NEWS AND EVENTS: 

My HealtheVet is VA’s award–winning e–health Website, which offers veterans, active duty service members, their dependents and caregivers anywhere, anytime Internet access to VA health care information and services. My HealtheVet is a free, online Personal Health Record that empowers Veterans to become informed partners in their health care. With My HealtheVet, America’s Veterans can access trusted, secure, and current health and benefits information as well as record, track and store important health and military history information at their convenience. Veterans who are enrolled in a VA facility can refill their VA prescriptions and more, so register today! Using My HealtheVet is easy and it's for YOU!  VA Benefits: 1-800-827-1000.

CLC Named Military Veteran Friendly Campus!

Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, is among the nation’s top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students.  Victory Media, the veteran-owned publisher of Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines, in its publication G.I. Jobs, named CLC with 30 other Military Friendly Minnesota schools earning the designation through a research process driven by an academic advisory board of officials from Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne, Colorado State, other universities, the American Council on Education, and the Veterans Administration.  Colleges have long coveted veterans in the classroom, according to Dr. Dorothy Bassett, dean of Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement. “Military students bring a high degree of maturity, life experiences, diversity, leadership, and worldliness to the classroom,” she said. “Other students and faculty benefit from the different perspectives that service members and veterans bring.”  Student veterans are advised to examine the list of military friendly schools. “The list is the gold standard in letting veterans know which schools will offer them the greatest opportunity, flexibility, and overall experience,” Derek Blumke, president of the Student Veterans of America. “It’s especially important now with so many schools competing for military students.”

CLC and others on the list provide additional benefits to student veterans, such as credit for military experience and the College Level Examination Program. CLC offers on-campus resource centers in Brainerd and Staples and a network of support services and academic accreditations.  One reason the college is “an excellent choice for military members,” according to G.I. Jobs, is a course called “From Combat to the Classroom – the Transition of Combat Veterans and Their Families.” Don Pfeffer, instructor, teaches the course for veterans, family members and anyone else with a strong interest in the military.  Pfeffer developed the Veterans Resource Center at CLC as a model for 60 centers established on public and private colleges and universities across the state. He is the state director of higher education programs through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.  The Military Friendly Schools list can be viewed at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2011list and includes 1,222 institutions across the U.S.

How to start a small business seminar--OIF and OEF veterans are invited to attend a seminar and expo on How to Start a Small Business. This seminar is being hosted by Governor Tim Pawlenty and Major General Larry Shellito on August 31 in St. Paul at the Hiway Federal Credit Union office at 840 Westminster Street.  For more information, go to the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon website or contact Megan Riffe at 651-282-4232 or megan.riffe@us.army.mil.

DEPLOYMENT OF THE 309th Engineering Army Reserve--see CLC's blog for pictures.

 

NEW FALL 2010 CLASS - FROM COMBAT TO CLASSROOM

Central Lakes College in Brainerd is offering an innovative course (CCST 1512-20) titled From Combat to Classroom - the Transition of Combat Veterans and their Families." Classes will begin fall 2010 semester on Wednesdays from 1:45 - 3:45 p.m. This two-credit course will be taught by Mr. Don Pfeffer, the state's Higher Education Veterans Program director and a counselor at CLC.

This course is for veterans, family members, and anyone else with a strong interest in the military. Pfeffer says, "We will start by examining what it means to be a veteran or family member of a veteran and move along the path of life after military service." "Many veterans face personal, relationship, education, and employment issues upon completing a tour of duty in the military," said James H. McCormick chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
A course that focuses on veterans "will go a long way toward ensuring that veterans adjust to college and return successfully to civilian life."

Yellow Ribbon Employment Coach resource!

Need assistance in writing your resume or with the steps of the job search and employment process? Then here is a resource for you. For more information, please contact the Employer Liaison, Megan Riffe at megan.riffe@us.army.mil to get started.

Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans

Eligible homeless Veterans receive VA provided case management and supportive services to support stability and recovery from physical and mental health, substance use, and functional concerns contributing to or resulting from of homelessness. HUD provides 20,000 “Housing Choice” Section 8 vouchers designated for HUD-VASH to participating Public Housing Authorities to assist with rent payment. The program goals include promoting maximal Veteran recovery and independence to sustain permanent housing in the community for the Veteran and the Veteran’s family. This program was designed to address the needs of the most vulnerable homeless Veterans. To be eligible for this program, Veterans must be VA Health Care eligible, homeless and in need and participate in case management services in order to obtain and sustain permanent independent community housing. For more information, please go to http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH.asp.

 FREE FIREWOOD FOR FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED MINNESOTA SERVICE MEMBERS

 The Adjutant General for the State of Minnesota has authorized the availability of firewood from the Camp Ripley Military Reservation for families of all Minnesota Service Members that are currently deployed (including pre-deployment and post-deployment) in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
The firewood is stockpiled at a designated location within the cantonment area of Camp Ripley, families are entitled to 2 full cords of wood per year.  This is an ongoing offer.
For more information on this program's policy and application, please contact Ms. Yvonne Zappa from the Family Assistance Center at 320-616-3119.

BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE TRIPS

Boundary Waters Canoe Trips: Jasper Creek Guide Service, Inc. offers a complete array of high quality wilderness fishing and canoeing trips.   Their guided canoe trips are the 'Classic' Northwood's fishing trip! Superb hearty, traditional, campfire cooked meals. Unbeatable fishing and canoeing in the pristine wilderness of the Boundary Waters.   "The True Northwood's Experience". 10% discount for military personnel and their families.  Contact www.jaspercreek.com

SGT Amy D. Smith, Family Programs Assistant- J1DCS, 8180 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Office: 651-268-8204; Cell: 952-913-3156; amy.dee.smith@us.army.mil

PRO-BONO HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

As part of the Warrior to Citizen Campaign, Northwestern Health Sciences University (www.nwhealth.edu) and the Adler Graduate School (www.alfredadler.edu) are partnering to provide pro-bono health care services to Minnesota military personnel and their families, including chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, psychological therapy, and family counseling.  Services are provided by senior interns supervised by faculty clinicians. The nearly dozen veterans who have taken advantage of these complimentary services report a very positive experience.

For more information, contact the clinics below:

 De Rusha Clinical Education Center (Chiropractic, psychological counseling, family counseling) , 2501 W. 84th St. Bloomington, MN, 952-885-5444
 Edith Davis Teaching Clinic (acupuncture, oriental medicine) , 2501 W. 84th St. Bloomington, MN , 952-885-5450 
 Burnsville Natural Care Center (massage Therapy) , 12445 River Ridge Blvd. Burnsville, MN , 952-894-7620