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VA Benefits Provided to Caregivers of Veterans The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching the first of a series of new and enhanced services supporting family caregivers of seriously ill and injured Veterans. In May 2010, President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 legislation authorizing VA to establish a wide range of new services to support certain caregivers of eligible Post 9/11 Veterans. In addition to the new benefits and services for eligible Veterans who were disabled in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001, VA will also begin providing enhanced benefits and services to caregivers of Veterans of all eras who are already enrolled in VA care, including: · Access to VA’s toll-free Caregiver Support Line: (855) 260-3274 · Expanded education and training on caring for Veterans at home · Other support services such as counseling and support groups and referral services. · An enhanced website for caregivers · Some of the new benefits of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act are restricted by law to the caregivers of the most seriously ill and injured Post 9/11 Veterans. Those additional benefits include: o A monthly stipend, o Health care coverage, o Travel expenses, including lodging and per diem while accompanying Veterans undergoing care, o Respite care, and o Mental health services and counseling. While some of these enhanced benefits are available now, many of the other significant newly-enacted benefits will require the issuance of regulations. These additional benefits include monthly stipends, pay for travel costs, medical coverage, training, counseling and respite care designed to prevent institutionalization of Veterans whenever possible. The law requires detailed regulations for determining eligibility, designating and approving caregivers, and providing stipends and health care coverage to primary family caregivers. The complex process required to implement these regulations will provide Veterans, caregivers and the general public the opportunity to provide comments before those regulations are finalized. Each VA medical center has designated caregiver support coordinators who will assist eligible Veterans and caregivers in understanding and applying for the new benefits. VA also has a Caregiver Support website www.caregiver.va.gov, which will provide general information once final regulations are published. Return to the top Nonprofit Launches Bedbug Detection Service Pioneer Human Services, which operates more than 675 units of housing in King, Pierce, Spokane and Whatcom counties, has opened a bedbug detection service. The bedbugs are detected by specially trained dogs. Pioneer Pest Detection employs a canine and certified handler to inspect your home, office or facility in order to locate, verify and help you as a customer understand the scope of your problem and treatment options available. A well trained human is only 50% accurate when it comes to finding bed bugs. Through superior olfactory senses, a trained canine can detect the scent of bed bugs with a rate of 98% accuracy and help determine not only the locations, but the magnitude of the infestation. Depending on the findings of each inspection, several treatment options may be offered, including chemical free and “green” alternatives. Some treatments can be done on your own and some things can only be done by the professionals. Pioneer recommends a comprehensive treatment plan that best suits your home, office or facilities needs. Follow up and preventative detections are also recommended. According to Washington state law, bedbugs in multi-family housing are the responsibility of the landlord, along with any other infestation. Return to the top SR 520 Bridge Electronic Toll Pass Available Drivers on the SR 520 Bridge can now sign up for Good To Go!, Washington state's all-electronic toll collection system that allows drivers to pay tolls without stopping at a tollbooth. Tolling is scheduled to begin this spring.  As a special incentive for those establishing an account early, you can receive $10 in free tolls on SR 520 by signing up for a Good To Go! Pass and activating it before April 15. Good To Go! is Easy to Get and Use: · Sign up online now! · In Person at Customer Service Centers in Seattle and Bellevue and Mobile Customer Service Centers in your neighborhood  · Sign up by phone: (866) 936-8246 When setting up your Good To Go! account, you will need to deposit a minimum of $30 to get started. Once established, every time you drive through a tolling facility, the toll amount will be deducted automatically from your prepaid account. To make sure your Good to Go! account is never overdrawn, it is easy to set up auto-charge so that your bank account or credit card is automatically charged with a preset amount when your account balance gets low. A monthly email links you to your account statement where you can check your recent account activity online or by phone at any time. With auto-charge, you're always Good To Go! Return to the top Critical Resource Updates · Overlake Service League has changed its name to Bellevue LifeSpring. · Elderhealth Northwest has changed its name to Full Life. · Neighborcare Health’s new Rainier Beach Medical and Dental Clinic is now open. It is located at 9245 Rainier Ave S and replaces the Southeast Dental Clinic and the Rainier Beach Medical Clinic. · Washington Women In Need will not have Health Insurance Premium grants available until July 2011. · Arc of King County’s Community Living Grant Program offers grants four times a year for people with developmental disabilities who are looking for financial assistance for non-emergency necessities. Next deadline is March 10. · Tent City 3 has moved to Cherry Hill Baptist Church, 700 22^nd Ave in Seattle where it will remain until April 23. · The YWCA of South King County has merged with East County YWCA and will now be known as King County Suburban YWCA. Return to the top March and April Resources This column highlights timely resources in the community information database that might otherwise go unnoticed by our users. It is always recommended to check Community Resources Online for additional information and for the most current information concerning the following resources. March Resources · Highline Community College Hosts an annual Women's Celebration and Women in Action Awards this spring. For information, call (206) 878-3710, Extension 3340 or e-mail Women's Programs at wopro@highline.edu. · Overlake Service League Provides camp, summer school and tutoring scholarships for children in low-income families and children with disabilities. Must apply starting in March for camp and summer school. Apply for tutoring assistance year-round. · Families for Effective Autism Treatment - FEAT of WA Works with teens to improve their self-management and social problem-solving skills within a service learning context during two sessions in July. Students are enrolled May through June through FEAT's parent network. Applications are first distributed in March to the membership. April Resources · Rebuilding Together Seattle Provides free home repairs to low-income homeowners in the city of Seattle who are unable to perform the work themselves due to physical or financial limitations. Major Spring Rebuilding Day takes place on the last Saturday of April. Applications for work are accepted all year. · Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Offers summer camp enrichment programs that provide students with a curriculum focusing on literacy, math and history/culture, in order to support them in developing the skills needed to meet state assessment standards. Summer Children's University is housed on a local university campus and is intended to expose students to a college experience. Enrollment for Summer Children's University usually begins in April. · Seattle's Union Gospel Mission - Youth Reach Out Center Coordinates a youth summer day camp with outings, activities and optional Bible studies and Christian fellowship. Middle School Program also offers week-long residence camps. Spaces are limited, on a first come, first served basis. Registration usually begins in mid-April.	In this issue: · VA Benefits Provided to Caregivers of Veterans · Nonprofit Launches Bedbug Detection Service · SR 520 Electronic Pass Available · Critical Resource Updates · March & April Resources Financial Fitness Day Sat, April 2 Rainier Community Center 4600 38^th Ave S Seattle-King County Asset-Building Collaborative is hosting a free event where participants can have their tax return prepared; print a free credit report; open a bank account; create a household budget and develop a plan to reduce your debt; apply for public benefits (food, utilities, child care, health insurance); shred financial documents and more. This is an opportunity to talk to experts on: credit and debt, financial planning and management, mortgages and foreclosures, bankruptcy and consumer rights, starting a business, social security, Medicare and Medicaid. For details, click here. GriefWorks Organizes Grief & Job Displacement Public Forum Fri, March 4, 10-11am King County Library – Auburn 1102 Auburn Way S Forum offers education and support for the grieving process, validation of the associated pain and struggle, and a format for discussion. For more information, contact Michele Ray at (253) 333-9420 or Michele@griefworks.org 1^st Annual Downtown Volunteer Fair The first Annual Downtown Volunteer Fair will be held on April 3, noon–3pm at Christ Our Hope Catholic Church (2nd Avenue and Stewart Street). The event is co-sponsored by the Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Downtown Seattle Association. Representatives from 25 nonprofit agencies serving the downtown area (and beyond) will be available to describe their programs and volunteer needs to individuals seeking volunteer opportunities. For information, please contact Christ Our Hope Catholic Church at (206) 448-8226 or email mail@christourhopeseattle.org. Free Trainings on Elder Abuse Trainers from Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN) and Senior Services are offering free one-and-a-half day elder abuse trainings for victim professionals and advocates within King County. This interactive training will offer practical tools needed when serving victims of elder abuse. Trainings will be offered several times over the next 16 months. Pre-registration is required on a first come, first served basis, and there is a 30-participant maximum. To register for future trainings, call Phil Jordan, Elder Abuse Grant Coordinator, at (206) 296-9078 or email phil.jordan@kingcounty.gov. Powerful Voices Annual Girlvolution Conference Sat, April 2, 2011 9am-3pm Asian Counseling & Referral Services 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. Seattle WA 98144 The Girlvolution Conference is the culmination of a 12-week youth employment program called ActiveVistas. During ActiveVistas, girls, ages 14 to 17, gain leadership and public speaking skills while learning about social justice issues. ActiveVistas learn about different forms of oppression and activism through discussions, guest speakers, and trainings. They also develop their facilitation skills.  The ActiveVistas pick a topic relevant to their lives and the health of their community and create their own hour-long workshop. FREE for youth to attend $12 for Adult tickets online or $15 at the door. Parenting with Confidence Positive discipline is both an approach and a set of strategies that are time-tested and build parent confidence as well as a smoother family life! Positive discipline guides children in a context of mutual respect, using methods that are firm and kind, and come from both common sense and research. Best for parents with children ages birth-12. $15 per session. Financial assistance is available; advanced registration is required. Contact Marjorie Schnyder, (206) 861-3146 or familylife@jfsseattle.org 24-Hour Crisis Line (206) 461-3222 (866) 4CRISIS or (866) 427-4747 (206) 461-3219 TTY 24 hours, daily Volunteer Services (206) 461-3210 ext. 611 M-F, 8am-5pm Business Office (206) 461-3210 Fax: (206) 461-8368 M-F, 8am-5pm Info@CrisisClinic.org Teen Link (206) 461-4922 (866) TEENLINK or (866) 833-6546 (206) 461-3219 TTY 6-10pm, nightly TeenLink@CrisisClinic.org Follow us on...
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