Post on 12-Apr-2017
Region 4 VCAT West Michigan Veterans
CoalitionAugust 18, 2015
Agenda
• Pledge of Allegiance• MiVCAT Updates• Employment Committee Updates• Military/Veteran Suicide • Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center
1800-MICH-VET• Podio
Timothy [Tim] J. LoneyWest Michigan Regional CoordinatorMichigan Veterans Affairs Agencyloney@micounties.orgWork: 269-348-9175Cell: 269-357-3410
West Michigan Veterans Coalition• The West Michigan Veterans Coalition is a collaboration
between local military friendly organizations that provide support, information, and resources to veterans and their families, employers, and other organization throughout West Michigan.
• Our mission is to improve the lives of veterans, their families, and anyone that served in the Armed Forces by connecting them to all available services and resources throughout West Michigan.
Service Provider Engage
Network
Network Respond to Request for
Support
Service Provider Follow up on
provided resources
Service Provider connect veteran
with a person and the resource
Veteran Engage Service Provider
Veterans Community Action Teams
Michigan Veterans
Community Action Teams
The Numbers 22 veterans per day take their own lives
Based on estimates of a 2012 VA study
Only 21 states are included in the study (excluding Texas and California)
23% of suicides were excluded since veteran status was unknown
The Numbers23% of suicides were excluded since veteran status was unknown
So the data is based on 77% of the known suicides in 40% of the population.
Suicide rates vary from state to state between 7 – 29 veterans per day.
The Numbers These data are usually framed in the context of the recent wars
Most of the suicide were in veterans over the age of 50.
Most of the veterans never deployed
Even more never saw combat
Newer Numbers A recent study looked at veterans
who served in active duty between 2001 – 2007 (1,282,072).
Military records were matched with National Death Index
1868 suicides identified during the study at a rate 29.5/100,000 (50% higher than matched civilian)
Newer Numbers Enlisted personnel were twice the
rate of officer White, unmarried males at the
highest risk Highest risk is in the 3 years after
separation Those who don’t complete an
enlistment are also at highest risk
Women Veterans While the data shows 83% of veteran suicides are men, female veterans killed themselves at a rate more than twice that of the civilian population
What does all this mean?
Understanding Suicide Suicidality is a complex problem > 20 known broad categories of risk factors Mental illness (depression, PTSD, bipolar)
Family history Childhood trauma (abuse neglect)
Suicide Different stages of suicide
Passive suicidal ideation Active suicidal ideation Suicidal desire Suicidal intent
Understanding SuicideThe Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS)
The Proximal Causal Pathway to Suicide
Thwarted Belongingness
Perceived Burdensomeness
Acquired capability for suicide
The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire INQ -10
The following questions ask you to think about yourself and other people. Please respond toeach question by using your own current beliefs and experiences, NOT what you think is true in general, or what might be true for other people. Please base your responses on how you’ve been feeling recently. Use the rating scale to find the number that best matches how you feel and circle that number. There are no right or wrong answers: we are interested in what you think and feel. 0 1 2Not at all Somewhat Very
Truefor me true for me for me
_____ 1. These days the people in my life would be better off if I were gone._____ 2. These days the people in my life would be happier without me._____ 3. These days I think my death would be a relief to the people in my life._____ 4. These days I think the people in my life wish they could be rid of me._____ 5. These days I think I make things worse for the people in my life._____ 6. These days, I feel like I belong._____ 7. These days, I am fortunate to have many caring and supportive friends._____ 8. These days, I feel disconnected from other people._____ 9. These days, I often feel like an outsider in social gatherings._____ 10. These days, I am close to other people.
Let’s talk about Michael
What we can do (the importance of the WMVC) Advocate Educate Battle Buddy Be there
What we have done (the importance of the WMVC) Story of a suicidal Marine
Michigan Veteran Resource Service CenterA collaborative partnership assisting Michigan veterans
West Michigan Veterans Coalition Region 4 VCAT Quarterly Meeting
August 18, 2015
Michigan Veteran Affairs AgencyVision, Mission, Values
• The vision of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is:• that Michigan becomes the most veteran-friendly state in the nation by:
• creating a ‘no wrong door’ customer service culture that provides the advice and assistance veterans need as they transition through the chapters of their lives
• advocating for and on behalf of veterans and their families
• MVAA Mission: • To serve as the central coordinating point, connecting those who have served in
the United States Armed Forces and their families, to services and benefits throughout Michigan
• Agency Values: • Inclusion – seek collaborative solutions and results• Integrity – always do the right thing• Transparency –don’t mislead or conceal• Innovation – create and seek opportunities to demonstrate continuous
improvement• Respect – treat everyone as you would like to be treated
Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center(MVRSC) Launch
• The MVRSC is a collaborative effort with MI 2-1-1, regional VCATs and accredited veteran service officers that realizes the vision, focuses on the mission and personifies the values of MVAA
• Launched September 25, 2014 by Governor Snyder
• Toll free and operating 24/7/365, the MVRSC is more than a call center, providing case management and information about federal benefits, state services and local resources
• Case management tools allows the Resource Center to connect the veteran to all the services s/he needs with multiple, concurrent referrals
• Connects veterans to accredited veteran service officers and service providers in their local community
• Self-service, MichiganVeterans.com or full-service, 1-800-MICH-VET
MVRSC Mission• MVRSC mission:
• To provide one centralized and knowledgeable point of contact for veterans and their families to access federal benefits, state services and local resources that help them transition through all the chapters of their lives
• Customer Service Philosophy:• Assist callers as Michigan citizens first and provide all assistance the
state offers• State programs have broader eligibility and larger ‘pot’• Stretches precious state and local veteran benefit dollars
• Fill in the gaps with veteran-specific programs based on eligibility, including VA benefits
• Connect veterans to resources in the community they live in • Treat every caller as family
MVRSC Staff and Training • Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center
• Staff of 5 veterans and 2 military family members• Full time web portal and social media manager for
MichiganVeterans.com • Gryphon Place – extends to student veterans and military family
• Training for all MVRSC and Gryphon Place staff• Military Culture Training (30 days)• TRIM, Versatile, CRM, InContact, Micro-fiche, RightFax (30 days)• Mental Health First Aid Certified (3 months)• State of Michigan Training (6 months)
• Taking the HEAT to Provide Superior Customer Service• Multi-Generational Appreciation
• MIVET Accreditation (1 year)• Ongoing technical and knowledge-based training and research
• Database search and development
MVRSC by the Numbers• Immediate 170% increase in calls following Governor’s announcement
• Current (July) monthly volume – 2,400 veteran contacts and growing!• Calls - average 1,350 • DD214s –average 500 • 400 inbound emails plus over 100 e-benefit information requests• 25 legislative, congressional and gubernatorial requests
• Resource development – adding to or cleaning up the knowledge base• Add 25 specific new county resources each week• 2-1-1 database is continually updated with VCAT enrollments
• Quality control• Listen to 50 random calls month• 400 outbound follow-up calls
MVRSC Partnerships• MOUs with MI 2-1-1, DHS, MDOT and MEDC provide start up financial
support and ongoing technical support
• First program in the state to fully integrate with Michigan 2-1-1 and first program in the nation to integrate with a statewide 2-1-1 system to provide services to veterans
• After hours support first supplied by UPCAP, but MVRSC outgrew their capacity to support within 6 months of operations
• Partnership with Gryphon Place in Kalamazoo began July 2015• Better trained, especially in mental health support• Proximity to Battle Creek VA• Closer to Lansing enabling better communication and training• More available after hours staff
MVRSC/Gryphon Place Partnership
• Currently standing up the relationship • Phase one – 2-1-1 triage (now)• Phase two –additional MVRSC training and cultural awareness
(September)• Phase two – Shared CRM implementation (September)• Phase three – full service – seamless to MVRSC (November)• Gryphon Place and MVRSC receive the same training and are held to
the same quality and customer service standards
• Shared customer service platform allows for seamless 24/7 veteran service• State provides licenses to Gryphon Place that allow for shared case
management• MI 2-1-1 will share a database of resources that MVAA will convert
into a geo-coded file that is zip and radial searchable (November)• Fillable and submit-able forms on web portal ease paperwork (Nov.)
MVRSC/VCATPartnership
• VCAT members are essential partners with the MVRSC• Provide local connections for veterans who call 800-MICH-VET
• Inclusive of all programs providing any service to veterans• Includes ‘micro’ resources ineligible for inclusion in 2-1-1
• VCAT members can call the Resource Center 24/7/365 for additional assistance
• We want to refer to you -think of the MVRSC as an extension of your staff!
• Enrollment in MI 2-1-1 is important and gives you high visibility• Enroll at www.mi211.org and submit to resources@mi211.org• MVRSC can search resources in PODIO, but 2-1-1 agents cannot• Allows for 24 hour wrap around support: state –local –federal
• Grand Rapids Marine and family example
Serving those who served
VCAT Members
Michigan
Veteran
Resource
Service
Center
Michigan 2-1-1
Accredited Veter
an Servi
ce Officers
24/7/365
support for
Michigan
Veterans and their
families
“If everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.” ― Askhari Johnson Hodari, Lifelines: The Black Book of Proverbs
An Overview of Podio:How Coalition Members Can Navigate
and Use Podio to Better Serve Veterans, their Families and Caregivers
An Overview of Podio 40
Elena BridgesAltarum Institute
The Focus of Today’s Presentation
Podio’s Functionality
• The Need & Requirements• Structure & Security• Coalition Based Service Provider Directory• Assistance and Support Requests• Veterans’ Resources and Events• Next Steps: The Process for Membership
An Overview of Podio 41
The Need
Implementing the “No Wrong Door” philosophy•Service providers need to be identified•Their information has to be collected•Service providers have to come together to educate one another
Collective Efforts•Effective Coordination of Services•Integration of Services
An Overview of Podio 42
Collaborative Tool Requirements
Gather Information
Share Information
Foster Communication within the VCAT
Produce Informative Products that Aid
the VCAT’s Mission
An Overview of Podio 43
Podio Structure
An Overview of Podio 44
Security• System Security– The software services that comprise Podio have been
developed by Citrix, a multinational software company.– Customer-uploaded data is hosted at the Citrix Datacenters
in Frankfurt and Amsterdam, and through Amazon Web Services in Dublin.
– Network access to the systems hosting Podio is controlled through firewalls designed to detect & respond to various attacks.
• User Security– All data in the workspaces are accessible by invite-only to
verified users.
An Overview of Podio 45
Coalition Based Service Provider Directory
• Organization and Coalition Member Directory– Every member has to complete their VCAT
Membership and Organization Information Form to be included in the Directory.
• Allows member service providers to collect each others information.
• The ability to search and filter the directory to locate services for helping veterans.
An Overview of Podio 46
Assistance and Support Request• Allows member service providers to request
support or assistance with helping a Veteran.• Ability to document case management
(randomized ID number) with multiple providers assisting in the resolution process.
• Can store completed requests for others to reference navigation routes to obtain services.
An Overview of Podio 47
Veterans Resources and Events
• A central location for member service providers to locate events, documents, and helpful websites to better serve Veterans, dependents, and caregivers.
• There are various ways to view events in Podio – as tables, lists, or a calendar.
An Overview of Podio 48
Veterans Community Action Team (VCAT) Calendar
Workspace Example
An Overview of Podio 49
The Next Steps: How to Get Started in the
Podio Workspace
An Overview of Podio 50
Step 1 – ApplyBefore you can register for Podio, you have to complete the VCAT membership form. This information will automatically be stored in Podio.
51
Veterans Community Action Team Membership Form
An Overview of Podio
STEP 2 - RegisterYou will receive an email from Podio that invites you to join the VCAT workspace.
Follow the instructions listed in the invitation to register.
52An Overview of Podio
STEP 3 – Create STEP THREE: After you register, you will need to create your Podio account.• Click on “My Account” in
the upper right hand corner
• Click on “My Profile” and complete your profile as thoroughly as possible.
53An Overview of Podio
STEP 4 – Explore
STEP FOUR: Take time to explore the different apps in the workspace. Feel free to find your member and organization profiles in the Members App and Organizations App, share resources with others, or add events to the calendar!
54An Overview of Podio
Any questions about the process for joining Podio?
An Overview of Podio 55
Please contact Elena Bridges, your Veteran Services Community Coordinator, (616) 401-2026 or at Elena.Bridges@altarum.org for any further questions.