Strength, Unity Will Carry Us Forward

A Message from ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick

The shared challenges our state has faced since the onset of the global health crisis, including social unrest in protest of systemic inequity and racism, economic and housing uncertainty, and — in far too many cases — the lives and livelihoods of too many veterans permanently altered, has continued to reaffirmed ODVA’s commitment and purpose.

As so many Oregon veterans continue to struggle to find additional resources to help them through this unprecedented time in our nation’s history, the work ODVA and its partners do every day aligns with one singular focus — to serve all those who have served.

While this year has brought unique challenges, particularly concerning public health, it has also brought innumerable triumphs of the human spirit. We have seen veterans and those who serve them come together in myriad ways, leveraging the landscape of emerging technologies to continue to provide critical services and stay connected.

Delayed for one year due to the pandemic, ODVA hosted the biennial Women Veterans Conference virtually for the first time in its more than 20-year history. And though we wished we could have had the opportunity to meet in person, the conference surpassed all expectations, providing a platform for hundreds of women veterans to learn about their earned veteran benefits and connect with other women veterans across the state at a critical time.

Other ODVA efforts through the pandemic has been aimed at meeting the unique needs of our most vulnerable veterans. In this issue you will read about services available to veterans involved in the justice system, information on available veteran educational programs and ODVA administered grant programs that serve an important role in improving the lives of veterans. These grant programs fund direct services to veterans in their own communities.

While these programs are important, I continue to encourage all veterans and their families to contact a Veteran Service Office to explore the full range of state and federal benefits and programs that exist across the state. Oregon’s robust network of free and local veteran services in all 36 counties across the state, including the new expansion of Tribal Veteran Service Offices on tribal land.

These services that directly assist veterans in accessing resources and benefits across health, economy, and education are the result of generations of service members advocating to ensure appropriate and needed resources that are equitably available to all those who have served.

Whether a veteran needs assistance navigating the VA benefit system, filing a disability claim, or has questions about accessing other resources like healthcare, housing, employment, or emergency grants, scheduling an appointment with a VSO will be the start to accessing the best resources to fit their needs. A listing of accredited and free Veteran Service Offices is located on the back page of this issue.

Lastly, as our state continues to respond to the changing impacts of COVID-19 and efforts to protect the most vulnerable among us, I strongly encourage all veterans, their spouses and caregivers, and CHAMPVA recipients to consider get a COVID-19 vaccine for free at the VA. Links to VA Medical Centers in Oregon and other vaccine information is located on ODVA’s homepage.