Kentucky Veterans! Do You Have a VA Claim or Benefits Question? Need Peer Support? Ask Your Question Now!

On August 12th, 2 – 3PM ET, VA and community experts will be here to answer your questions on benefits/claims and peer-to-peer support services. Type your questions in now!

You can ask questions to the following people:
» BG Mike Eastman - Advisor, ETS Sponsorship
» Coleton Whitaker - Director of Programs, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» SGT Lauren Augustine - VP of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of America
» Meghan Williams - Outreach Director, Cohen Veterans Network
» CMSgt Scott Robinson - Director of Military & Veteran Services, Easterseals
» Kacie Kelly - Deputy Director, Military Service Initiative, George W. Bush Presidential Center
» Staci H. - Senior Manager of Volunteers and Partnerships, Blue Star Families
» Melissa Comeau - Director, American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network
» Maj Bonnie Carroll - President and Founder, TAPS
» PO3 Audri Beugelsdijk - Vice President, Survivor Services, TAPS
» Corey Bowlin - Operations Manager, Veteran's Club Inc.
» Phyllis Abbott - Co-Chair, Veterans Resources United of Central - Southeastern Kentucky
» Anita Vincent - Public Affairs Officer, VA Regional Office Louisville, KY
» SPC Geslia Owens - Public Contact Outreach Specialist, VA Regional Office, Louisville KY
» SN Desley Snyder - Veterans Service Representative, VA Regional Office, Louisville KY
» LCDR Donna Scrivener - Benefits Division Director, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
» Jeanette Gilles - Deputy Director of Community Integration, Americas Warrior Partnership
» PO1 Kate Stevens - Operations Associate, Team Rubicon
» LTC Keith L Jackson - Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Kentucky
» Patricia Sweeney - National Director, Peer Support Services, VA Central Office, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention


ETS Sponsorship:
ETS Sponsorship assists in the successful transition of servicemembers into civilian life, pairing them with trained sponsors from their destination community and utilizing a range of digital tools to provide a unique, personalized plan for each transitioning servicemember tailored to their individual needs. http://www.etssponsorship.com

The Cohen Veterans Network:
The Cohen Veterans Network is a nationwide network of non-profit clinics dedicated to providing accessible, low-cost mental health care to active duty service members, post 9/11 Veterans and their loved ones. We believe this most deserving population has earned the right to compassionate, high-quality care and strive to provide that support regardless of role, branch, or time service and regardless of discharge status or one’s ability to pay. Our local clinic serving Kentucky Veterans and their families is the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, and although located in Clarksville, TN, we offer all services including individual, family and couples counseling via telehealth, breaking down the distance barrier to care.

Elizabeth Dole Foundation:
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s military caregivers; the spouses, parents, family members and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured veterans. Our mission is to strengthen and empower American military caregivers and their families by raising public awareness, driving research, championing policy, and leading collaborations and programs that make a significant impact on their lives. The Foundation envisions an America where military caregivers are empowered, appreciated, and recognized for their service to our nation. https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/

Student Veterans of America:
Since 2008, Student Veterans of America has worked to inspire tomorrow’s leaders. With a community network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters, SVA is committed to transforming the current skills and experience of student veterans. Every day, these dedicated chapter leaders work to ensure that yesterday’s warriors have the resources at hand to succeed in their academic journey and beyond.

Easterseals:
We serve veterans and their families in Southwest Ohio, Eastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Our Military & Veteran Services team is 100% staffed by veterans with nearly 70 years of combined active duty experience, including deployments and combat tours. With these common core of experiences we share with the vets we serve, we know first-hand the complex challenges they and their families face. In addition, we understand the journey each person who has served our country takes as they transition from Active or reserve status back into the civilian sector because we have also made that same journey. We are proud to provide our services at no cost to the veteran or their family members, and we live by the same ethos we held on the battlefield – we leave no veteran behind – period. Regardless of discharge status, disability, or personal circumstances, we treat EVERY veteran with honor, dignity, and respect. We work with them to identify their needs and empower them to overcome their barriers, and secure sustainable employment to turn their lives around. https://www.easterseals.com/gc/our-programs/military-veteran-services/

American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network:
The Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) offers peer-based support and services to connect those providing care to service members and veterans living with wounds, illnesses, injuries and/or aging. The mission of the MVCN is to provide our nation’s military and veteran caregivers of all eras with peer support to reduce isolation and increase connection, engagement, knowledge, skills and hope.

TAPS:
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 95,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been profoundly affected by a death of a military loved one. For more information go to taps.org or call the TAPS National Military Survivor Helpline at 800.959.TAPS (8277).

Blue Star Families:
Founded in 2009 by military spouses with you in mind, we empower military families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors – both people and organizations – to create strong communities of support.

Team Rubicon:
Team Rubicon is a disaster response organization that serves communities by mobilizing veterans to continue their service, leveraging their skills and experience to help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises. The organization serves a dual purpose: serve vulnerable communities after disasters but also provide a sense of purpose, mission and community to the veteran volunteers serving those populations.

America’s Warrior Partnership:
America’s Warrior Partnership is committed to empowering communities to empower veterans. We fill the gaps that exist between veteran service organizations by helping nonprofits connect with veterans, their families and caregivers. Our programs bolster nonprofit efficacy, improving their results and empowering their initiatives.

Louisville VA Regional Office:
The Louisville VA Regional Office administers a wide array of benefits in the areas of Compensation, Veteran Readiness and Employment, Fiduciary Services, and Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Special Mission.

Lady Veterans Connect:
Lady Veterans Connect's mission is: "Honoring Lady Veterans by providing Hope - Homes- Healing for women veterans". A primary focus is providing a transitional housing program for homeless women veterans where they can live up to one-year while participating in restoring self-esteem, life skills, financial literacy, job training, resume writing, interviewing skills, nutritional classes, Yoga, art therapy, and restoring relationships with family members. Additionally, we host retreats for all women veterans, lunch and learn events, and our premier event is hosting a women veterans appreciation dinner to honor all women veterans. We opened our first home in 2016 which was a three-bedroom house. We have opened our second home, "Anna's House" in Winchester June 12, 2021 where we can provide transitional housing for 32 women veterans.