Many troops returning home from combat have life-altering injuries.  Many also struggle to find jobs, reconnect with their kids and just fit into the civilian world.  An organization called Team Red, White and Blue aims to help veterans with these challenges and close the gap between the civilian and military worlds by pairing injured veterans with a civilian "advocate."

 read more ...

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees disability compensation, which is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. There is a list of  Presumptive Conditions that a veteran must have to apply for and receive disability compensation related to the categories listed later in the article. Those applying for disability compensation must have served during the time period that is applicable for each category and be suffering from a condition that is a known and listed side effect from their service.
 

A staggering 17 percent of Ohio’s sheltered and homeless population is made  up by veterans, according to a 2009 report from the Coalition on  Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, an organization pushing to end  homelessness and promote affordable housing. The VSC of Summit County seeks to bring vital care and community resources to Akron-area homeless veterans during the 5th Annual Akron Stand Down on Tuesday, Sept. 14. read more ...

When it comes to accounting for homeless veterans, the numbers are hard to pin down. One estimate says 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in the country. Another says one out of every three homeless men served his nation in a branch of the military.

No matter the count, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Obama administration say one homeless vet is one too many. VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki in November unveiled the department’s
$3.2 billion, five-year plan to end veteran homelessness by marshalling the resources of government and the private sector.

 read more ...

Tuitions are increasing at colleges around the country just as the job market becomes more crowded, and a college degree becomes ever more essential to land even an entry-level position.

The Summit County Veterans Service Commission wants to make sure that local veterans know about all of the educational opportunities available to them, and invites them to gather at its headquarters in May to learn everything they need to know about accessing their education benefits

VSC will host its first-ever Education Symposium from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8 at 1060 E. Waterloo Rd. in Akron. Attendees may choose between morning or afternoon sessions, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.

 read more ...

Now that the new year has arrived, it is time for those of you who receive an Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) in the mail, from VA, to contact the SCVSC to schedule an appointment with a Service Officer to get help completing the form and have it submitted to VA before March 1, 2010. It is imperative to get this information to the VA expediciously, due to the cutoff date, to prevent your benefits from being stopped. Please contact the SCVSC (330-643-2830) at your earliest convenience to schedule the appointment.

 read more ...

The Akron Municipal Court realized years ago that jail is not always the best solution to every offense – especially if the suspect is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or has a mental health condition. That thinking led to the formation of five special courts which deal with nonviolent offenders.

 read more ...

Determining which health care program you and your dependants qualify for can be confusing, so the Summit County Veterans Service Commission would like to provide some basic information regarding both the CHAMPVA and TRICARE programs.

 read more ...

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently made a decision to add Parkinson's Disease to the list of presumptive illnesses tied to Agent Orange. If you have been diagnosed Parkinson's Disease and were in the military, in theater, you should contact the Summit County Veterans Service Commission at 330-643-2830 to schedule an appointment to meet with a Service Officer.