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News for Howard County Veterans and Military Families
9 Dec 2022
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Veteran's Day activities were busier than ever this year with our annual parade, visits to veterans in assisted living and presentations in schools. As we prepare for the holidays, we remember those in need and those we have lost.
Honoring Howard County's Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal
The 8th annual Howard County Veterans Day Parade was the largest and most attended yet! Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, high school JROTC cadets and marching bands, military vehicles, veteran groups and many others walked through downtown Columbia. A ceremony was held on the Columbia Lakefront following the parade to honor all of our veterans and their families including this year's parade grand marshall, Topaz Navarro, a retired Sergeant Major and decorated combat veteran with over 27 years of service to the U.S. Army and Special Operations. To learn more visit here
Handmade Hat and Scarf Donations for Deployed Soldiers Exceeds Previous Year Again!
In partnership with local yarn stores, 50+ Centers and a number of knitting clubs, the Office of Veterans and Military Families once again collected handmade (knit and crochet) hats and scarves to be mailed in care packages to deployed service members through Operation Gratitude. This year Made With Love donations totaled 1,490 hats and scarves, 309 more than last year. In 2020, we collected 759 and in 2021, we collected 1,181 so every year this program grows! For more info on knitting groups or the program, contact veterans@howardcountymd.gov orvisit here for more details.
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Operation Green Light
November 7-13, Howard County Governmet, local business and individuals across the State of Maryland and U.S., showed their appreciation for those who fought for our country and continue to fight to secure our freedoms by participating in Operation Green Light. The George Howard building and many others lit up in green to remind our Veterans that they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Please join me in thanking them for their valuable service to our community, county, and country and sharing the many resources we have to offer.
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Howard County Veterans Honor Their Brothers and Sisters in Assisted Living
Members of our local Howard County American Legion Posts 156 and 300, VFW Post 7472, Marine Corps League and Commission for Veterans and Military Families honored veterans residing in Sunrise Assisted Living and Gilchrist Hospice with fellowship and a service pin. If you woudl like to volunteer or receive a visit from local veterans, contact Tim Ruland
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Veterans in School Presentations In High Demand
The Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families in partnership with our local veteran service organizations formed a Vets-in-School Education program in 2018. Veterans visit, give presentations, read books, share their experiences, exhibit military medals and memorabilia, whatever the school requests. This year, more than 20 veterans celebrated Veterans Day with 13 Howard County schools including Army veteran, Reg Avery, reading The Wall by Eve Bunting, to students at Cradlerock Elementary.
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Important Dates and Events
December 13 – Professional Development Class on School Phobia, 10am. Gen Psych is conducting a free online training for professional development on school phobia. The class will focus on the difference between school phobia, school avoidance, and school refusal in the assessment and treatment of school phobia. Zoom meeting details emailed after registration at Ira Hays,
December 13 - Online Comedy Workshop with Amelia Bane in Partnership with Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals, 12-1pm. Recurring workshop link so register here.
January 17 - Small Business Resource Session, 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Whether you're an early-stage entrepreneur just starting out or an established business looking to grow, Howard County Economic Development Authority can provide the resources to support your business endeavors. The session format is a presentation followed by Q&A and one-on-one sessions for attendees to discuss specific topics based on business needs. Virtual and Free.
Recurring Programs:
4th Tuesday, 12 PM EDT
Veteran Virtual Kiosk, M-F 10am-3pm EST. A daily virtual office where you can connect to our employment professionals and get help with MD Workforce Exchange and find out about available resources. Contact Mr. Anthony Butler Sr. Virtual—https://meet.google.com/awf-yoqx-mmu
Phone—+1 516-268-6742 PIN: 748 066 507 #
Virtual Toastmasters for Veterans and Military Communities - 2nd Tuesdays & 4th Saturdays of every month, Tuesdays at 7 pm & Saturdays at 11:30 am. Please register with Bernadette Garrett
Veteran Small Business & Entrepreneur Check-In, 2nd Thursday of the Month, 3pm EST. A monthly outreach and support event which brings together vet friendly businesses, small business service organizations and aspiring veteran entrepreneurs to share opportunities advice and resources. Contact Mr. Anthony Butler Sr.
Virtual—https://meet.google.com/coi-hmmo-gqy
Phone—+1 385-645-7116 PIN: 158 654 013 #
Veteran Career Club - last Thursday of the Month, 11am EST. A monthly outreach and support event which brings together veteran job seekers, career guides, JVSG employment professionals and veteran service organizations to provide job/career options, information on apprenticeships and training opportunities and share tips and techniques for success. Contact Mr. Anthony Butler Sr.
Virtual—https://meet.google.com/nog-aidc-bfv
Phone—+1 316-778-8309 PIN: 237 445 104 #
Connections Veteran Support Group, 1st Monday of each month, 6-7:30pm
Parent Support Group, 2nd Monday of each month, 7:30-9pm
NAMI Connection Support Group, 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 6:30-8pm
Transition Age Youth Support Group, 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:30-9pm
Family Support Group, 3rd Friday of each month, 7:30-9pm
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Resources
BHIPP Mental Health Crisis Training Series - In response to the increase in mental health crises among children and adolescents, BHIPP has expanded our services and training opportunities. The BHIPP Mental Health Crisis Trainings are a series of interactive, virtual learning sessions on practices, strategies and resources to support emergency medicine and primary care professionals in addressing pediatric mental health crises. Free CME and CEU credit is available for participation.
Ft. Meade Education and Resiliency Center is now open! Stop in to be connected to community resources and learn about the programs we have planned.
The operating hours for Kuhn Hall are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone numbers for Kuhn Hall are as follows:
Education Reception/Front Desk: 301-677-6421 Education Services
Specialist/Counselor: 301-677-2064/5414 Testing Office: 301-677-6423
Learning Center/Multi-Learning Facility: 301-677-2772
Army Community Service/Resiliency Reception: 301-677-1772
Military Family Life Counselor: 240-755-9278/9851
The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides various supports that help family and informal caregivers care for older adults and others in their homes for as long as possible. Under the program guidelines, the Office on Aging and Independence provides caregivers information about available services, assistance gaining access to the services, individual counseling and support groups, respite care and caregiver education, and supplemental services. For more information, or to schedule a free Care Talk appointment at a center near you, contact Caregiver Specialist Earnestine Thomas at ethomas@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-5969 (voice/relay).
Sugar Bear Foundation - The mission of the foundation is to support the surviving spouses (Active-Duty and Service-Connected loss) and children of fallen United States military personnel by providing career, educational, financial, and wellness programs to help meet their immediate and ongoing needs, fostering their personal, emotional, and social well-being.
GenPsych Military Program - mental health treatment specifically designed for the unique needs of active duty servicemembers and veterans from all military branches. It focuses on common distresses that many of our military are faced with, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, anxiety,depression, anger, substance use and feelings of isolation.
The PACT Act and your VA benefits
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
This page will help answer your questions about what the PACT Act means for you or your loved ones. You can also call us at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711). And you can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now.
Gilchrist provides more than just hospice? - Best known for its hospice care, Gilchrist impacts more than 5,000 Howard County residents each year, providing care and support to patients and families in their homes, residential care communities and at Gilchrist’s inpatient hospice center on Cedar Lane in Columbia, Maryland.
But did you know that Gilchrist offers a comprehensive array of services for people at every stage of serious illness? The Elder Medical Care at Home (EMCH) program provides care and support for aging-in-place individuals diagnosed with long term illness, well in advance of hospice. The EMCH program provides a clinical team for homebound county residents who have trouble getting to doctors’ appointments or who have no one to coordinate overall care. Gilchrist provides this service to more than 100 Howard County residents each year – and is available to help many more!
Gilchrist’s EMCH program provides geriatricians and nurse practitioners to perform comprehensive health assessments, health care management and coordination of care, advance care planning, and medical oversight of treatment plans. Social workers are incorporated into this primary care model to identify and combat social determinants that can negatively affect utilization of aging-in-place services.
Additionally, EMCH participants and their families have access to Gilchrist’s variety of complementary services to support their diverse medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. These services include Music Therapy, the Jewish Care and Support Program, Salute-to-Service veteran tributes and more. When needed, EMCH participants seamlessly transition to Gilchrist’s hospice care.
Though physician and nurse practitioner care is the only portion of EMCH reimbursable by insurance, the full array of EMCH services is offered to charity care and other patients at no cost – supplemented entirely by philanthropic community support. This support allows Gilchrist to provide care to all Howard County residents regardless of their ability to pay
Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program - is an essential part of Maryland's plan to end suicide in our service members, veterans, and their families. This curriculum is intended for Maryland-based healthcare providers interested in learning more about military culture, crisis response planning and suicide prevention strategies, and lethal means safety protocols focused on service members, veterans and their families (SMVF). Enroll for free.
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Employment Opportunities
Military Career Connections assists eligible transitioning service members, military spouses, and veterans with enhanced one-on-one career services. These career services include a combination of resume assistance, employment assistance, no cost industry training, licensing, certifications, work and learn opportunities, and barrier remediation with the goal of employment.
To be eligible for services
Transitioning service members must be
- Transitioning within 180 days or retiring within 270 days
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Be stationed/ assigned to Fort Meade and reside in the state of Maryland or
- If not stationed/assigned to Fort Meade must reside in Anne Arundel or Howard County
Military Spouses must be
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The spouse of a service member assigned/attached to Fort Meade and reside in the state or Maryland or
- A military spouse (active duty, veteran, reserve, or NG) who resides in Anne Arundel or Howard County
- Unemployed or underemployed and seeking new or better employment
Veterans must have
- Separated from the Military with an honorable, general, or other than honorable discharge
- Reside in Anne Arundel or Howard County
- Unemployed or underemployed and seeking new or better employment
Volunteer Coordinator - ACS seeks an individual with great interpersonal, organizational and time management skills to lead the development of our new volunteer program. Each of our 150 nonprofits of varying sizes and diverse missions would benefit from the help of volunteers with both general and specialized skills to continue making Howard County a great place to live and work for all people.
This will be a new ACS program in which the coordinator will work with a team to include staff and a small committee of other volunteers. General program design, a needs assessment survey, recruitment process, intake forms, the matching process, and other vital steps are the development goals that will make this a vibrant and effective program.
If you are interested in this opportunity or have any questions, please email your contact information to Valerie.traore@acshoco.org.
The Howard County Health Department (HCHD) is seeking to recruit certified Community Health Workers (CHW) to serve as a link between health and social service programs and the community. CHWs must reside in the following zip codes: 21044, 21045, 20723, 20763, 20794. CHWs will receive a small stipend, travel reimbursement, and additional support to provide health education materials and referral resource connections. Interested individuals may contact Emily Phillips, Health Disparities Project Coordinator, at 410-313-0632 or ephillips@howardcountymd.gov.
Supports Planner - Veterans Directed Care, Accessible Resources for Independence, Inc. Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Accessible Resources for Independence, Inc. (ARI), a Center for Independent Living, is a nonprofit organization created by and for people with disabilities. We are a resource and advocacy center that promotes independent living and equal access for people with all types of disabilities. ARI assists residents of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties to use community services and resources that will enhance their independence. ARI’s core services are peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, information and referral, transition support, and independent living skills training. Our mission is to maximize the independence of people with disabilities, so they enjoy self-directed, productive lives.
A Supports Planner works with veterans with disabilities to provide technical assistance on managing your own services and supports, budgeting funds, and connecting to community resources. With a caseload that varies, the Supports Planner makes monthly contacts, does periodic assessments, and monitors the budget of the veteran. Position will co-locate twice a week at the Maryland Access Point office in Annapolis.
Requirements:
• understanding of the history and commitment to the philosophy of Independent Living;
• knowledge of or ability to learn about laws and civil rights;
• communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities;
• good typing and computer skills;
• good case notes documentation;
• attention to details;
• good people skills;
• skilled in problem solving;
• ability to find, use and build community resources and partnerships;
• support people to lead the lives they choose;
• experience in planning and organizing group activities;
• positive and determined attitude;
• skilled collaborator;
• excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must have access to transportation with travel capability. Must have internet access and ability to work from home. Background check required. Preferred candidates have 4 years of work experience with a minimum of 2 years in the disability field. This position will work a hybrid telework and in-office schedule. Seeking self- motivated candidates with proficiency in Outlook, Teams, Microsoft Word, and Zoom.
Position details: 40 hours per week at $20.00/hour. Health, vision, dental, paid time off, 10 holidays available. Flexible and progressive work environment.
Minorities and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. ARI is an equal opportunity employer.
Send resume and cover letter via email to Chris Kelter, Executive Director: ckelter@arinow.org Target Start Date: January 3, 2023
Student Loan Forgiveness for Non-Profit Employees
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