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Veteran's E-News
(April 2008) |
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MIRACLE OF
HEALING THROUGH EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY |
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Horses open your heart. And,
when you look and listen through the lens of
your heart, you open the doorway to the language
and world of feeling. In this land of feeling
comes all our emotions, our intuition, our
bodily sensations, our sensory information, and
our soul's voice; each uniquely rich with their
own valuable wisdom.
How life works for horses in a herd is by
knowing the consciousness of each member within
the herd and their environment in order to
survive. Where is the lead mare standing? Where
is the water and food? Where is the safe ground?
What are the weather patterns? Knowing where
there might be a predator lurking? Who are their
friends? What is the order of leadership? Is it
time for play or rest?
Sounds like a graced life, no? And, this cannot
be effectively managed within the herd if its
members are disconnected from their feelings /
sensory awareness or connection with each other
and surroundings. They prefer to depend on each
other. |
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Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Gary Woodings |
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To Robert Bambury,
I am writing to the leaders of veterans
organizations and health care providers in the
Florida, to introduce myself and an
astoundingly, powerful and effective treatment
for PTSD. Less than 1% of traditional mental
health practitioners are aware of this
therapeutic breakthrough available today.
I was in the Miami area from Tuesday March 3rd
thru Thursday March 6th. I was meeting with VA
organization leaders, like you, to offer this
profound treatment of PTSD. Due to your
dedication to fellow veterans, I have chosen you
and organizations like yours to offer this
powerful group seminar based work for our
veterans.
I am Gary Woodings and currently located in the
central MA area and am planning to move to
Florida in June. I specialize in the prompt and
permanent relief of PTSD for war veterans. I
want to introduce you to Emotional Freedom
Technique, (EFT), if you are not already
familiar with it. I would like to send you a
copy of “Six Days at the VA”. This is an amazing
video introduction to the practice of EFT. This
was produced by Gary Craig NLP, founder and
educator of EFT. Please take the time to watch
this DVD and you will be amazed at what can now
be done to restore our veterans to a normal
lifestyle with the use of this technique. |
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Changes Affect Those with Multiple Tours
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel |
WASHINGTON (March 3, 2008) - Some members of the
National Guard and the Reserves who serve on
active duty will see a significant increase in
their educational benefits, thanks to
improvements announced today by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA).
"Reservists and National Guardsmen who serve
multiple tours on active duty may get an
increase in their educational benefits, in
keeping with the value of their service to our
nation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr.
James B. Peake.
Under new provisions, members who accumulate
three years on active duty, regardless of breaks
in service, may be eligible for the maximum
payment under the Reserve Education Assistance
Program (REAP). Previously, reservists and
guardsmen had to serve two continuous years on
active duty to receive the highest payment. |
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VA Gets
Veterans to 'Move' - http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel |
WASHINGTON (March
3, 2008) - With more than 70 percent of patients
coming to the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) for health care found to be overweight, VA
is boosting its efforts to increase veterans'
fitness through exercise, good nutrition and
healthy lifestyles.
"VA's patients should consider themselves
partners with our health professionals in
managing their own care," said Dr. James B.
Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "They need
to ensure they eat right, exercise regularly and
stay on the move."
MOVE, in fact, is the name for a VA program at
each of the Department's 153 medical centers in
which veterans have their body fat measured and
receive "prescriptions" for exercises and
nutrition. |
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VA to Train More
Psychologists -
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel |
Peake: Expansion Meets
Current and Future Needs
WASHINGTON (March 4, 2008) - To meet increased
needs for mental health services for veterans,
especially those returning from the Global War
on Terror, the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) is expanding its training programs for
psychologists.
"Not all the wounds of war are visible," said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
"VA is committed to ensuring veterans receive
world-class care for mental health services.
This initiative meets our short-term needs, but
it will also guarantee we have a pool of
well-trained psychologists in the future."
VA, which has more than 11,000 mental health
professionals to care for veterans, has hired
more than 800 psychologists in the last three
years. Because psychology is a key part of
comprehensive health care, the Department
anticipates an ongoing need to employ additional
psychologists.
The best resource for VA recruitment of
psychologists has been the Department's own
training programs. Seventy-three percent of
psychologists hired in the past two years have
had VA training. |
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VA Commission
to Seek New Under Secretary for Benefits |
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
Peake: Candidate Must Have Commitment to Newest
Combat Veterans
WASHINGTON (March 6, 2008) - Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake has
announced formation of a 10-member commission to
recommend candidates for the post of Under
Secretary for Benefits with the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA).
VA's Under Secretary for Benefits directs nearly
15,000 employees and administers a budget of
more than $45 billion dollars, mostly for
disability compensation and survivors' benefits.
The under secretary is also responsible for VA's
educational assistance, insurance program and
pensions.
"I have asked Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield
to lead this important effort," said Peake.
"With a new generation of combat veterans
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the search
commission must ensure we fill the under
secretary's job with a person having the right
skills, experience, vision and commitment to our
nation's veterans."
The new under secretary will replace retired
Navy Vice Adm. Daniel L. Cooper, who announced
his resignation recently after six years on the
job. Cooper has been the longest-serving Under
Secretary for Benefits in VA's history. |
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Number of Homeless Vets
Drops 21 Percent |
Peake Selected to
Chair Federal Homeless Task Force
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
WASHINGTON (March 6, 2008) – The number of
veterans homeless on a typical night has
declined 21 percent in the past year, thanks to
the services offered by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and its partners in
community- and faith-based organizations, plus
changing demographics and improvements in survey
techniques.
The reduction of homeless veterans from more
than 195,000 to about 154,000 was announced as
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake
was elected to chair the U.S. Interagency
Council on Homelessness.
Peake’s election to head the council
coordinating the federal response to
homelessness came as VA released the fourteenth
annual Community Homeless Assessment, Local
Education and Networking Group (CHALENG) report
on homeless veterans.
“We are seeing significant progress in the fight
against homelessness,” said Peake. “This success
should encourage all those concerned about
homeless veterans, for it shows we can make a
difference in the lives of these veterans
through our services and with our community
partners.” |
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VA's New
"Travel Nurse Program" Hits the Road |
Program Offsets Personnel
Losses, Improves Quality
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
WASHINGTON (March 11, 2008) - To deal with a
nationwide shortage of nurses and to improve the
quality of care for veterans, the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a "Travel
Nurse Corps" to enable VA nurses to travel and
work throughout the Department's medical system.
"VA is committed to putting health care
facilities closer to veterans," said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "The
Travel Nurse Corps will make it easier to bring
our world-class health care professionals closer
to veterans, too. And it will make it easier for
us to shift personnel during times of crisis."
The Travel Nurse Corps, headquartered at the
Phoenix VA Health Care System, is beginning as a
three-year pilot program. Initially, it will
place as many as 75 nurses at VA medical centers
across the country. The goals of the program are
to improve recruitment, decrease turnover of
experienced nurses and maintain high standards
of patient care.
Under the program, participating nurses may be
temporarily assigned to distant medical centers
and clinics to help nursing staffs that have
vacancies, to reduce wait times or the reliance
upon contractors, or to maintain high-skill
services and procedures. |
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VA to Pilot
Innovative Remote Benefits Delivery Program |
Pilot Program Serving Rural
Vets to Start in Montana
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
FORT HARRISON, Mont. (March 12, 2008) - Rural
Montana veterans will now have easier access to
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits
information and assistance through an
innovative, first-of-its-kind, remote benefits
delivery pilot program using video-conferencing
technology and staffing support.
"Access for these rural veterans is critical to
helping them receive the benefits they have
earned through their service to this nation,"
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B.
Peake, who recently returned from visiting
several Montana VA facilities with Sen. Jon
Tester, D-Mont.
This new video conferencing program, along with
VA staff and Valley Veterans Service Center (VVSC)
volunteers, will provide face-to-face assistance
to veterans who don't live near the Fort
Harrison VA regional benefits office. Located in
Hamilton, VVSC is a grass-roots organization run
by volunteers to assist veterans in Southwestern
Montana. |
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Veterans' Benefits Update:
2008 Cost-Of-Living
Increases for VA Benefits |
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=179
A recent law signed by President Bush provides a
2.3 percent increase in disability compensation
and survivors' benefits. Eligible veterans and
family members will see this increase starting
in their January 2008 checks.
Air Force Aid Society
(AFAS)
AFAS is the official charity of the United
States Air Force whose mission is to help
relieve financial distress of Air Force members
and their families and to assist them in
financing their higher education goals.
Air Force Palace HART
Program Video
The Air Force Palace HART (Helping Airmen
Recover Together) program serves to assist in
the recovery of wounded members until they
return to active duty or are medically retired.
This includes finding them jobs in government
civilian positions or making arrangements for
higher education.
Always a Soldier Program
Provides service-connected disabled veterans
opportunities to seek employment, career
advancement, job mobility, family economic
well-being and greater financial security. The
program is an Army Material Command based
initiative, and the website provides information
regarding the program, employment opportunities,
and important links.
Army Emergency Relief
(AER)
AER is a private nonprofit organization whose
mission is to help soldiers and their dependents
through emergency financial assistance.
Army Families Online
Provides soldiers and their families advocacy
and support, including information on issues
related to deployment, well-being and behavioral
health.
Army Physical Disability
Agency Home Page
Information on the agency that determines a
soldier's physical fitness for continued
military service and takes appropriate actions
to separate or retire the soldier whose career
is interrupted by reason of physical disability.
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