Message from the Director – February 2022

To my fellow Veterans, families, and supporters:

It may surprise you, but preparations are well underway for Nevada’s 2023 (82nd) Legislative Session. For the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, that means helping veterans come together to make possible that which cannot be accomplished alone. One way we support this effort is by co-hosting, along with Nevada’s United Veterans Legislative Council (UVLC), the Veterans Legislative Symposia in the spring of the year before the Legislative year begins.

This year the Las Vegas Symposium is slated for March 19th, with the Reno Symposium scheduled for the following Saturday, March 26th. Both events will take place from 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. with coffee and mingling from 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Virtual options are under consideration. These platforms give you the opportunity share your ideas for state legislation benefiting our veterans’ community, ideas that we will share with the Governor and Nevada lawmakers. Federal issues will be presented to Nevada Congressional delegation. I hope you can attend one of the events; the discussions are always lively, informative, and at times emotional. Last year, participants raised 48 issues, and by the end of the session, 15 important Veteran’s bills were passed.

Now, while any individual or group can work this process with their elected officials, working together ensures visibility and support across the veterans’ community, increasing a bill’s chance of success. While many veterans and veterans’ organizations have significant legislative experience, the process is new to others who benefit from this teamwork. I am very proud of the collective effort of all those involved in this process and the positive collaboration that has resulted in the passage of many important bills in past years. Please believe that your participation in the legislative process matters; it can make the difference between success or failure of essential legislation.

So, what else is coming up? On Saturday, March 12 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. we will host a Women Veteran Conference at the Reno at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, with a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. A link for the virtual option will be provided to registrants before the conference. Go HERE for more information and to register. This is going to be a super fun event, with networking, great food, hands-on projects, and things that we know you will be glad to learn.

We also want to share that our Crombie Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Academy is again accepting applications for upcoming CNA classes. For those who don’t know, the Crombie Academy is a workforce development program that offers an introduction to basic nursing skills, nursing assistant duties and responsibilities. It also provides an understanding of veteran culture in an acute and long-term care setting at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home (SNSVH), where the academy is located. Graduates who go on to obtain their CNA certification will be provided with employment opportunities at SNSVH. Preference is provided to Gold Star Families, veterans, spouses and family members of veterans, families of SNSVH team members and Boulder City residents. For more information on the program, eligibility requirements and application process, go HERE.

Finally, there are two more items of importance to share with you this month. First, for caregivers, emergency funds for respite assistance are still available through the Nevada Department of Health and Human Safety. There is more information on the funding, eligibility as well as where and how to apply under the Health and Wellness section of this newsletter or simply click HERE. Also, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants to hear from you about a proposal that would eliminate copayments for outpatient mental health visits and reduce copayments for medications provided to veterans identified as high risk of suicide. You may learn more about this proposal under the Health and Wellness section of this newsletter, or simply click HERE.

Well, that was a lot of information—it’s hard to keep it short with so much happening! I hope to see you at one of the symposia or the Women Veterans Conference—and have a terrific February!

Respectfully,

Kat