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On Thurs, May 11th at 11 AM PT, VA and community experts were here to answer your questions on benefits, claims, and peer-to-peer support services.

You can ask questions to the following people:
» Pamela Redwine - Coach Veterans Service Representative, LA Regional Office, VA
» SP6 Calvin Payne - Outreach Coordinator, GLAHS, VA
» Natalie Souza - Assistant Veteran Service Center Manager, LA Regional Office, VA
» Sgt Jay Dalrymple - Director, National Cemetery Scheduling Office, VA
» PO2 Dustin Case - Coach Public Contact, LA Regional Office, VA
» Sgt Ed McEvoy - National Outreach Specialist, VA Vet Center
» Melissa Comeau - Director, Military and Veteran Caregiver Network, American Red Cross
» Marianne Delatorre - HHCC Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
» Nancy Pelayo - Program Manager, LA County Department of Mental Health, VPAN
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Senior Program Manager, George W. Bush Presidential Center
» CPO Missina Schallus - Communications Manager, Center for Women Veterans
» Capt Anthony Rodriguez - Local Interagency Network Coordinator, CalVet
» Kimberly Wheeler - Medical Support Assistant, Long Beach VAHCS, VA

The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet):
The California Department of Veterans Affairs works to serve California veterans and their families. With nearly 1.6​ million veterans living in the State, CalVet strives to ensure that its veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a result of selfless and honorable military service. CalVet strives to serve veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to help them achieve their highest quality of life.

Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN):
A community driven support network serving veterans and their families helping them navigate and link to L.A. County departments, non-profits, the VA, and L.A. City programs. VPAN helps veterans navigate complicated systems by connecting them to a “battle buddy” and linking them to needed resources such as mental health, substance misuse support, housing, workforce development and employment, healthcare, education, legal and other miscellaneous services.

The National Cemetery Scheduling Office (NCSO):
The National Cemetery Scheduling Office is part of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, National Cemetery Administration. The NCSO responsible for verifying eligibility for burial for Veterans, their spouses, and dependents and scheduling of burial services for 155 VA National Cemeteries across the United States. The NCSO also processes Pre-Need application requests Veterans. A Pre-Need application is used for living Veterans who are preparing their plans for their final resting place.

RallyPoint Answers and Discussion Conduct: https://rly.pt/33ySsg0
Comments have been disabled
Responses: 44
Maj Kim Patterson
My question is when will the benefits department be fully staffed? People are dying before their file gets to the top.
Natalie Souza
Natalie Souza
>1 y
Maj Kim Patterson I can only speak for the Los Angeles Regional Office. We expect to be fully staffed by late June, however new staff who on board do need to go through extensive training before working on claims. If a Veteran or claimant is experiencing a hardship such as financial or health issues or if they fall into one of our priority groups such as terminal or homeless then the Veteran or Veteran Service Organization can reach out to us to inform us and we will flag the claim to expediate. Here is the link to our office webpage it has office hours and link for in person or virtual appointments. https://www.benefits.va.gov/ROLOSANGELES/index.asp
Sgt Christopher Vidaurre
Hello All, My name is Christopher Vidaurre, I am the Senior Program Manager at the George W. Bush Institute. I am here on behalf of the Veterans Wellness Alliance to share “Check-In” Check-In is a first-of-its-kind network that unites peer-led organizations and mental and brain health service providers to connect veterans and their families with high-quality care for mental and brain health services. Please go to veterancheckin.org and fill out our short form to get connected to care. Once you fill out the form within in 72 business hours our Care Coordinator will reach out to you and find the most appropriate care and get you connected. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you.

https://www.veterancheckin.org/s/
PO3 Douglas Webb
PO3 Douglas Webb
>1 y
Sgt Vidaurre - Thank you as always for your and GWB Inst. VWA ongoing support and service to our Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors.
Sgt Christopher Vidaurre
Sgt Christopher Vidaurre
>1 y
PO3 Douglas Webb - Thank you, we are proud to support where we can.
CPO Missina Schallus
Hello, I am Missina Schallus, the Comms Manager in the Center for Women Veterans and a Navy Veteran. Happy to answer questions.
PO3 Douglas Webb
PO3 Douglas Webb
>1 y
CPO Schallus - Thank you for serving today's event!
Melissa Comeau
Melissa Comeau
>1 y
Thank you for being with us.

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