MVAA: A STRONG PARTNER IN
EDUCATING MICHIGAN’S VETERANS
Jeffrey Schuett, MVAA, Education Analyst2017
Who is the MVAA
Serving Those Who Served
Four Pillars of Strategy & Outreach
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Health Care
Improve connections with veterans and their families
Remove barriers for veterans and their dependents in healthcare
Provide information regarding mental health care support and services
Anonymous online screen tool
MichiganVeterans.com
Provide cultural competency training
Health Care Resources
VA health care services
Inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy, dental care, mental health
care and other services.
37 facilities in Michigan
5 major medical facilities (Detroit, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek,
Iron Mountain, Saginaw)
18 Community-Based Outpatient Clinics
6 Outpatient Clinics in UP
8 Vet Centers
Quality of Life
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Collaborate with various state agencies and organizations in the campaign to End Veteran Homelessness in Michigan
Provide technical assistance and other resources to the Veteran Treatment Courts throughout the state
Currently 25 operational courts in Michigan
Meet with Veteran Community Action Teams (VCATs) to develop localized strategies that impact veterans’ quality of life
Provide training to assist law enforcement officers when encountering veterans that may be experiencing a mental health crisis
Employment
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Veteran-Friendly Employer Certification Program
Provides training to employers and organizations on the value of hiring veterans/Guard/Reserve/military spouses, MOS skills translation, and Veteran-Friendly HR policy development
Serves as the liaison between public and private sector employers and the agency, and coordinates inter-agency efforts aimed at veteran-employment
Chairs the Michigan Veterans Employment Council
Hosts Veteran Hiring Best Practices workshops and webinars.
Employment Initiatives
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An amazing
collaboration
between state
agencies . . .
. . . partnering with private sector
employers and non-profits to attract
veteran talent to Michigan.
Education
Position functions as the recognized resource for MVAA for education
matters, programs, and policies affecting veterans education and
education benefits
Meet with Veteran Community Action Teams (VCATs) to develop localized
strategies for VA benefit utilization
Serve as a liaison between MVAA and other state departments/agencies
regarding veterans’ education issues and coordinate the activities
between these departments/agencies
Education Initiatives
• Veteran-Friendly Schools
• Faculty/Staff and Career Services/Employer Trainings
• Veteran’s education to employment pipeline
• MI-litary Equivalency Transfer Credit
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Veteran-Friendly Schools Program
Formal, state of Michigan recognition for institutions committed to supporting veteran students
Voluntary program, no cost to participate
Michigan Veteran-Friendly School logo (Gold, Silver or Bronze)
Promotes best practices in veteran-centric services
Designations will be awarded annually for a full academic year
NVEST – National Veteran Education Success TrackerStudent Veterans of America, 2017
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➢ 1st comprehensive, in-depth study of the academic success of
contemporary student veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill
➢Collaborative effort between VA, SVA, and NSC (National
Student Clearinghouse)
➢Multiple completion rates are given. Effectively, 42% of
veterans using GI Bill benefits completed a degree (up from
39% of typical students, aged 24+, as found in a 2015 NSC
study)
Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on
the Academic Success of Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C..
Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker
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Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of
Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
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NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker
Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of
Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
15
NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker
Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of
Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
16
NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker
Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of
Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
17
NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker
Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of
Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
Michigan’s Education Attainment
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Michigan’s Higher Education Trends
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Veterans Community Action Teams
(VCATs)20
No Wrong Door for VeteransFederal Veteran Service Partners
State Veteran Service Partners
City/County Veteran Service Partners
Community Veteran Service
Partners
Informal Support Network
Veterans and their Families
The VCATs established a
community-based veterans
services system of care
• characterized by a
comprehensive network of
service providers
• empowered with
knowledge, information,
and tools.
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Veterans Community Action Teams
Michigan is the first state in the country to implement a
regional, community-based, locally managed network
of veteran services statewide
10 Regional Coordinators State, county, and local government
coordination
Veteran outreach and community
collaboration
2,400 members
1,250 agencies
Veteran Resource Center22
Request DD214
Find a benefits counselor
Connect with local services/agencies
Emergency Assistance
Central informational hub for veterans Integrated w/ Michigan 2-1-1
Providing 24/7/365 assistance
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Michigan Veterans Trust Fund
Provides emergency grants to Michigan veterans and dependent family members for;
Utility bills
Vehicle or home repairs
Medical bills
Other debts
Eligibility
Michigan resident
Honorably discharged
180 days of service during a period of war
Less than 180 days of wartime service due to service-incurred disability
What’s next for MVAA?
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Continued growth of our Veteran-Friendly School and
Veteran-Friendly Employer programs Education-to-Employment pipeline
Education dashboard Best practices by institution
Veteran populations
Veteran-Friendly ranking
Continued faculty/staff training at IHL Cultural competency
MI-litary Equivalency Transfer Credit database Awarding more/proper credit for military training and
experience
800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838)
MichiganVeterans.com
@MIVeteran /MIVeterans
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