County of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Council
Alexis McCray, Chair, El Paso County Veterans Advisory Board, shares updates for the Military/Veteran communities. El Paso is home to Fort Bliss, Texas, one of the premier installations in the Department of Defense.
The VAB will be meeting twice in February. Special Session 2/3 2pm and Regular Meeting 2/8 1pm.
The VAB meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 1pm
City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Council
The January meeting can be viewed above or at: https://youtu.be/Ej2Rk_7pev0
Next meeting 2/18 10AM.
The VAAC meets every 3rd Friday of the month virtually at this time
WoVeN | Women Veterans Network
There are two upcoming in-person WoVeN groups taking place on Tuesdays beginning 22 February at 6:30pm and Fridays beginning 25 February at 5pm being led by Peer Leaders Alexis McCray and Pamela Dickerson. Fliers attached To enroll: https://www.wovenwomenvets.org/join/
Women Veterans:
February is American Heart Month. Please join us in creating and spreading awareness. We also have one event scheduled for February. All events are FREE! All veterans and veteran supporters are encouraged to attend. Please see below and the attachments for more information.
WVP Monthly Virtual Women Veterans Networking Meeting
Join us every 2nd Thursday of the month at 1:30PM to learn about a new resource and network with other women veterans.
Date: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Time: 1:30 – 2:30PM CST
Topic: Federal Employment
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/
Heart Health Podcast link: https://anchor.fm/
Military Veterans PEER Network/Veterans One Stop
S.A.V.E. Veterans Suicide Prevention Training 28Jan22:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/save-veterans-suicide-prevention-training-tickets-231884712417
You are invited to S.A.V.E. Training.
Learn about suicide in the veteran population
Suicide myths and misinformation
Risk factors for suicide.
Military Cultural Competency Training 3Feb22:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/military-cultural-competency-training-tickets-231880479757
You are invited to join us in the New Year for Military Cultural Competency Training on 3 February 2022@0900.
Individuals and Organizations are all welcome to attend this training.
Training is offered both in-person and virtually.
Contact the MVPN PSC’s for more information:
Natalie Castro
ncastro@ehnelpaso.org
Shelia Anthony
syanthony@ehnelpaso.org
If you are an organization that wants or needs this training and these dates do not work out for you please feel free to reach out to the MVPN PSCs so they can coordinate a separate training for you.
Mental Health First Aid 8Feb22:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mhfa-mental-health-first-aid-tickets-234907443487
You are invited to attend MHFA: Mental Health First Aid.
Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.
The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) 17Feb22:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/calm-training-counseling-on-access-to-lethal-means-tickets-254694416857
You are invited to attend CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means.
Reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms and medication, can determine whether a person at risk for suicide lives or dies. This free course focuses on how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves.
It covers how to:
(1) identify people who could benefit from lethal means counseling,
(2) ask about their access to lethal methods, and
(3) work with them—and their families—to reduce access.
SMVF Winter Resource Fair
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/smvf-winter-resource-fair-tickets-246176850587
Come by to the El Paso Veterans One-Stop Center on Thursday, February 24, 2022, between 1100-1400hrs.
Sign up with link to attend virtually: https://lnkd.in/g7FH8M8e
*Masks will be required
(Military Resources/Vendors contact Shelia Anthony at syanthony@ehnelpaso.org)
Are you interested in donating?
We will be collecting donations for the El Paso Veterans Non-Profit. They assist those in the SMVF community facing food insecurity with their food pantry, pet pantry, clothing, and more.
Donations include (non-perishable items, clothing, pet supplies, etc.)
Questions?
Shelia Anthony
syanthony@ehnelpaso.org
Natalie Castro
ncastro@ehnelpaso.org
YMCA: Free Childcare
Free El Paso childcare: and after school for service industry employees for up to one year. Must sign up by March. This can help both business partners of yours or clients by helping their employees get free childcare and also individuals who work in those fields. Please share with your networks and email lists.
Service Industry includes: Retail, Accommodations, Arts, Entertainment, Food Service, Recreation.
https://www.ywcaelpaso.org/service-industry-recovery-childcare-sir/
.
El Paso Veterans Business Administration
El Paso Veterans Business Administration:
Attaining a LLC is now free for Veterans with help from the Texas Veterans Commission. For more please contact the El Paso Veterans Business Administration, flier attached.
Important GI Bill Information
You Need to Opt in to Text Verification: if you are using your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefit at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) facility with a term beginning on or after December 17, 2021, you’re now required to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payment.
To streamline the verification process, VA strongly encourages you to use text messaging as a simple, quick, safe option for verifying enrollment to receive your MHA/kicker payments uninterrupted.
For all impacted students with a valid mobile phone number on file, you’ll receive the following text message on or after January 15, 2021: “Post-9/11 GI Bill housing and kicker payments now require monthly enrollment verification. Would you like to submit yours via text? Please reply Yes or No.”
The text will come from a number with an (855) area code. Reply “YES” to opt into text message verification. The text message link will expire 14 days after receipt, so please respond within that time frame.
If you respond “NO” and have a valid email address on file, you will be opted into email verification. If you don’t receive the text message above or accidentally delete it and would like to opt into text verification, call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)
Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel update:
Office of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar:
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) voted to pass H.R. 4673, the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act. This bipartisan legislation builds on Congresswoman Escobar’s efforts to meaningfully reduce veteran suicide by closing one of the most glaring gaps in accessing high quality VA health services – the enrollment process.
Please read below for more information and to view the bill text, click here https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117HR4673-RCP117-26.pdf
View Congresswoman Escobar’s floor remarks offering the amendment:
PAST UPDATES POSTED BELOW
United American Veterans Organization (UAVO)
General meeting to be held on Saturday January 15, 2022, at 10:00am at Legion Post 36.
Regular monthly meetings will be changed to the first Saturday of the month. They will be at 10:00 AM at the American Legion Post 36 located at 3730 Shell St (off of Montana).
Questions? Contact: Carlos Rivera treasurer (915) 255-8877 or Terrie Rangel membership Chair (915) 433-2023
Virtual Recruitment : Kappa Epsilon Psi (KEΨ)
As an organization of Elite Professionals, Kappa Epsilon Psi (KEΨ) strives to continue building relationships and establishing Chapters on every U.S military installation and in local communities throughout the world. Founded on April 4th of 2011 and Incorporated on May 15, 2011, KEΨ continues to focus on its mission and vision; in an effort to continue propelling our Sisterhood upward and forward. Organization of Elite Professionals – Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Inc.
Veterans Affairs Offering COVID-19 Vaccines
Veterans Affairs: still offering COVID-19 vaccines for Veterans, caregivers, and their children over the age of 18.
EPVA Testing for COVID – Currently EPVA is testing based on symptomatology. If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, that is when you can call your EPVA health team to schedule a test. They will come to the parking lot.
El Paso VA Blood Drive | 1/19/2022
El Paso VA Blood Drive – EPVA is hosting a Blood Drive that will be held on Wednesday, 01/19/2022, from 10AM-2:30PM. The Blood Mobile will be set up in the parking lot area, across from the parking garage. You can walk up the day of or register at this link: Make an Appointment – ASBP (militarydonor.com)
Cohen Clinic at Endeavors:
Cohen Clinic at Endeavors: In 2017, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, El Paso was launched and has served thousands of Veterans, active-duty service members and their families to date. To support the clinic’s ongoing needs and better serve the El Paso community in the future, we are assessing the possibility of raising $6 million in a campaign. To determine support for this effort, The Curtis Group, a fundraising consulting firm, has been retained to conduct an assessment. As a part of this process, we humbly ask that you take five minutes to give us your thoughts on our plans by completing this brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Endeavors-El-Paso
More details about this flyer.
Unlocking Key Elements to Co-Occurring Treatment
Unlocking Key Elements to Co-Occurring Treatment – Please join Endeavors for the Unlocking Key Elements to Co-Occurring Treatment training. Training will be conducted in-person and virtually on January 21 from 9:00am to 12:00pm (MT).
Training is provided for all addiction counselors, therapists, mental health professionals, case managers, probation/parole officers, judges, social workers, and school counselors. Three CEUs will be provided to License Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.
Please register at: bit.ly/cooccurringtreatment
Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors-El Paso | Anger Management Workshop of 2022
Join the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors-El Paso for our first Anger Management workshop of 2022. Learn clinically-proven and effective skills to help conquer rage addictions and express anger in safer ways. Confront issues head-on, accept responsibility for controlling your anger, and gain intensive real-life experience in applying these concepts in your own life.
This 8-week in-person and virtual workshop is open to everyone, with a preference to Veterans in the Veteran Treatment Court and/or on probation. All classes must be attended to receive a Certificate of Completion.
EVERY THURSDAY BEGINNING JANUARY 27 5:30-7pm (MT). TO REGISTER, CONTACT: Alfred Martell amartell@endeavors.org