Update On the Nevada Veterans Advocate Program

By Cathy Yates, NDVS Northern Nevada Outreach Director

The Nevada Veterans Advocate (NVA) conference was held for the first time ever in Elko, Nevada.  Thirty-nine people attended the NVA conference October 20-21^st at the Red Lion in Elko and four people have already completed their NVA certification.  Several NVA courses have been completely changed or modified to include elimination of one course, breaking other courses into specific subject matter training and the addition of the new 20^th module on Suicide Prevention.  If you were certified more than three years ago, you will need to recertify.  If you have questions about recertification, contact Justin Prazak at prazakj@veterans.nv.gov or call at (775)321-4719.

The next NVA conference will be held in Reno at Harrah's on April 6^th and 7^th, 2019.

Following the NVA conference in Elko, NDVS coordinated with Tribal Government Specialist Pacific District, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs, to hold a Native American claims event.  On October 22, 2018, claims assistance was provided by Veteran Service Representatives from the Salt Lake City VA Hospital and the Reno Regional Office as well as a Veterans Service Officer from Elko.  A total of 15 Native Americans took advantage of the support provided.