VETERANS INNOVATIONS PROGRAM

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VETERANS INNOVATIONS PROGRAM

• DEFENDERS FUND
• COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM

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Agenda

• Overview of Veterans Innovations Program
• Defenders Fund
• Overview
• Eligibility, Procedures, Requirements
• Competitive Grant Program
• Overview
• Eligibility, Procedures, Requirements
• Process
• Process Flowchart
• Case Management Process Flowchart
• Some Resources

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Veterans Innovation Program RCW 43.60A.160

• Findings
• A significant number of Washington citizens
  answered the call to serve our country in recent
  military action leaving behind families,
  community, employment, and education
• Many soldiers returning to their families and
  communities face transition problems in areas
  such as family reunification, employment,
  education, and health
• A significant number have returned to families
  and communities without continuing ties to the
  military department or veterans' administration,
  but still in need of help
• Our state needs to honor and serve those who have
  protected our security and safety

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Veterans Innovation Program

• Purpose
• To provide crisis and emergency relief and
  education, training, and employment assistance to
  veterans and their families in their communities.
  
• Goal
• Develop a results oriented program that considers
  the long-term well-being of the veteran and their
  family and focuses on employment or financial
  stability, education/training, health care, and
  housing.
• Comprised of two separate programs
• Defenders' Fund
• Competitive Grant Program

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Defenders Fund

• Payments will be made directly to vendors to
  resolve veterans financial hardship.
• The Defenders Fund is a supplement to other
  funding sources such as County Veterans
  Assistance Funds, Minuteman, Soldiers Angels,
  other community and social service organizations
  resources
• The Defenders Fund is not an entitlement, it is
  an emergency/crisis resolution tool

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Defenders Fund RCW 43.60A.165

• One-time emergency grants up to 500
• Eligibility
• Current of former WA National Guard or Reservists
  
• Served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi
  Freedom, Noble Eagle, and
• Experiencing financial hardships in employment,
  education, housing, and health care due to
  extended deployment
• Veterans will be screened to determine whether
  they need additional assistance

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INJURED RESERVE COMPONENT (RC) VETERAN
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
REFRAD
E-6 3999.27 per month w/spouse children
VA Claim Adjudicated (108-2290)
Submit VA Claim
Submit UI (292-492 weekly)
SRP Brief On VA Issues
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
192 days (average) before benefits received
Must be physically able to actively seek
employment to be eligible for unemployment
insurance. Average Healthy Veteran
draws UI for 11.4 weeks
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IRAQI FREEDOM VETS RECEIVE PRIORITY CARE TYPICAL
TIMELINES FOR RECEIVING TREATMENT
REFRAD
Surgery/Specialized procedures 4-6 months after
consult
Consult 30-180 days
JAN FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
Required care may take up to one year after
REFRAD

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Defenders Fund Requirements

• Application
• DD-214 or VA Statement of Service and
  Mobilization Orders
• Vendor Invoice
• Rental Agreement, Monthly Statement, Service Bill
• IRS Form W-9

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Competitive Grant Program

• Fund innovative initiatives to provide crisis and
  emergency relief
• Eligibility
• Veterans and their families
• Governor appointed 7 member board
• Board will establish a competitive process to
  solicit proposals and prioritize projects
• Projects will fund
• Crisis and emergency relief
• Education, training and employment
• Community outreach and resources

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Competitive Grant Program

• Community Project
• Request for Funding Proposal
• Crisis and emergency relief
• Education, training and employment
• Community outreach and resources
• Proposal Reviewed by Committee
• Recommendation of Committee to Board
• Board Votes to Approve or Disapprove Proposal

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Defenders Fund Process
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Case Management Process
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Points of Contact

• For current and former Washington National Guard
  members
• Tom Riggs, SBA, WA National Guard
• 253-512-8722
• tomriggs.riggs_at_us.army.mil
• For current and former Reserve members and all
  other Washington State Citizen Soldiers
• Ric Price, Program Manager, WDVA
• 360-725-2236
• RicP_at_dva.wa.gov
• WDVA 1-800-562-2308