MVAA: A STRONG PARTNER IN

EDUCATING MICHIGAN’S VETERANS

Jeffrey Schuett, MVAA, Education Analyst2017

Who is the MVAA

Serving Those Who Served

Four Pillars of Strategy & Outreach

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Health Care

Improve connections with veterans and their families

Remove barriers for veterans and their dependents in healthcare

Provide information regarding mental health care support and services

Anonymous online screen tool

MichiganVeterans.com

Provide cultural competency training

Health Care Resources

VA health care services

Inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy, dental care, mental health

care and other services.

37 facilities in Michigan

5 major medical facilities (Detroit, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek,

Iron Mountain, Saginaw)

18 Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

6 Outpatient Clinics in UP

8 Vet Centers

Quality of Life

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Collaborate with various state agencies and organizations in the campaign to End Veteran Homelessness in Michigan

Provide technical assistance and other resources to the Veteran Treatment Courts throughout the state

Currently 25 operational courts in Michigan

Meet with Veteran Community Action Teams (VCATs) to develop localized strategies that impact veterans’ quality of life

Provide training to assist law enforcement officers when encountering veterans that may be experiencing a mental health crisis

Employment

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Veteran-Friendly Employer Certification Program

Provides training to employers and organizations on the value of hiring veterans/Guard/Reserve/military spouses, MOS skills translation, and Veteran-Friendly HR policy development

Serves as the liaison between public and private sector employers and the agency, and coordinates inter-agency efforts aimed at veteran-employment

Chairs the Michigan Veterans Employment Council

Hosts Veteran Hiring Best Practices workshops and webinars.

Employment Initiatives

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An amazing

collaboration

between state

agencies . . .

. . . partnering with private sector

employers and non-profits to attract

veteran talent to Michigan.

Education

Position functions as the recognized resource for MVAA for education

matters, programs, and policies affecting veterans education and

education benefits

Meet with Veteran Community Action Teams (VCATs) to develop localized

strategies for VA benefit utilization

Serve as a liaison between MVAA and other state departments/agencies

regarding veterans’ education issues and coordinate the activities

between these departments/agencies

Education Initiatives

• Veteran-Friendly Schools

• Faculty/Staff and Career Services/Employer Trainings

• Veteran’s education to employment pipeline

• MI-litary Equivalency Transfer Credit

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Veteran-Friendly Schools Program

Formal, state of Michigan recognition for institutions committed to supporting veteran students

Voluntary program, no cost to participate

Michigan Veteran-Friendly School logo (Gold, Silver or Bronze)

Promotes best practices in veteran-centric services

Designations will be awarded annually for a full academic year

NVEST – National Veteran Education Success TrackerStudent Veterans of America, 2017

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➢ 1st comprehensive, in-depth study of the academic success of

contemporary student veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill

➢Collaborative effort between VA, SVA, and NSC (National

Student Clearinghouse)

➢Multiple completion rates are given. Effectively, 42% of

veterans using GI Bill benefits completed a degree (up from

39% of typical students, aged 24+, as found in a 2015 NSC

study)

Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on

the Academic Success of Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C..

Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf

NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker

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Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of

Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-

content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf

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NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker

Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of

Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-

content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf

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NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker

Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of

Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-

content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf

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NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker

Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of

Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-

content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf

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NVEST – National Veteran Education Success Tracker

Source: Cate, C.A., Lyon, J.S., Schmeling, J., & Bogue, B.Y. (2017). National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of

Student Veterans Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Student Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.. Retrieved from http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-

content/uploads/2017/02/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf

Michigan’s Education Attainment

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Michigan’s Higher Education Trends

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Veterans Community Action Teams

(VCATs)20

No Wrong Door for VeteransFederal Veteran Service Partners

State Veteran Service Partners

City/County Veteran Service Partners

Community Veteran Service

Partners

Informal Support Network

Veterans and their Families

The VCATs established a

community-based veterans

services system of care

• characterized by a

comprehensive network of

service providers

• empowered with

knowledge, information,

and tools.

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Veterans Community Action Teams

Michigan is the first state in the country to implement a

regional, community-based, locally managed network

of veteran services statewide

10 Regional Coordinators State, county, and local government

coordination

Veteran outreach and community

collaboration

2,400 members

1,250 agencies

Veteran Resource Center22

Request DD214

Find a benefits counselor

Connect with local services/agencies

Emergency Assistance

Central informational hub for veterans Integrated w/ Michigan 2-1-1

Providing 24/7/365 assistance

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Michigan Veterans Trust Fund

Provides emergency grants to Michigan veterans and dependent family members for;

Utility bills

Vehicle or home repairs

Medical bills

Other debts

Eligibility

Michigan resident

Honorably discharged

180 days of service during a period of war

Less than 180 days of wartime service due to service-incurred disability

What’s next for MVAA?

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Continued growth of our Veteran-Friendly School and

Veteran-Friendly Employer programs Education-to-Employment pipeline

Education dashboard Best practices by institution

Veteran populations

Veteran-Friendly ranking

Continued faculty/staff training at IHL Cultural competency

MI-litary Equivalency Transfer Credit database Awarding more/proper credit for military training and

experience

800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838)

MichiganVeterans.com

@MIVeteran /MIVeterans