………………………..….Veteran’s Home Loan Program Manager
Troy Croff……………………………………………………….Facilities and Construction Manager
David Kampff…………………………………………………………………..Chief Information Officer
Rebecca Cameron…………………………………………………………Human Resources Director
Ana Potter……………………………………………….Aging Veteran Services Division Director
Kelly Breshears..……………………………. Aging Veteran Services Division Asst. Director
Helen Ireland.………………………………………………………………. Conservatorship Manager
Sheronne Blasi, USN………………………………………………Strategic Partnerships Director
Joseph Glover, USN………………………………………Appeals & Special Advocacy Director
Martin Ornelas, USCG…………..………………………………………...ODVA Portland Manager
Vacant…………………………………………………………………………………………..Internal Auditor
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Quarterly Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
In Person: Rogue Community College | 3345 Redwood Hwy, Grants Pass, OR 97527 Conference room H-2
By Zoom via Videoconference: Pre-register for the meeting by clicking on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucu2hpz4oGtC0nE6b06UImjyHcgMSbxQe
Once pre-registered you will receive a link to the meeting. All attendees will be muted upon joining the meeting to prevent background noise. To improve bandwidth during the meeting, only Committee and Department staff members will appear on the video feed. We ask the public to turn their cameras off.
Join by Zoom via Telephone: Dial 1 (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter the meeting ID 843 5499 5204# and password/participant ID: 570698#
Meeting Materials: Meeting reports can be found on the Committee’s website by clicking on the following link:
https://issuu.com/odva/stacks/38107bb40c054695831edf5634865ca4
I. WELCOME AND ADMINISTRATION – Business Meeting
• Call to Order – Chair James Gardner
• Pledge of Allegiance – Chair James Gardner
• Moment of Silence – Chair James Gardner
• Meeting Rules – Vice Chair Christine Gittins
• Committee Member Introductions
II. ODVA DIRECTOR’S REPORT
• Kelly Fitzpatrick, Director, Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs
III. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
• Legislative Update: Jay DeFillipo, ODVA Legislative Director
• Update from Grant Recipient, Rogue Community College: Nikki Johnson, Director, Advising & Military Services
• ODVA Volunteer Program: Mark Newell, Veteran Volunteer Coordinator
IV. OLD
BUSINESS ITEMS
• Continue to share with veterans that they can apply at any time to be an Advisory Committee member through the ODVA website. Applications remain in the queue for consideration for two years.
• Open for Committee Members
V. NEW BUSINESS
• Elections
• Open for Committee Members
• Next Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting:
Date: September 13, 2023| Time: 9:30 – Noon
Location: TBD
VII. BUSINESS MEETING ADJOURNED
TOWN HALL:
Members of the community may submit comments at: vaac@odva.state.or.us
CONNECT WITH ODVA
WEBSITE www.oregon.gov/odva
BLOG www.oregondva.com
FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/odvavet
TWITTER @oregondva or www.twitter.com/OregonDVA
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PUBLIC INFORMATION ODVAinformation@odva.state.or.us
EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDVA/subscriber/new
LEGISLATIVE Page www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Legislation.aspx
Director’s Message
Kelly Fitzpatrick
These past few months have been busier than ever, with emerging events running concurrently Oregon’s long legislative session that started in January and continues as of this writing. ODVA’s legislative director Jay Defillipo and I have had the opportunity to discuss many issues of importance to veterans, especially the Governor’s Request Budget for ODVA and a number of bills that would impact veterans if passed. Jay will provide a verbal update during our in-person Advisory Committee meeting.
New ODVA Deputy Director Dr. Nakeia Daniels
ODVA’s new deputy director, Dr. Nakeia Daniels, joined ODVA on March 1, 2023, the same day as our previous Veterans Advisory Committee meeting. Our June 7 VAC meeting will be her first opportunity to join us in person. She replaced Sean O’Day, who became the deputy director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) effective March 13. Dr. Daniels is an 8-year Army veteran. I first met her in 2018 when she was Governor Brown’s Veterans Policy Advisor, one of only a handful of individuals whom the Governor trusted to advise her on priority issues. That same year Dr. Daniels Nakeia was selected to be the deputy director of the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA).
OYA is statutorily responsible for adjudicated youths between the ages of 12 and 25 who are remanded by a court to close custody or are on parole or probation. The agency consists of more than 1,000 employees and approximately 1,100 adjudicated youths and has a budget of $400 million. As the deputy director of that agency, Dr. Daniels drove short- and long-term strategic planning and identified potential new programs, business partnerships, and external funding opportunities. Some of her numerous other accomplishments as deputy director of OYA include modernizing operations with strategic process improvements and developing thought leadership around emerging practice areas in support of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the budget, and financial and operational goals. At the same time that Nakeia was the deputy director of OYA she was working on her PhD at Columbia Southern University. She completed her doctoral studies in November 2021.
In May 2022 Governor Brown asked Dr. Daniels to temporarily take on the role of director of Equity and Racial Justice for the remainder of the administration – again illustrating the incredibly high trust level that Dr. Daniels had established with the Governor, as equity and racial justice was the outgoing Governor’s top priority at that phase of her administration. In short order Dr. Daniels produced results by successfully leading directors of state agencies, boards and commissions to focus on addressing much-needed changes to executive branch policies and practices related to people of color. This intensive focus on diverse stakeholders required her to also manage the associated multi-billion dollar budget.
A proud mother of 3 children who served alongside their parents for a total of 21 years of military service, Dr. Daniels is passing the mantle of service onto her eldest, who is currently an Army Reservist. In addition to being a mom and executive, she enjoys music, art, and the performing arts, and spends her free time writing and researching, mentoring, and coaching leaders. Dr. Daniel’s skillset and
Director’s Message
Kelly Fitzpatrick
experience are exactly what we need to help take ODVA to the next level of achievement as we continue to modernize our IT systems and business processes, enhance and operationalize our understanding of DEI, and continue to implement our five-year strategic plan. I am excited that she has agreed to join our team!
USDVA Secretary Denis McDonough Visit to Oregon
The Secretary of USDVA Denis McDonough visited Oregon in April, the first SecVA known to have come to Oregon. I was grateful to be invited to join him and other VA leadership in executive-level meetings at the Portland VA Healthcare System and Portland Veterans Benefits Regional Office. His remarks included two major issues of shared concern: (1) significant decreases in VA staffing across the country, and (2) the challenged Oracle-Cerner Electronic Healthcare Records system that has been implemented. Sec. McDonough committed to using the new authorities Congress has given the VA to expedite hiring. He also committed to addressing ongoing concerns with the new Electronic Healthcare Records system. Days after his visit VA announced a delay in further rollouts of the system to fix the problems that have been identified at the five existing implementation sites, two of which are in Oregon (Roseburg and White City).
Also as part of his visit to Oregon, I joined Sec. McDonough during a listening session with student veterans at Portland State University (PSU). PSU invited ODVA’s Campus Veteran Coordinator Joe Mah to attend as well. Approximately 70 student veterans and PSU staff/faculty attended and discussed issues ranging from concerns about accessing VA benefits for toxic exposure; employment assistance post-graduation; and the need for improved military/veteran cultural competency of PSU staff and faculty. Approximately 5% of PSU’s 22,000 students are veterans or military connected individuals. PSU has a vibrant Veteran Resource Center that received funding from ODVA’s Campus Veteran Resource Center Grant Program in 2021-23 ($44,000). ODVA enjoys a great partnership with Oregon’s public universities and community colleges that support our veterans. Joe and I were pleased to have been part of that listening session.
Oregon Veterans’ Home Tour and Discussion with Portland VA Healthcare System Director
In April the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles hosted Portland VA Healthcare System Director David Holt. He toured the facility and sought feedback on how Portland VAHCS can partner even more closely with ODVA to provide services for veteran residents of the Home. ODVA discussed mental health care services that both state veterans’ homes currently lack. Several other state veterans’ homes already have agreements in place with local VA Health Care Systems. The homes currently have no option but to deny admissions to many veterans each month because the homes are unable to provide the mental health care required by their physicians. Director Holt committed to engaging on this issue.
Director’s Message
Kelly Fitzpatrick
PACT Act
ODVA and the Portland VA Healthcare System continue to partner to operate VA claims clinics in locations in Central and Eastern Oregon the state to amplify messaging about the need for veterans who have been exposed to toxins during their military service to take advantage of the VA’s free medical screening and file a disability claim under the PACT Act passed by Congress and enacted in August 2022. The Act is a historic expansion of eligibility for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic environments. ODVA has collaborated with Portland VA since late 2022 on town halls and claims clinics along the I-5 corridor. ODVA staff will participate with federal VA partners in Oregon to conduct PACT Act claims clinics around the state later this month.
Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide
Leadership from ODVA, OHA, Oregon Military Department, federal VA staff in Oregon, counties, and suicide prevention-related nonprofit organizations have been asked to lead the Governor’s Challenge efforts to prevent suicide in Oregon. Members of this initiative attended the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)/VA Policy Academy in Arlington, Virginia to officially kick off Oregon’s participation in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, Caregivers, and Military Family Members.
SAMHSA/VA hosted a weeklong symposium for state members May 9-11 where the Oregon team attended training on crisis care and data and evaluation, which provided additional information and resources to Oregon and the many other states that attended the symposium. The Oregon team will provide updates on this important veterans behavioral health effort in the near future.
ODVA Event Highlights
The 2023 Oregon Women Veterans Conference was held May 20-21 at the Salem Convention Center where more than 325 Oregon women veterans and 55 vendors were in attendance. Nearly $16,000 in sponsorships from partner organizations including Lottery, AARP, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), USAA and Air and Space Forces Association (AFA) helped support this biennial event. VIP guest speakers include Major General (retired) Julie Bentz, and Maureen Elias from the Sec VA’s leadership team. Partner organizations such as VA Women Veteran Program Managers, the US Department of Labor, VA Portland Health Care System and County Veterans Service Offices provided workshops that educated and informed attendees on issues impacting women veteran. This was the first time ODVA was able to conduct the Women Veterans Conference in person since 2018, and it was my first in-person WVC since being appointed as director of ODVA, so I was incredibly pleased to be a part of our 2023 WVC!
ODVA’s 2023 Memorial Day event was held in Salem at the Oregon WWII Memorial located on the Capital grounds. This year ODVA’s Deputy Director Daniels hosted the event while I
Director’s Message
Kelly Fitzpatrick
attended Memorial Day events in Brookings and Gold Beach at the invitation of Rep. Court Boice. Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde invited ODVA to speak at the Grand Ronde Memorial Day event where ODVA’s new Tribal Veteran Coordinator, Jon Taylor, spoke.
These events are just a few highlights of the many activities that ODVA has been engaged in to serve and honor Oregon veterans. The reports from ODVA’s programmatic divisions provide great insight into some of the day-to-day work that ODVA staff has done, in many cases leading to life-transforming outcomes. We have a lot to be proud of as an agency.
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Nicole Hoeft, Strategic Communications Division Director
Communications
This quarter Strategic Communications supported and planned numerous events and communication efforts including continued promotion of the new PACT Act. Since the passage of this Act that massively expands veteran healthcare and benefits, ODVA has supported awareness and access to claims services on multiple media platforms to ensure every veteran and dependent is aware of the PACT Act, how to get a screening, and how to locate a Veteran Service Office in Oregon to file a claim.
ODVA has made updates to the website to increase visibility of and access to Veteran Service Offices and improved the section that contains live feed benefit updates published by the federal VA. These changes can be seen on ODVA’s homepage.
ODVA also supported numerous communication and outreach initiatives aimed at engaging with veterans and partners to increase agency program awareness, and drive veterans to services.
Veteran Programs and Partner Communications
• Women Veterans Conference promotion
• Promotion of ODVA’s Home Loan rate reduction
• PACT Act Communication
• Legislative Veteran Bill Digest
• VA Wheelchair Games (to be held in Portland in July)
• VA PSA’s for Mental Health Month – stories and resources
• Statewide Memorial Day Event promotion
ODVA in the Media
• ODVA Black History Month 2023
• Oregon legislation impacting veterans
• Readers respond: Offering help and support for LGBTQ+ veterans
• Oregon Women Veterans Conference registration open
ODVA and Partner Engagements: March-May 2023
• March 30: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Event
ODVA hosted a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day event at the Oregon State Library where approximately 20 Vietnam veterans attended and were honored by state leadership and state legislators. The event was livestreamed on ODVA’s Facebook Page.
• March 31: VA PACT Act Claims Clinic
ODVA Director Fitzpatrick and ODVA outreach teams joined the Portland Regional Office at the Portland VA Medical Center for a VA PACT Act Claims Clinic where veterans were able to be screened for toxic exposure, enroll in VA heal care and file a PACT Act claim.
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Nicole Hoeft, Strategic Communications Division Director
• April 3-5: USDVA Secretary Visit to Oregon
USDVA Secretary Denis McDonough visited Oregon where Director Fitzpatrick joined him and other VA leadership in executive-level meetings at the Portland VA Healthcare System and Portland Veterans Benefits Regional Office. The Oregon visit also included a listening session with student veterans at Portland State University
• April 21: Portland VA MC Director Holt Tour of Oregon Veterans’ Home
The Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles hosted Portland VA Healthcare System Director David Holt for a tour of the facility and seeking feedback on how Portland VAHCS can partner even more closely with ODVA to provide services for veteran residents of the Home.
• April 29: ESGR Awards Banquet
Director Fitzpatrick spoke at the Annual ESGR Awards Banquet honoring employers of National Guard service members and Reservists.
• May 17: Armed Forces Day
ODVA conducted outreach at the Oregon Military Departments annual Armed Forces Day.
• May 20-21: Oregon Women Veterans Conference
The 2023 Oregon Women Veterans Conference was held May 20-21 at the Salem Convention Center where more than 325 Oregon women veterans and 55 vendors were in attendance.
• May 29: Statewide Memorial Day Events
ODVA’s 2023 Memorial Day event was held in Salem at the Oregon WWII Memorial located on the Capital grounds. This year ODVA’s Deputy Director Daniels hosted the event while Director Fitzpatrick attended Memorial Day events in Brookings and Gold Beach at the invitation of Rep. Court Boice. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde invited ODVA to speak at the Grand Ronde Memorial Day event where ODVA’s new Tribal Veteran Coordinator, Jon Taylor, spoke.
ODVA and Partner Engagements: June-Aug 2023
• June: VA PACT Act Claims Clinics
ODVA outreach teams will join the VA to continue holding VA PACT Act Claims Clinics across the state where veterans were able to be screened for toxic exposure, enroll in VA heal care and file a PACT Act claim. June 5: LaGrande; June 20: Brookings; June 21: North Bend
• June 8: 75th Anniversary of the Women in Armed Services Integration Act
Director Fitzpatrick will speak at this event hosted by the Washington County Veteran Service Office. Women Veteran Coordinator Jessica Bradley will also be in attendance.
• June 25: Bend Pride
LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator will have a table and conduct outreach at this Pride event.
• June 28: LGBTQ+ Veteran Hiring Round Table Event
Director Fitzpatrick and LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator Ian Michaels will speak at the Portland and Anchorage VR&E Celebrate Pride Month LGBTQ+ Veteran Hiring Round Table Event
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Nicole Hoeft, Strategic Communications Division Director
• June 29: LGBTQ+ Military History and Veteran Advocacy
LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator Ian Michaels will speak at Returning Veterans Project event about LGBTQ+ Military History and Veteran Advocacy
• July 15-16: Portland Pride
LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator will have a table and conduct outreach at this Pride event.
• July 28: VA PACT Act Claims Clinic – Grand Ronde
ODVA outreach teams will join the VA to continue holding VA PACT Act Claims Clinics across the state where veterans were able to be screened for toxic exposure, enroll in VA heal care and file a PACT Act claim.
• July 29: 70th Anniversary Event of the Korean War Armistice
At the invitation of the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle, Director Fitzpatrick will speak at the 70th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice event being held at the Oregon Korean War Memorial.
• August 10: YMCA Veteran Transitional Housing Project Grand Opening Director Fitzpatrick will speak at the grand opening of Courtney Place, a new veteran transitional housing unit located in Salem.
• August 12: Eugene Pride
LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator will have a table and conduct outreach at this Pride event.
• August 26: Capital Pride – Pride in the Park
LGBTQ+ Veteran Coordinator will have a table and conduct outreach at this Pride event.
•
Honor and Remember Communications and Engagements
• Black History Month
• Women Military History Week
• Navy Reserve Birthday
• Medal of Honor Day
• Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
• Gold Star Families Day
• Army Reserve Birthday
• Older American Month
• VE Day
Front Desk Reception
The Front desk has continued efforts to improve awareness of benefits and resources this quarter. In March, ODVA added information about the new PACT Act to the agency’s voicemail recording as well as inform callers about the veteran crisis line new phone number (988, Veterans press 1).
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Nicole Hoeft, Strategic Communications Division Director
The team has experienced an increased call volume for emergency services, housing, and behavioral health resources. Call volume also nearly doubled in March compared to the previous 3-month average. The front desk team gathers real-time data about the types of calls that are received to improve public communication on issues that have noticeable spikes in inquiries.
In May, a member of the front desk staff joined the Aging Veteran Services team. There is currently recruitment open for a new Receptionist.
The team has continued to track the needs and outcomes of calls and walk-ins to the Salem office. This information is used to improve not only the front desk services ODVA offers, but the data also helps the communication team identify information that can be improved on ODVA’s website and other communication efforts.
This quarter, data indicates that:
• Nearly 10% of calls or walk-ins were inquiring about emergency assistance (55%), housing stability/homeless resources (41%) and behavioral health services (4%).
• 33% of calls are regarding claims or locating a Veteran Service Office; 17% are regarding Veteran License Plates; 14% are regarding ODVA’s home loan program; 9% about veteran health care.
Joe Glover, Division Director
Portland Appeals Team
The Portland Appeals team is a team of five subject-matter expert Veterans Service Officers (VSO) whose primary responsibility it is to conduct appeals in front of federally appointed judges at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) as well as conduct Higher Level Review (HLR) hearings with the and Pre-Determination (Pre-D) Hearings with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) These hearings all require extensive research and strong skill-based knowledge of VA law.
At the BVA level, this program works to help veterans and their families receive benefits that they are entitled to due to military service, but specifically target advocacy focusing on assisting veterans and families after they have received a denial or a less than ideal outcome for disability benefits as well as medical billing and benefits sought, and have filed a Notice of Disagreement with the BVA. These hearings are primarily conducted virtually where a claimant can join the hearing from any internet connected device. This Virtual Hearings model has been very effective in allowing claimants the opportunity to be able to conduct a hearing with minimal impact to home, family, or work life, and have eliminated the need to drive to Portland to attend a hearing in-person at the Portland VA Regional Office. During the pandemic this virtual model was particularly critical to the safety of claimants and ODVA staff who were able to hold these hearings uninterrupted while still being able to socially distance themselves in a protected manner.
From January through March 2023, the Portland Appeals team conducted 25 hearings.
Another key component to this program team is the advocacy work that is done through the mechanism known as the HLR. The pathway to the HLR is similar to a BVA appeal, but it has the additional requirement that no additional evidence can be submitted. For these HLRs, the Portland Appeals VSO must argue the merits of the case solely with the evidence of record and must show that the VA either misapplied the law or overlooked key evidence in the file at the original time of the filing.
From January through March 2023, the Portland Appeals team conducted 4 HLRS.
The third pathway that our Portland Appeals team assists veterans and their families is through a process known as a Pre-D hearing. When a veteran receives either a debt, a proposal for a reduction in benefits, or a proposal to deny medical benefits, before a decision is made, the VBA will submit a proposal. When addressing a proposal, it is critical that it be addressed within 60 days. If done so within this timeframe, it allows for the veteran or claimant to have a Pre-D hearing done without an immediate loss of monetary or medical benefits. Pre-D hearings are
APPEALS AND SPECIAL ADVOCACY
APPEALS AND SPECIAL ADVOCACY
Joe Glover, Division Director
critical particularly when a veteran or claimant receives a debt notification because this Pre-D hearing can not only argue the validity of the debt but can also assist the claimant with establishing a manageable repayment plan to help ensure that the claimant is not put into a dire financial hardship or houseless situation to repay the money owed.
From January through March 2023, the Portland Appeals team conducted 4 Pre-D hearings.
Portland Appeals Team Success Story:
During this quarter, one of our Portland Appeals Team Veterans Service Officer (VSO) conducted an HLR hearing.
In 2022, the veteran claimed that they were suffering from leg conditions relating to a back injury sustained during their military service. The VBA agreed and granted the veteran service connection for both legs, with an effective date of 2022.
However, after the award was granted, the veteran contended that they should have received benefits back to their original date of discharge in 1999 and through their VSO filed an HLR.
The ODVA Portland Appeals VSO researched the veteran’s file and discovered that in 1999 the veteran indeed had filed a claim for both legs as secondary to a back condition and there was evidence in the record of the veteran having received medical treatment for the legs. Our Portland Office Appeals VSO argued that this condition had not been addressed in 1999 and showed that the effective date should be retroactive to their date of discharge.
The argument was successful, and this veteran received a $250,000+ retroactive payment and service connection established back to their original date of discharge.
Aging Veteran Services Kelly Breshears
Fiduciary Programs
The ODVA Conservatorship and Representative Payee Programs currently serve a total of 163 of Oregon most vulnerable veterans and their dependents. Veterans served through these programs have all been deemed incapable of handling their own finances and/or managing their own assets. These veterans are extremely vulnerable to financial abuse and exploitation. Many have already faced these hardships prior to coming into ODVA’s programs.
Below is a success story for two veterans served by the program. Their names have been changed for privacy purposes.
ODVA was appointed as representative payee for Janelle, a 52-year-old female veteran, in May 2015. Janelle was homeless for many years due to mental health issues, including paranoia, and has had multiple contacts with law enforcement over the years. For the first several years she was served by the representative payee program, Janelle made frequent phone calls to ODVA sometimes as many as 4-5 times a day. She was often in dire straits and frequently had her personal belongings stolen by other homeless individuals. It took ODVA staff these first few years to develop a relationship and trust with Janelle. Finally in November 2020, with the help of ODVA staff and her mental health provider, Janelle was able to obtain stable housing in a residential care facility.
The ODVA staff played a big role in Janelle’s success. Staff were in constant communication with her and encouraged her to utilize available resources and attend medical appointments. ODVA staff were in regular contact with USDVA mental health providers and physicians regarding the health and welfare of this veteran. While Janelle does not like using her funds to pay for the cost of housing, she has enough resources, is well connected with VA Healthcare, and is still currently off the streets and in a safe environment.
After being contacted by the Oregon Department of Human Service, Adult Protective Services Division, the ODVA became the Conservator for Joe, a 79-year-old veteran, in February 2021. Joe had previously been homeless in 2018, having lost his housing due to non-payment of rent. This was in large part because Joe was the victim of financial fraud and abuse by several individuals.
Over the 4 years prior to ODVA’s appointment, Joe was scammed out of approximately $100,000. When ODVA was appointed as conservator, Joe was again facing eviction for being 8 months past due on rent, despite the fact his income was more than double his cost of living. ODVA was able to negotiate with Joe’s landlord to allow him to stay in his apartment and catch up on rent while we worked with Joe and his medical team to find a more suitable living situation for him. Since Joe does not drive, can’t cook, and has medical issues which were
Aging Veteran Services Kelly
Breshears
causing him to fall and injure himself often, he agreed a placement in an assisted living facility would be best for him.
Today, Joe is still living in the assisted living facility. He has staff there who ensure he is able to get to medical appointments as well as looking after all his other needs. He is no longer a victim of financial fraud and abuse. Even though his cost of living has increased, with the help of ODVA, Joe has been able to save approximately $20,000 now that scammers no longer have access to take advantage of him. Joe is a true example of a success story and what can happen when agencies come together to find a solution.
Volunteer Program:
In 2022, the ODVA Veteran Volunteer Program had 15 active volunteers who logged a total of 198 hours and spoke to 1510 veterans and dependents. So far this year from January 1st through May 9th we have 84 volunteers who have logged a total of 610 hours and have spoken to 2,737 veterans and dependents. All 84 of these volunteers have completed their formal training and passed an extensive background check.
Here is just one story of a volunteer who through her efforts has made a difference in many veterans’ lives. Although we have changed her name for privacy purposes, Jane’s service in the program has had a ripple effect, reaching far more veterans than she herself has spoken with.
Jane has been working as a Veteran Volunteer in Clackamas County since the inception of the program in 2018. She was a member of the pilot project that we first put in place to test some of our programmatic assumptions. Her husband was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. As she worked with other Veterans and they gained access to benefits for hearing loss and other service-connected disabilities, her husband watched, and waited. Like many veterans of his era, he has long harbored a negative image of the Federal VA and was apprehensive about the volunteer program as well. Through watching his spouse work with other veterans and hearing about success stories firsthand, Jane’s husband finally applied for hearing loss and was granted 10% service-connected disability. He has now become more involved in trying to obtain additional benefits that have laid on the table for nearly 50 years.
Due to Jane’s hard work and some amazing Veteran Service Officers in Clackamas County, her husband is now 70% service connected and on his way to 100%. While monetary compensation does not fix the disabilities he has suffered, it does show some recognition and acknowledgment of the things he has gone through as a part of his wartime experience. Her
Aging Veteran Services Kelly Breshears
husband has now spoken to his Veteran colleagues, and they are scheduling visits to the Veteran Service Office.
There are thousands of Veterans out there like this volunteer’s husband, Veterans who believe that trying to file claims with the Federal VA is not worth the effort and frustration. But good experiences told by those that have had them can do a lot to change this way of thinking. this volunteer’s husband is not a volunteer, but he has now gone out and convinced other Vietnam Era Veterans to seek benefits because of his positive experiences that all started with a volunteer. This kind of exponential growth can literally change the Veteran landscape in Oregon.
Strategic Partnerships Division
Sheronne Blasi, Division Director
Strategic Partnerships Division – New Tribal Veteran Coordinator
We are excited to share information with you about ODVA’s new Tribal Veteran Coordinator, Jon Taylor.
Jon was hired in February 2023, as ODVA’s first Tribal Veteran Coordinator. In this role, Jon will serve as ODVA’s liaison on Tribal veterans’ issues between Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes and other partners. He will also conduct outreach to help identify Tribal veterans, and assist in connecting them and their families to earned state and federal benefits, in a culturally responsible manner.
Jon will also be collaborating with the Oregon Tribal Veteran Service Officer (TVSO) program, providing consultation, advice, assistance and support to Tribal Veteran Service Officers, as well as others who advocate on behalf of Tribal veterans and their families.
Prior to joining ODVA, Jon worked as a Compliance Manager for the Oregon State Police’s Tribal Gaming Section, where he established and developed a trusting relationship with his Tribal counter parts. He will build on that foundation, to support the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, and work with Tribal Veterans and their families in this new role.
Before to coming to Oregon, Jon served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years. For the last 10 years of his naval career, Jon served as a Command Master Chief (CMDCM) for the United States Fleet Cyber Command and United States TENTH Fleet, the United States Naval Academy, USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20), and Navy Information Operation Command Whidbey Island, Washington. As a CMDCM, he led a leadership team in the implementation of command policies concerning morale, personnel welfare, job satisfaction, discipline, utilization, and training of Navy enlisted personnel. He was responsible for each command’s Ombudsman program, which is designed to improve mission readiness, utilizing Navy spouse volunteers. Leading a strong command Ombudsman team, both ashore and afloat, helped ensure families had the information they needed to meet the challenges of a military lifestyle.
A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Jon entered the Navy in San Diego, California in June of 1986. Throughout his career, he served in additional locations around the world including: Edzell, Scotland; Imperial Beach, California; Winter Harbor, Maine; USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) Norfolk, Virginia; Oahu, Hawaii. While in the Navy, Jon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Systems.
Strategic Partnerships Division
Sheronne Blasi, Division Director
In 2011, The Board of Education in Kansas City Kansas inducted him into their "Reasons to Believe" Alumni Honor Roll for Inspirational Excellence. This program spotlights successful career achievements and community involvement, to encourage and inspire today’s students.
Jon is married to his lovely bride Lauren, a native of Oregon, and they have four children: two girls and twin boys. Lauren is the Registrar at Taft 7-12 Highschool, in Lincoln City. His family spent 23 years following him around the world, so after retiring, he decided to follow Lauren to Oregon. On the weekends Jon can be found out on a golf course, walking amongst the trees looking for a wayward tee shot. Lauren and Jon also love to hike and ride bicycles along the back roads of Oregon. After 30 years of marriage, their dedication to the service of others and their families, remains a top priority for them.
Since joining our team, Jon has been focused on connecting with Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes, including Oregon’s three Tribal Veteran Service Officers (TVSOs), Tribal Veteran Advocates, and other Tribal partners. Jon has also begun his training to become an accredited Veteran Service Officer.
Jon’s passion for service for those who served, and experience and with Oregon’s Tribes, makes him a welcomed addition to the ODVA family.
