New announcement: CF STUDY CAF mbrs who have service illness/injury Understanding the Resilience

The Study Understanding the Resilience of Children of a Parent Coping with a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Service-Related Illness or Injury
The purpose of this research is to gain a better understanding of children's strategies and coping mechanisms during times of stress. Specifically, we want to hear about children's experiences when they have a parent coping with a CAF service-related illness or injury.

http://www.familyforce.ca/sites/ColdLake/EN/Volunteering/Documents/Resilience%20Advertisement%202013%20BIL.pdf

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Fundraiser aims to expand access to companion dogs for soldiers with PTSD

Fundraiser aims to expand access to companion dogs for soldiers with PTSD

Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press
Thu, 5 Sep 2013 15:14:00 CST
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OTTAWA - Warrant Officer Jocelyn "Butch" Boucher had one of those stressful, unenviable jobs that always seem to fall to senior non-commissioned officers in the military.

An air force intelligence and research analyst, it was Boucher's responsibility in the fall of 2008 to anticipate for the commander of HMCS Ville de Quebec what Somali pirates were up to in the Gulf of Aden.

It was a mission with lethal potential, one that the frigate and her crew of some 225 had not anticipated — nor had they established a network of intelligence contacts necessary to operate in those perilous waters, where freighters were being hijacked almost daily.

There were moments, Boucher says, when you never knew what was going to happen next.

Boucher was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress following the deployment, and now awaits word on whether a medical discharge will end his military career of more than three decades.

He's one of the thousands of veterans whose "heart and soul have not come home" from the conflicts the country sent them to, said Philip Ralph, a Canadian Forces Baptist minister and member of Wounded Warriors Canada.

The charity kicked off a planned 2014 cycling fundraiser Thursday with a pledge to put the proceeds toward expanding programs that help veterans access service dogs for therapy.

A growing body of research, mostly in the United States, has shown how soldiers with post traumatic stress bond with the dogs, and easing their anxiety.

Boucher, who has his own dog Spirit, says acceptance of the therapy needs to be more widespread.

"I didn't feel comfortable in my skin," said Boucher.

Since Spirit has joined us, joined my family, she is ice-breaker, the one that allows me to open up and talk about these events that have happened in my life."

Veterans Affairs Canada for years has kept a skeptical eye on the use of "service animals."

The department covers costs for veterans who use service dogs for physical disabilities, including blindness, but don't do the same for those suffering from mental health issues.

A pilot program was launched last spring, in co-operation with St. John Ambulance Canada, to research the benefit of using dogs and horses to assist veterans with post traumatic stress.

But internal briefings going back three years cast a doubtful tone, saying there has been little peer-reviewed research, and raising questions about the ability of veterans to care for the animals.

"While there may be potential benefits, risks must be considered, such as the risk to the well-being of the individual who is not successful in feeding and looking after the animal in his or her care," said a 2010 briefing for former veterans minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn.

The research proposal, launched last spring, was under consideration at the time of the briefing, the note said.

Veterans officials endorsed the notion that all other "proven" treatment methods be exhausted before "alternative" methods were tried.

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

Ottawa stands by record on services for veterans

Ottawa stands by record on services for veterans

Vancouver Sun September 3, 2013

Re: Feds need to step up on issue of homeless veterans, Letters, Aug. 28

I want to thank Joyce Carter for her concern as expressed in her letter.

One homeless veteran on the streets is one too many. Our government has been active, through Veterans Affairs Canada, on this important issue and has taken steps to do more to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Over 190 organizations that support the homeless across the country have been provided with important information about how they can seek needed support and assistance.

Veterans Affairs Canada works in partnership with the Operational Stress Injury Social Support Network and other organizations in major urban centres across the country.

Notably, individuals in crisis could have access to emergency funds that are available from multiple sources such as the Naval Benevolent Fund and Canadian Forces Personnel Assistance Fund. Local veteran and community organizations are vitally important by helping to identify homeless veterans who may be eligible to receive help.

Moreover, our government has vastly improved services available to veterans: we have standardized home visits, opened snow clearing, and grass-cutting services to some 38,000 veterans' widows. We have also enhanced accessibility so that veterans can spend less time trying to access services and more time with their families.

As minister of Veterans Affairs, along with our government and my department, this is a commitment that I take with the utmost of respect, responsibility and consideration.

Julian Fantino

Minister of Veterans Affairs
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

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New announcement: Here’s hoping Julian Fantino is a man of his word

Here's hoping Julian Fantino is a man of his word

Published on August 29, 2013

http://www.journalpioneer.com/Opinion/Editorials/2013-08-29/article-3368740/Here%26rsquos-hoping-Julian-Fantino-is-a-man-of-his-word/1

Something other than who smoked what 10 or 20 years ago – though if you're keeping score on that front, so far it's Shea: no; Ghiz and Trudeau: yes.

Anyway, moving right along – today we're writing about Julian Fantino, our newly appointed minister of Veterans Affairs.

What can you say about a man like Fantino?

A career cop and administrator, the guy deserves and probably has a medal for his pre-politics public service career.

A quick Google search of his name reveals that his career as the top cop in Toronto, then Ontario has not been all sunshine and bunnies – but overall he retired with his reputation intact. No small feat for such a high profile public servant.

On Tuesday, Fantino told a group of veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #17 in Wellington, that he was looking forward to working with them in the future.

But he sure didn't go out of his way to sugarcoat his promises.

Times are tough economically, he told the crowd, and the government can't afford to give anyone a completely free ride – even our honoured veterans.

He also committed to consulting with vets, helping soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan find work in the private sector and to personally work hard on these and many other issues.

It all sounds good and more power to him. Here's hoping he sticks to those promises.

But he's got a tough job ahead.

Our new veterans need more than just career changes. Some need continuous and life-long mental and physical therapy.

Left untreated, many of their afflictions could manifest into more serious issues down the road – and our soldiers deserve better than that.

According to a recently released Canadian Forces report, nearly 14 per cent of members who served in Afghanistan have been diagnosed with a mental disorder linked direct to their service.

According to the report, eight per cent of personnel deployed between 2001 and 2008 were found to have post-traumatic stress disorder, while about 5.5 per cent of that group had another kind disorder.

There were more than 30,000 people in the study.

Those are staggering numbers.

They should not be ignored, or pushed aside, not even when times are tough economically.

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

Harold Leduc MMM CD looking for commenst on the Veteran Ombudsman

Good day all,

For the widest possible distribution and discussion throughout your networks please.

-The current Government's introduction of the Veterans Bill of Rights is evidence that veterans rights are abused.
-Government lawyers in the recent Equitas court hearing established that the current Government are the abusers.
-They used the work of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman (OVO) and Legion advisory groups to undermine the lawsuit.
-For the first time since WWI, the organizations failed to effectively protect veterans rights, in response this Government established the OVO.
-The current Veterans Ombudsman (VO) is silent as veterans are publicly humiliated, stripped of benefits, military disabilities aggravated and rights abused.
- Discussion among veterans show a growing dissatisfaction with the VO's performance .

The VO has an obligation to ensure veterans are treated fairly in accordance with the Veterans Bill of Rights. http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/ombudsman/index-eng.cfm

1. Comparing performance to mandate, do you believe the VO is fulfilling his obligation to veterans? Why or why not?

2. If not, then what should the veterans community do about it?

Your feedback is important if the veterans community is to take it's rights seriously.

In solidarity,

Harold


Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php

New announcement: Ombudsman to probe ‘failing’ military support for injured war vets

Ombudsman to probe 'failing' military support for injured war vets

By Chris Cobb, OTTAWA CITIZEN August 26, 2013 8:02 PM

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ombudsman+probe+failing+military+support+injured+vets/8835654/story.html

OTTAWA — Canada's military ombudsman has launched a probe into the national network of support units created almost five years ago to help mentally and physically injured troops.

The probe comes less than a month after the Ottawa Citizen reported that the network of 24 support platoons have deteriorated due to overcrowding, chronic staff shortages, staff burnout and the filling of key positions with unqualified personnel, many of whom are on the eve of retirement.

Ombudsman Pierre Daigle decided to launch a review following the Citizen's coverage and a specific complaint sent to his office, spokesman Jamie Robertson told the Citizen Monday.

Investigators plan to contact all the units and if they find a pattern of systemic failure, could launch a full-fledged investigation, said Robertson.

"We will be trying to find from the people who work there what is happening on the ground," said Robertson. "We want to get good information from all levels."

Investigators typically interview less senior staff away from their units and keep their identities secret, he added.

The support units operate under the umbrella of regional Joint Personnel Support Centres and are intended to help the ill and injured troops — mostly Afghan war veterans — either reintegrate into the armed forces or be prepared for civilian life, which is most often the case.

A key requirement introduced in 2006 is that all troops, irrespective of their military job, meet the "Universality of Service" standard, which in effect means being fit enough to fight.

The Opposition NDP have said that the "Universality of Service" introduced by the Conservative government is unfairly restricting many war veterans from resuming their military careers and leaving the service with a pension.

While posted into a support unit, troops will either work on base, learn trades with local businesses or take college courses. Most receive some form of mental or physical therapy and all are supposed to report regularly to their supervisors, who in turn are required to produce regular reports on the ill and injured under their supervision.

Former senior non-commissioned officer Barry Westholm, who resigned to protest the current state of the JPSU system after more than four years overseeing the unit's vast Eastern Ontario region, told the Citizen that his constant efforts to get extra resources and fundamental changes were all rebuffed by DND senior brass.

"I couldn't collect a paycheque to be part of that anymore," he said. "We asked them to go to war and they went. They got beat up over there and now they want to get better. But we've set a trap for them. We're saying, 'Come on, it's here. But it's not."

Westholm and numerous others confirm that the some units are failing so badly that ill and injured soldiers are left to their own devices while overworked staff attempt to keep up with their work.

There have been at least two recent cases of support unit staff burning out and becoming clients of the system.

DND insists that the staffing levels at the support units are "adequate" and that the welfare of ill and injured troops is a priority.

According to DND, JPSU is currently "offering direct assistance' to about 5,500 ill and injured Forces members and 533 families of soldiers killed while on duty.

Ombudsman spokesman Robertson says the JPSU review should be complete by early fall.

ccobb@ottawacitizen.com

twitter.com/chrisicobb
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Veterans Ombudsman Calls for Improvements to Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Aug 26, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Guy Parent, Canada's Veterans Ombudsman, released today a report entitled Investing in Veterans Vocational Training. The report examines the delivery and adequacy of Veterans Affairs Canada's vocational rehabilitation and assistance services and presents recommendations to ensure that Veterans Affairs Canada maintains its commitment to effectively re-establish Veterans into civilian life.

"Successful rehabilitation and vocational training are integral to the success and self-actualization of Veterans and their families," said Mr. Parent. "Access to programs for those interested in re-establishing into a career in the trades is comprehensive; however, Veterans interested in pursuing university-level education or attaining a professional designation do not share the same access to programs. Veterans should have the ability to self-actualize in the profession of their choice."

Since 2007, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman has received in excess of 100 complaints about Veterans Affairs Canada's Rehabilitation Program, which administers medical, psycho-social and vocational rehabilitation services to former members of the Canadian Forces who have been medically released or have service-related injuries hindering their ability to work and transition from military to civilian life. Through further research, the Office identified areas of concern with the current vocational rehabilitation and assistance services provided by the Department as part of the Rehabilitation Program.

For example, under current regulations, the maximum tuition allotment of $20,000 creates a barrier for eligible Veterans to complete a University undergraduate degree, as the 2012-2013 average cost of doing so is $22,324. In addition, approved training is often limited to programs that build on the applicant's existing skills, experience and training, rather than allowing them to pursue occupations in line with their current motivations, interest and aptitudes. Inadequate performance measurement to monitor the subject matter and level of training applicants are receiving and their subsequent employment also makes it difficult to monitor and measure the program's success and improve its services.

"Former Canadian Forces members are a well-trained and highly skilled population that has a great deal to offer to the Canadian workforce and economy. They should be given the appropriate post-release training to self-actualize in the profession of their choice. In doing so, there can be significant benefits to both the Government of Canada and to Veterans and their families."

The full report with its four recommendations is available online at http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/reports-rapports/rep-rap-03-2013-eng.cfm.

Contacts:
Lucille Hodgins
Communications
Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
1-613-943-7884
Lucille.Hodgins@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

SOURCE: Office of the Veterans Ombudsman

-------------------

Investing in Veterans' Vocational Training

http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca/pdfs/rep-rap-03-2013-eng.pdf

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.