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

Veteran Suicide Jeff Bird DNP(c), RN

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

www.MichiganVeterans.com1-800-MICH-VET

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.