M AKING A D IFFERENCE IN B REVARD , NC OCTOBER 2014 VA Resources for Veterans and Families Reprinted from Guide to Mental Health Services for Veterans & Families The Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) provides mental health services at its medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. In addition, readjustment counseling services are available for Veterans and their Families at Vet Centers across the nation. For more information, visit the VA Mental Health website at www.mentalhealth.va.gov or the Vet Center website at www.vetcenter.va.gov. Make the Connection (www.maketheconnection.net) is a public awareness campaign by the department of Veteran Affairs that provides personal testimonials and resources to help Veterans and their Families and friends learn from each other’s experiences and discover ways to improve their lives. Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their Families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll -free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call (800) 273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at www.veteranscrisisline.net, or send a text to 838255 to receive confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year. Coaching into Care is a free and confidential coaching service to help callers discover new ways to talk with a veteran about their concerns and treatment options. VA works with Family Members or friends who become aware of a Veterans’ postdeployment difficulties, and supports their efforts to find help for the Veteran. Callers can reach the service at 888-823-7458. More information can be found at www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching. National Center for PTSD is VA’s center of excellence for research and education on the prevention, understanding, and treatment of PTSD. The mission of the National Center is to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America’s Veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. For more information, visit www.ptsd.va.gov. IN THIS ISSUE: VA Resources for Veterans and Families ..........1 1st Annual Fall Back to Work Job Fair ..............2 NC Governor’s Working Group ........................2 Agent Orange/Dioxin Town Hall ......................2 Family Support Network .................................3 AMVETS Back to School Special .....................3 Fall 2014 Money Smart Workshops ................4 OnTrack WNC Women & Money Conference ....4 MOS TumbleBooks........................................4 Think It’s E—Z ................................................5 Breast Cancer Awareness Month ....................5 Spouse Education & Career Opportunities ......5 National Cyber Security Awareness Month.......6 Domestic Violence Awareness Month..............7 11 Ways to Save When You’re Broke ...............8 ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER 152 E French Broad Street Brevard, NC 28712 SUSAN BENNETT Contract Customer Support Coordinator Office: 828-884-9482 [email protected] HILLARY COALSON Contract Customer Support Coordinator Office: 828-885-7895 [email protected] OFFICE HOURS: Monday—Friday, 8am—5pm Closed Monday, October 13 For more information, contact the ASCC. The information presented in this newsletter is for informational awareness only and does not represent endorsement, sponsorship, recommendation, or promotion of any commercial event(s), commercial names or brands by the editors of this Newsletter, the Department of Defense, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserve, and the federal government. Usage of commercial or trade mark names is for identification purposes only. BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 1 1st Annual Fall Back to Work Job Fair Thursday, October 2, 2014 | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM SC Works McAlister Square 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive Greenville, SC 29607 This event is sponsored by SC Work Greenville. No registration needed. There will be assistance for Military Candidates and their Families. Arrive in business attire and resumes in hand in order to leave a positive impression on potential employers. For Resume assistance feel free to visit SC Works offices located at 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville SC 29607. They have advisors available to help improve resumes to best market the individual. If you have questions, contact Kathy Stanton at (864) 467-3620 or send email to [email protected]. For more information, visit www.scworks.org. NC Governor’s Working Group on Veterans, Service Members and their Families Agent Orange/Dioxin Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 25, 2014 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM AB-Tech Enka Campus Haynes Building 1459 Sand Hill Road Candler, NC 28715 Event sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 124, Asheville, NC. Do you have questions about Agent Orange/ Dioxin? A program for Vietnam Veterans, dependents, and their survivors will discuss health issues related to Agent Orange/Dioxin exposure and its multigenerational effects. An overview will be presented regarding benefits available to Vietnam Veterans, dependents, and their Survivors. The claims process will be thoroughly reviewed step-by-step. Panel experts from the National Office of VVA: Mokie Porter, Herb Worthington, Tom Berger, Ph.D., and VVA Certified Veteran Service Officer, Anthony Mussolino, will be providing important information. Impact on the family and birth defects will be highlighted. Thursday, October 23rd, 2014| 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Teleconference (855) 521-0877 Subject: Veteran Housing Services Accredited VSO from Western NC Counties and NC Department of Veterans Affairs will be available to discuss individual claims. North Carolina Governor McCrory’s determination to expand and improve services for the state’s 800,000 Veterans has resulted in building an unprecedented intra-governmental working group focused on job creation, workforce enrichment, health and wellness, legal and financial services and benefits for Veterans. Anyone is welcome to join in and listen to the monthly meetings. For more information, call Allan Perkal at (808) 383-7877 or visit ASHVVVA124.org. For directions, visit www.abtech.edu/content/a-b-techlocations/Enka-Site. For more information, visit ncveteransworkinggroup.com or email [email protected]. BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 2 Family Support Network of WNC Family Group Night Family Support Network is a parent-to-parent program serving families of children with special needs or health concerns. Attend a monthly meeting for a chance to meet other families and caregivers, to share and/or learn of child-raising experiences, to find other support groups and/or receive information about medical conditions and/or resources/services available. Services are free of charge and the entire family will benefit from Family Group Night. Family Support Network of Region A - serving Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties and the Cherokee Indian Reservation. For Meeting Locations contact Jody Miller at (828) 631-3900 x154 or [email protected]. Children's Developmental Services Agency, 87 Bonnie Lane, Sylva, NC. For more information, visit regionakids.org/family-support-network . Family Support Network of Western NC serving Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania Meeting Schedule below. Register with Roxann Colwell at (828) 213-0033 or (888) 810-2800 x2 or [email protected]. Questions? Call Kate Glance (828) 213-9787 or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.FamilySupportNetworkWNC.org. Please RSVP! Signing up will help insure we have enough food for dinner and volunteers for groups. Buncombe County 1st Tuesday, Monthly | Dinner 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM; Meeting 7:30 PM Mission Reuter Children’s Center Family Support Network™ of WNC 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive Asheville, NC 28803 Henderson County 3rd Monday, Monthly | Dinner 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM; Meeting 7:30 PM | St. Gerard House 620 Oakland Street | Hendersonville, NC 28792 Madison County 4th Monday, Monthly | Dinner 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM; Meeting 7:30 PM | Madison County NC CEC 258 Carolina Lane | Marshall, NC 28753 Transylvania County 4th Thursday, Monthly | Dinner 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM; Meeting 7:30 PM | Transylvania Parks & Recreation Center 1178 Ecusta Road | Brevard, NC 28712 For more information, contact the ASCC. AMVETS Back to School Special eKnowledge Offers Military Families FREE $250 SAT and ACT College Test Prep Programs eKnowledge has donated more than 207,000 SAT and ACT programs valued at over $48 million at no profit to the company. The Military Donation Project is in alliance with the DoD and supported by professional athletes from the NFL and MLB as well as 250 Affiliate Partners. eKnowledge has been investing in students and improving test scores while always keeping up with the changing landscape of college test preparation. The SAT and ACT PowerPrep™ Programs are available online or on a single DVD. Each program includes more than 11 hours of video instruction and 3000 files of supplemental test prep material, thousands of interactive diagnostic tools, sample questions, and practice tests. Order Online at www.eKnowledge.com/AMVETS. Order by phone at (951) 256-4076. Test Dates 2014/2015 SAT: October 11, November 8, December 6, January 24, March 14, May 2, June 6 ACT: September 13, October 25, December 13, February 7, April 18, June 13 For more information, contact Lori Caputo at (951) 256-4076 or [email protected]. BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 3 Fall 2014 MONEY SMART WORKSHOPS Henderson County Etowah United Methodist Church 110 Brickyard Road Etowah, NC 28729 These workshops are open to the public, NO COST, sponsored by St. James Charities and OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling. [Workshops are required for those participating in the Section 8 WCCA Family Self–Sufficiency program.] Thursday October 2 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Buying a Car? New, Used, Financing? - Instructor: Maryann Festa, WCCA Thursday October 9 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Banking Services: Managing your Checking Account/Balancing Statements - Instructor: Maryann Festa, WCCA Thursday October 16, 23, 30 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Manage Your Money (It’s Possible) (3 part series) – Hillary Holmes, OnTrack Registration is required to determine space needed, number of dinner servings to anticipate, and if child care will be needed. Call Maryann at (828) 693-1711. OnTrack WNC Women & Money Conference - Asheville NC Saturday, October 25, 2014| 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM First Baptist Church of Asheville 5 Oak Street Asheville, NC 28801 To register for the event, go to www.ontrackwnc.org/women.html. Costs $15 per person Scholarships are available. Since Money doesn’t grow on trees cultivate money knowledge, weed out financial fears, nurture new budget habits, plant ideas for future success, and just have fun! Keynote Speaker Desiree Adaway desireeadaway.com/about. OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling offers a vast array of services and courses for budgeting, debt management, planning for your financial future, and money goal setting through group or one on one appointments with a counselor in your county. OnTrack Asheville offers Home Buyer’s Education classes, evenings, Saturdays and in Spanish. Call (800) 737-5485 to schedule an appointment. For more information on no-cost financial services, visit www.ontrackwnc.org. MILITARY ONE SOURCE TumbleBooks for Beginning and Intermediate Readers Morale, Welfare and Recreation Online Libraries offer TumbleBook for Beginning Readers, kids can access hundreds of storybooks and non-fiction titles on a wide range of subjects from animals and insects to fables and fantasy. The Tumblesearch function allows you to search by title, author, subject, reading level and more. Keep track of your kids' favorite titles using the "My Favorites" function, and put together a playlist of their best-loved books to play one after the other with "My Playlist." At TumbleBook, kids can enjoy hours of fun reading and learning. Older readers will enjoy all the read-along books, graphic novels and other e-books found at TumbleBookCloud. Just one of many available titles, "The Outside of a Horse" tells the story of a teenager who uses her love of horses to help her father, an Iraq war veteran, recover from the physical and emotional injuries he sustained during his deployment. Kids can also choose from a wide selection of young adult/teen fiction, short stories and classics like "The Great Gatsby." For toddlers, teens and kids in between, Military OneSource offers online library resources to help children keep their grades up, research paper topics, learn to read or just find a gripping story for a rainy afternoon. Show your kids how to access these online resources and let them explore and develop a lifelong love of books and learning or find an animated picture book to read together. For more information, visit www.militaryonesource.mil/mwr/libraries?content_id=269525 or call (800) 342-9647. BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 4 Think It’s E-Z? Love breezing through tollbooths with your E-Z Pass? A new scam is taking advantage of that. Here’s how it works: You get an email that appears to be from E-Z Pass. It has the E-Z Pass logo, and says you owe money for driving on a toll road. It also provides a link to click for your invoice. Guess what? The email isn’t from E-Z Pass. If you click on the link, the crooks running this scam may put malware on your machine. And if you respond to the email with your personal information, they’re likely to steal your identity. This E-Z Pass email is the latest in a long line of phishing scams, where fraudsters pretend to be legitimate businesses as a way to get access to people’s personal information. But adopting a few online security habits can help you avoid phishing scams: Never click on links in emails unless you’re sure who sent you the message. Don’t respond to any emails that ask for personal or financial information. Email isn’t a secure way to send that information. Type an organization’s URL yourself, and don’t send personal or financial information unless the URL begins with https (the “s” stands for secure). If an email looks like it is from E-Z Pass, contact E-Z Pass customer service to confirm that it is really from them. Keep your computer security software current. Have You been tricked by a phishing email? Forward it to [email protected] and to the company impersonated in the email. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint. Visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft. For more information, visit www.consumer.ftc.gov. Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2014 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Make a difference! Spread the word about mammograms and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved. Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. If you are a woman age 40 to 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them. If you are a woman age 50 to 74, be sure to get a mammogram every 2 years. You may also choose to get them more often. Talk to a doctor about your risk for breast cancer, especially if a close family member of yours had breast or ovarian cancer. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get mammograms. For more information, visit healthfinder.gov. Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) To help military spouses reach their education and career goals as they balance work-life priorities and interests, DoD has established a comprehensive, holistic, spousecentered program called SECO. The program seeks to strengthen the education and career opportunities of military spouses worldwide. For more information, visit www.MilitaryOneSource.mil or call (800) 342-9647. BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 5 National Cyber Security Awareness Month The Internet is part of everyone’s life, every day. We use the Internet at work, home, for enjoyment, and to connect with those close to us. However, being constantly connected brings increased risk of theft, fraud, and abuse. No country, industry, community, or individual is immune to cyber risks. As a nation, we face constant cyber threats against our critical infrastructure and economy. As individuals, cybersecurity risks can threaten our finances, identity, and privacy. Since our way of life depends on critical infrastructure and the digital technology that operates it, cybersecurity is one of our country’s most important national security priorities, and we each have a role to play—cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. National Cyber Security Awareness Month is designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity and increasing the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. October 2014 marks the 11th Annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. For tips and resources you can use and share throughout the year, visit the DHS Stop.Think.Connect. Toolkit and find resources for the following demographics: Students K-8, 9-12, and Undergraduate Parents and Educators Young Professionals Older Americans Government Industry Small Business Law Enforcement For more information on how to practice cybersecurity during National Cyber Security Awareness Month and throughout the year, visit Stop.Think.Connect at www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect-get-informed. Stop.Think.Connect.TM Tips for keeping your personal information safe, your Family protected, and our nation security intact. STOP STOP hackers from accessing your accounts—set secure passwords. STOP sharing too much information. Keep your personal information personal. STOP—trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, stop what you are doing. THINK THINK about the information you want to share before you share it. THINK how your online actions can affect your offline life. THINK before you act—don’t automatically click on links. CONNECT CONNECT over secure networks. CONNECT with people you know. CONNECT with care and be on the lookout for potential threats. www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 6 Domestic Violence Awareness Month Intimate Partner Violence: Let VA Help Intimate partner violence (IPV), which is often called domestic violence, occurs when a current or former intimate partner (e.g., boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse) harms, threatens to harm, or stalks their partner. While domestic violence does include IPV, it refers to any violence that occurs in the home. Domestic violence includes child abuse, elder abuse, and other forms of interpersonal abuse. IPV refers specifically to violence between intimate partners. IPV can happen to anyone. It can happen no matter your age, income, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, or disability. IPV is prevalent among women Veterans, active duty women, and women living in the U.S. overall. One-third of women Veterans experience IPV in their lifetime compared to less than a quarter of civilian women. Women who have experienced IPV may have short and long-term health effects. They may experience short-term health effects such as physical injuries like stab wounds or broken bones or sexually transmitted infections. They may also experience long-term health effects such as obesity; problems with their heart, stomach, or digestive systems; difficulties with pregnancy or unwanted pregnancies; chronic pain; and other stress-related difficulties such as headaches. They may also experience mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, and thoughts of hurting themselves. Has your partner: Emotionally mistreated you (e.g., called you names, tried to embarrass, or intimidate you)? Tried to control where you go, who you talk to, what you can wear, or what you can do? Told you that you are “crazy” or “worthless"? Stolen or tried to control your money? Looked at you or acted in ways that scare you? Threatened you, your possessions, your pets, or loved ones? Physically hurt you or tried to hurt you? Forced you to engage in sexual activities? Threatened to commit suicide or kill you if you left them? If you answer yes to any of the questions above or identify with any of the behaviors detailed above, VA can help. Some people experience only one of these forms of violence while others may experience more than one. IPV can be a single event or can last for many years. No matter what, no one deserves to be treated this way. Resources If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Contact the National Domestic Hotline at 1-800-799- SAFE (7233) or on the web at www.thehotline.org for 24-hour confidential support, local referrals, safety planning, housing options, and legal resources. Contact your local VA hospital and ask to speak with the Women Veterans Program Manager. Develop a safety plan. VA employees who are impacted by IPV can contact their Employee Assistance Program or visit it on the web at www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/worklife/employee-assistance-programs/. Talk to your primary care provider, who can refer you to a specialist if needed. Check out Futures Without Violence at www.futureswithoutviolence.org to learn about educational programs designed to end violence against women. An IPV Webinar training conference is scheduled for October 9. For information on how to attend, visit conferences.bwjp.org/webconferencedetail.aspx?confid=350. BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 7 11 Ways to Save When You're Broke We always want what we don't have, and for most Americans it's a full savings account. The national saving rate was less than .5 percent in 2013 but most Americans still choose to live beyond their means, until they have nothing to live on. So if you're ready to tighten the purse strings, the Illinois CPA Society developed 11 ways to help you save during tough times: 1.) Avoid Paying Fees. 2.) Take advantage of sales and use coupons. 3.) Shop around and compare prices. 4.) Evaluate your cable/satellite TV package. 5.) Eliminate magazine subscriptions or reduce the amount of magazines you receive. 6.) Calculate the cost of your commute. 7.) Scale back on the vacation. 8.) Alter your attitude about saving. 9.) Experiment with less expensive products and places. 10.) Eat meals at home and prepare a lunch to take to work. 11.) Change the 'need it now' mentality. If you follow these steps and save money on the little expenses you could prepare yourself for any big financial emergencies that could arise. Additional Resources Military Saves is a campaign coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and is dedicated to helping servicemembers and their families save money, reduce debt, and build wealth. militarysaves.org Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a Federal Government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan. It offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under "401(k)" plans. www.tsp.gov Choose to Save® national public education and outreach program is dedicated to raising awareness about the need to plan and save for long-term personal financial security. www.choosetosave.org Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of non-profit consumer organizations that was established to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. www.consumerfed.org Investor.gov is an online resource to help invest wisely and avoid fraud. www.investor.gov MyMoney.gov is a product to strengthen financial capability and increase access to financial services for all Americans. www.mymoney.gov/Pages/default.aspx Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. www.consumer.ftc.gov BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 8
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