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December 3, 2014
Agenda
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Networking, Coffee & Donuts10:00 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.
– Pledge of Allegiance– Announcements– Recognition
10:10 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.– Toxicity of the Battlefield: Chapter 1 Agent Orange Exposure - Mark
Kane, Ph.D. – Access to Benefits - Carrie Roy, Manager, Kent County Veterans Affairs
10:50 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.– Michigan Works! - Veterans Services Program
11:05 a.m. - Noon– Podio Demonstration - Natalie Harris– WMVC Website
MissionTo improve the lives of veterans, their families, and anyone that served in the Armed Forces by connecting them to all available services and resources throughout West Michigan.
• Kevin Stotts – Talent 2025• Brandi McBride – Goodwill Industries, Talent 2025• Patrick Owen – SDI Consulting• Erik Olgeirsson – SDI Consulting• Thomas Koziol – Web Design
Thank you!
Toxicity on the Battlefield Chapter 1: Vietnam War
Chapter 2: Gulf War
Chapter 3: OEF/OIF/OND
* DISCLAIMER
Information during this presentation is for educational purposes only—it is not a substitute for informed medical advice or training. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a mental health problem without consulting a qualified professional/ provider.
5
Chapter 1: Agent Orange West Michigan Veterans Coalition
December 3, 2014
Overview
The Dark Shadow of Agent Orange
What is/are dioxin(s)
VHA response to Vietnam War
Presumptive conditions
Exposures of special groups
The future
Resources
Questions
Operation Ranch Hand
“Ranch Handers” motto was “only you can prevent a forest”
Operation Ranch Hand was a U.S. Military operation during the Vietnam War lasting 1962 – until 1971
Inspired by the British use of Agent Orange during the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s. “Operation Trail Dust”
Spraying an estimated 20 million U.S. gallons to deprive the Viet Cong of food and vegetation cover
95% of the herbicides and defoliants used in the war were sprayed by U.S. Air Force as part of Operation Ranch Hand
5% sprayed by the U.S. Chemical Corps, other military branches, and the Republic of Vietnam using hand sprayers, spray trucks, helicopters and boats, primarily around U.S. military installations.
Herbicide (Agent) Orange (1)
1:1 mixture of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D, 50%) and 2,4,5-trichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T, 50%)
2,4,5-T was used extensively as an herbicide in forestry and agriculture domestically and abroad starting in the 1940s.
Shipped to Vietnam in 55-gallon steel drums with an orange stripe around the middle
~12/19x106 gallons used in Vietnam = A.O.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid
Other Herbicides Used in Vietnam
“Agent Blue”Cacodilic Acid
“Agent White”Picloram
Dibenzofuran
Heavily Sprayed Areas - Map
Inland forests near the demarcation zone
Inland forests at the junction of the borders of Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam
Inland forests north and northwest of Saigon
Mangrove forests on the southernmost peninsula of Vietnam
Mangrove forests along major shipping channels southeast of Saigon
Politics
In 1970 - Concerns about the health effects of exposure to Agent Orange A study reported the incidence of birth defects in laboratory mice
given high doses of the herbicide 2,4,5-T. TCDD, a dioxin contaminant of 2,4,5-T, was isolated as the actual cause of the birth defects
In 1971 - Congress ordered the end of Herbicide Agent spraying when two studies showed birth defects and other endocrine-related pathology in rats
The herbicide was banned completely in 1985 by the Environmental Protection Agency
In 1991 – Congress enacted the Agent Orange Act, giving the Department of Veterans Affairs the authority to declare certain conditions ‘presumptive’ to exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin. Veterans who served in Vietnam eligible to receive treatment and compensation
Federal Response to Vietnam
1970s - Agent Orange examination and Agent Orange Review
1980s – Epidemiology/Case law/Legislation
VHA EES; CDC
1991 – Agent Orange Act
1960s – 2011 – Scientific Study
1980s – Air Force Ranch Hand
1990s et. seq. – NAS/IOM biennial AO Report
Presumptive Conditions
Acute and Subacute Peripheral Neuropathy A nervous system condition that causes numbness, tingling, and motor weakness. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to herbicides and resolve within 2 years after the date it began.
AL Amyloidosis A rare disease caused when an abnormal protein, amyloid, enters tissues or organs.
Chloracne (or Similar Acneform Disease) A skin condition that occurs soon after exposure to chemicals and looks like common forms of acne seen in teenagers. Under VA's rating regulations, chloracne (or other acneform disease similar to chloracne) must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to herbicides.
Presumptive Conditions (2)
Chronic B-cell Leukemias A type of cancer which affects white blood cells.
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to respond properly to the hormone insulin.
Hodgkin’s Disease A malignant lymphoma (cancer) characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and by progressive anemia.
Presumptive Conditions (3)
Ischemic Heart Disease A disease characterized by a reduced supply of blood to the heart, that leads to chest pain.
Multiple Myeloma A cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in bone marrow.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma A group of cancers that affect the lymph glands and other lymphatic tissue.
Presumptive Conditions (4)
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda A disorder characterized by liver dysfunction and by thinning and blistering of the skin in sun-exposed areas. Under VA's rating regulations, it must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure to herbicides.
Prostate Cancer Cancer of the prostate; one of the most common cancers among men.
Presumptive Conditions (5)
Respiratory Cancers Cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or Mesothelioma) A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues.
Other Military Exposures
Korea - In or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971
Thailand - Vietnam-era Veterans whose service involved duty on or near the perimeters of military bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975 may have been exposed to herbicides and may qualify for VA benefits.
Waterways
Inland
Costal
On-shore
Blue water*
*Veterans who served on open sea ships off the shore of Vietnam during Vietnam War are sometimes called “Blue Water Veterans”
Women Veterans and Offspring
Am J Ind Med. 2000 Oct;38(4):447-54.
Pregnancy outcomes among U.S. women Vietnam veterans.
Kang HK, Mahan CM, Lee KY, Magee CA, Mather SH, Matanoski G.
A comparison of self-reported pregnancy outcomes for 4,140 women Vietnam veterans with those of 4,140 contemporary women veterans who were not deployed to Vietnam.
There was no statistically significant association between military service in Vietnam and index pregnancies resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth, low birth weight, pre-term delivery, or infant death. The risk of having children with "moderate-to-severe" birth defects was significantly elevated among Vietnam veterans (adjusted OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.06-2.02).
The risk of birth defects among index children was signficantly associated with mother‘s military service in Vietnam.
Covered Birth Defects (1)
Achondroplasia
Cleft lip and cleft palate
Congenital heart disease
Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
Esophageal and intestinal atresia
Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
Hallerman-Streiff
syndrome
Cleft lip and cleft palate
Achondroplasia
Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
Covered Birth Defects (2)
Hip dysplasia
Hirschprung's disease (congenital megacolon)
Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis
Hypospadias
Imperforate anus
Neural tube defects
Neural tube defects
Image of Spina Bifida
Covered Birth Defects (3)
Poland syndrome
Pyloric stenosis
Syndactyly (fused digits)
Tracheoesophageal fistula
Undescended testicle
Williams syndrome
Death from Agent Orange
Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents of Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and died as the result of diseases related to Agent Orange exposure may be eligible for survivors' benefits.
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/benefits/survivors.asp
NAS/IOM Veterans and Agent Orange – 2012
Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2012 -http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Veterans-and-Agent-Orange-Update-2012.aspx
Released: December 3, 2013
Veterans Review of the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Ninth) Biennial Update
Resources Agent Orange Registry Health Exam for Veterans
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/benefits/registry-exam.asp
VHA Agent Orange Home Pagehttp://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange
Vietnam Veterans of America Home Pagehttp://VVA.org
The VVA Self-Help Guide to Service-Connected Disability Compensation for Exposure to Agent Orange –http://www.vva.org/Guides/AgentOrangeGuide.pdf
Thank you!Mark S. Kane, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist
Fellow Michigan Psychological Association
Riverview Psychological Services, P.C.
[email protected] 616-464-0811 28
Fully Developed Claims for
Dioxide Exposure
Presented by Carrie Roy
Different Methods of Filing
• Ebenefits
• Self
• Law Firms
• Accredited Veterans Service Officer
Forms Needed to File
• DD214
• VA Form 21-526EZ
• DBQ (specific to claimed condition)
Where to find Accredited VSOs
• http://macvc.net/
• http://www.michiganveterans.com/
• Kent County Department of Veterans Affairs 82 Ionia NW STE 380, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-632-5722
Area Community Services
Employment and Training Council (ACSET)
Mission
Create opportunities for economic self-sufficiency for low-
income, economically disadvantaged, elderly, disabled,
unemployed and underemployed individuals, and
dislocated workers.
• Services offered at each location are designated to prepare job seekers
for employment and connect potential applicants to employers
• Assistance filing for unemployment benefits
• Individual Job search assistance and training opportunities to qualified
job seekers
• Kent County: Two full service centers and one satellite center
• Allegan County: One full service center, one satellite center
• Barry County: One full service center
MI Works! SystemMichigan Works! AgencyACSET, as the Michigan Works! Agency (MWA) for Kent, Allegan & Barry Counties……
• Pure Michigan Talent Connect – a collaborative effort of the State
of Michigan’s Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Pure
Michigan Talent Connect serves as the state’s labor exchange
system.
– Internet-based website, available 24 hours a day
– Allows job seekers to list their qualifications & interests
– Allows job seekers to see available jobs throughout Michigan
– Allows registered employers to search for qualified talent
MI Works! SystemMichigan Talent Connect
MI Works! SystemServices
• assessments of skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, and support service needs
• information on local service providers
• help filing claims and evaluating eligibility programs or aid
• job search and placement assistance, career counseling
• up-to-date labor market information
• workshops
For job seekers
• Business Services Representatives work with employers within industry
sectors such as manufacturing, information technology, agriculture / food
preparation and health care
• Maintain partnerships with regional economic development agencies and
educational institutions to provide the most comprehensive solution to
current and future employment demands
• Talent Development Specialists who are able to connect job seekers
directly to community employers
MI Works! SystemBusiness ServicesMichigan Works! is a Demand-driven Workforce System
MI Works! SystemServices
• labor exchange services
• recruitment assistance
• applicant screening
• job postings
• testing services
• job fairs / employer of the
day events
For employers
• Program available to former employees who have lost their jobs
as a result of foreign competition
• Available for companies specifically approved by the U.S.
Department of Labor
• Aim is to offer adversely affected workers with opportunities to
obtain skills, credentials, resources, and support needed to
become reemployed
• Services offered include: training, job search assistance,
relocation assistance, alternative Trade benefits for mature
workers, & Health Care Tax Credit
• More information is available at: http://doleta.gov/tradeact/
MI Works! SystemPrograms – Trade Act
MI Works! SystemPrograms – Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Three separate funding streams to serve
• Adults
• Dislocated Workers
• Youth
• One-on-one job search assistance with a certified
Career Coach
• Free workshops and resume assistance
• Individual Training Accounts for in-demand training up to 12 months and
$6,500 for all eligible customers
• On-the-Job Training reimbursement available to employers
• Work Keys assessments and other Career Guidance tools
• Mentoring, goal-setting and work experience for youth
MI Works! SystemPrograms – Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Priority Services to Veterans and Eligible Spouses:
• Have the option to work with a Career Coach who is also a veteran
• Income qualify for WIA services or receiving or exhausted UIA benefits
• Active Military Service / discharged under “other than dishonorable”
conditions
• Provides a copy of DD214
• Eligible Spouse
• Service member is missing in action, captured or forcibly detained
• Veteran has total service-connected disability, per VA evaluation
• Veteran died of a service-connected disability
• Veteran died while a total service-connected disability, per VA evaluation, was in existence
MI Works! System
State of Michigan
Veterans’ Services Division
To deliver intensive employment services to a targeted veteran population as an
integrated partner with the Michigan Works! Agency, in accordance with the intent of
the Jobs for Veterans State Grant program.
The Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) assists eligible Veterans and
Spouses reduce/remove barriers to employment by providing intensive
employment services at Michigan Works! Service Centers through funding
for Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialists and Local
Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) staff.
MI Works! SystemVeterans’ Services Division
DVOP Specialists and LVERs are state employees whose salaries and
benefits are funded through U.S. Department of Labor formula grants to
the states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Jobs for Veterans State Grant
VSD RegionsRegion 1 Prosperity Regions: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6Number of DVOP Specialists: 11
Region 2Prosperity Regions: 4, 7, 8, 9Number of DVOP Specialists: 16
Region 3Prosperity Region: 10Number of DVOP Specialists: 18
The State of Michigan employs 45 DVOP Specialist who are located within
MI Works! Service Centers throughout the state.
MI Works! SystemVeterans’ Services Division
As an integrated partner within the MI Works! Service Center the DVOP
Specialist provides intensive individualized employment services, within a
case management framework, to an eligible veteran population who are
unlikely to obtain employment without receiving such services. Services
include, but not limited to:
• Development of an action plan to meet employment goals
• Vocational guidance
• Job search assistance
• Direct referral to other services needed to reduce/eliminate barriers to
employment
Priority of Service
MI Works! SystemVeterans’ Services Division
All Veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to Priority of Service in any
program funded, in whole or part, by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Meaning Veterans receive services at the MI Works! Service Center before
or instead of a non-covered person.
When a Veteran or eligible spouse identifies themselves as such the MI
Works! staff informs them of their entitlement to Priority of Service and
describes the full array of services.
• At the point of entry the Veteran’s (or eligible spouse’s) eligibility for
DVOP services is determined. If eligible the Veteran is referred to
the respective DVOP Specialist. If NOT eligible the Veteran will be
referred to an appropriate program/service.
Questions?
MI Works! System
An Overview of Podio
How Coalition Members Can Navigate and Use Podio to Better Serve
Veterans, their Families and Caregivers
The Need
Implementing the “No Wrong Door” philosophy
• Service providers need to be identified
• Their information has to be collected
• Service providers have to come together to educate one another
Collective Efforts
• Effective Coordination of Services
• Integration of Services
Collaborative Tool Requirements
Gather Information Share Information
Foster Communication within the VCAT
Produce Informative
Products that Aid the VCAT’s Mission
The Focus of Today’s Demonstration
• Coalition Based Service Provider Directory
• Assistance and Support Requests
• Collaboration Space for Working Groups
• Veterans’ Resources and Events
Podio’s Functionality
Coalition Based Service Provider Directory
• Allows member service providers to collect each others information.
• The ability to search and filter the directory to locate services for helping veterans.
• Organization and Coalition Member Directory
Assistance and Support Request
• Allows member service providers to request support or assistance with helping a Veteran.
• Ability to document case management (randomized ID number) with multiple providers assisting in the resolution process.
• Can store completed requests for others to reference navigation routes to obtain services.
Collaboration for Working Groups
• A space for VCAT working groups to collaborate remotely, store resources, document projects and capture action steps to achieve the groups objectives.
Veterans Resources and Events
• A central location for member service providers to locate events, documents, and helpful websites to better serve our Veterans, dependents and caregivers.
Workspace Example
