Message from Interim Director Lisa Maciel

If you haven’t heard about the huge additional expansion of veterans’ healthcare eligibility under the federal PACT Act, take some time to check out what this means to you and your family in this newsletter. (VA press release HERE). After you read about this VA benefits expansion, if you would like to see one of our Veterans Service Officers, simply go HERE. Or, if you have a question about your earned benefits visit our “Ask a VSO” by going HERE. This is an exciting development that will enable more veterans to receive the healthcare benefits they have earned and deserve!   

There are so many additional things to share with you this month, but I want to send a well-earned congratulations to members of my NDVS team! The department recently received an Abraham Lincoln Pillar of Excellence Award for its Veteran Care Pocket Card initiative. The is the sixth time NDVS has earned this prestigious, national award. It is provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. It recognizes state veteran agencies and departments for creating and implementing outstanding, innovative programs that support veterans in their respective states. I encourage you to read more about the award and the initiative in this newsletter! 

I also encourage you to attend one of several upcoming NDVS hosted events in the coming weeks! This includes the Nevada Veterans Legislative Symposia. This event is your opportunity to identify and prioritize items of interest to the veterans’ community to bring forward to Nevada lawmakers. In Reno, the event will be held on March 23, 2024, at the Washoe Senior Center. Coffee and mingling begin at 8:00 a.m. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. The date for the Las Vegas event is April 6, 2024, at the Dula Community Center, with the same times as the Reno event. 

Go HERE to register in Reno.  

Go HERE to register in Las Vegas.  

Finally, our free, in-person training to receive your certificate as a Nevada Veterans Advocate is set for April 13-14, 2024, at the Elks Lodge at 597 Kumle Lane in Reno. 

Go HERE to register for the Nevada Veterans Advocate Conference in Reno.  

I’m pleased to report we are at capacity for the 2024 Women Veterans Conference at the Aliante Resort & Casino in Las Vegas! Whew! This event promises to be phenomenal, and it will also feature a few surprises. So, with that cliff hanger, I promise to share more on this gathering next month!  

Until then, I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event and hope you enjoy this newsletter as much as we enjoy sharing this information with you.  

Respectfully,

Lisa Maciel
Interim Director