July 2025 Newsletter : simplebooklet.com

HOOSIER VETERANIDVA Newsletter July 2025 Welome to theJuly edition of theIndianaDepartment ofVeterans Affairsnewsletter.The newsletter isone way IDVA iscommitted toveterans and theveterancommunity. Wealso have atransparencyportal on ourwebsiteidentifyingeconomic trendsand showcasingagency data thatreflects where ourefforts are beingused to drivemore veterans tomore benefitsand services.in.gov/dva/Jake AdamsDirector, Indiana Department ofVeterans AffairsSupporting, serving, andadvocating for theIndiana veterancommunity. New State LawsGo Into EffectJuly 1 We are thrilled to announce two significant legislativedevelopments impacting the Indiana Veteran Community. First,Senate Enrolled Act 433 (SEA 433), focuses on elevating thestandards for County, City, and State Veteran Service Officers.This act mandates the Indiana Veterans’ Affairs Commissionestablish accreditation standards for service officers, whichinclude essential initial training, continuous education, keyperformance indicators, and annual reaccreditation. The newaccreditation standards will ensure service officers are equippedto deliver consistent, high-quality customer service to veteransthroughout the state. Moreover, the Commission will have theability to revoke accreditation if standards are not met, ensuringaccountability and professionalism. Second, House Enrolled Act 1637 (HEA 1637), expands eligibilityfor state benefits by revising discharge status criteria. Previouslylimited to those with an Honorable discharge, this act opensbenefits to veterans with other discharge types, except thosedisqualified due to specific conditions such as receiving adishonorable discharge or criminal offenses as detailed inIndiana Code 10-17-12-7.5(2). Furthermore, HEA 1637 expands the reach of the IDVA Grantsfor Veterans’ Services (GVS) to support veterans, theirdependents, and primary caregivers. GVS addresses pressingissues such as homelessness, housing stability, therapy, jobtraining, and accessing state and federal resources. The act alsoexpands admission criteria to the Indiana Veterans’ Home, addsthe United States Space Force to the definition of Armed Forcesthroughout the Indiana Code, and establishes the Medal of Honorlicense plate. These legislative advancements emphasize Indiana’sdedication to honoring and supporting veterans and theirfamilies. IDVA remains committed to its mission to Support, Serve,and Advocate for the Indiana Veteran Community. With thepassage of SEA 433 and HEA 1637, we continue to strive towardsour vision of making Indiana the state where Veterans Live, Work,and Thrive.By Cody Browning Message

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IDVA: What is the Marine Corps League and what is its purpose? Kay: It is is a congressionally chartered, non-profit veterans’ organizationfounded in 1923 to preserve traditions of the United States Marine Corps. Itrepresents the interests of Marines, veterans, and national security beforeCongress.IDVA: Why did you join and how long have you been a member?Kay: I was approached by two Marine veterans at a gas station in 2006.They were both members of the league and convinced me to give it achance and go to the monthly meeting just to “check it out and see whatit’s really about.” I went to the meeting that evening and have been amember ever since. IDVA: Why did you join the Marine Corps?Kay: When I was eight years old, I remember telling my dad that I was go-ing to be a Marine just like him. I didn’t even know what “being a Marine”actually meant, but I loved hearing his stories about when he served. I alsowanted to see the world and get out of the small country farm town I grewup in. When I was a senior in high school, I met with a local recruiter anddecided that I still wanted to be a Marine, so I signed up. I thought the worstthing that could happen was I would get money to pay for college when Igot out. That was definitely a very naïve view from an 18-year-old! IDVA: What are your priorities during your term? Kay: Member retention. The league, like many other veteran organizations,is having difficulty attracting new members, especially the young An Interview with Indiana Marine Corps LeagueLeader, Kay Ross2See MARINE COMMANDANT page 8Left: Kay Ross being sworn in along with her2025-2026 elected officers.Deserving Marine Elected as CommandantBy Laura McKee

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This Indiana Veteran Community consists of veterans, family members, caregivers, friends,organizations, and providers that touch veteran lives in some way. IDVA salutes the organizations,agencies, and foundations that deliver resources, benefits, and hope. Check out our Partner Feature,follow the links, learn about them and help us support them.IDVA Partner SpotlightNAMI Indiana Help Line: 800-950-6264 (M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET) namindiana.org 3 The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Indiana standscommitted to its mission of providing free mental health support,education, and advocacy for Hoosiers with a particular focus onveterans who face unique barriers when seeking care. These barrierscan include cultural stigma, limited access to culturally competentmental health providers, and distrust of the healthcare system.NAMI Indiana is empowered by the Indiana Department of VeteransAffairs (IDVA) Grants for Veterans’ Services (GVS) program to addressthese specific needs. The GVS program provides vital financial supportto non-profit organizations dedicated to serving Indiana's veterancommunity. The GVS funding supports NAMI Indiana with programs likeNAMI Homefront, a free, 6-session educational program designed forfamilies and caregivers of military service members and veterans withmental health conditions. This program provides valuable informationand support on topics like PTSD, combat stress, and the recoveryprocess. The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs plays a crucial role insupporting veteran mental health in Indiana. One in 5 veterans fromrecent conflicts experience mental health challenges and NAMIIndiana’s veteran specific programs help bridge the gap for veterans.The GVS program allows NAMI Indiana to focus on reducing veteransuicide, a key IDVA priority. To learn more about the GVS program and how it supports non-profits like NAMI Indiana, please visit https://www.in.gov/dva/NAMI Indiana: IDVA’s Grants for Veterans’ Services SupportsVeteran Mental Health

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Tell us your We invite you to share your story with IDVA and eachother!Let us know about your experience with our team.Post your personal stories and experiences that haveshaped your lives while in service, as a veteran, or asa family member.Your narratives can serve as a guiding light,encouraging fellow veterans to open up and sharetheir own meaningful journeys.Each story has the potential to foster connection andunderstanding within our community.Your Voice, Your StoryA Veteran, the Military Family Relief Fund, and COVIDThank you for your story, Robert!4 One thing the military taught me was to always have a backup plan.When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was an IT contractor at a majorcompany in Carmel, with an $80,000 income. After a month of workingfrom home, my contract was terminated, leaving me to faceunemployment, along with the shared uncertainty of those times. Unlikemany, I was lucky. I had no dependents, few expenses, and had a fewmonths of emergency funds tucked away. By midsummer of 2020, that savings had begun to dry up, forcing meto consider my retirement accounts to pay my living expenses. Luckily, Ifound the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs Military Family ReliefFund (MFRF). MFRF offers Hoosier veterans a one-time grant of $2500 to help themnavigate emergency financial situations. The grant can be given in wholeor can be portioned out based on need. To qualify, you must meet theeligibility criteria outlined on their website. Receiving an MFRF grant allowed me to supplement my unemploymentpayments for four months, maintaining my living expenses, withoutdamaging my credit or paying interest on early retirement withdrawals. Inthat time, I was able to focus on learning new skills for my career,emotionally support my family, and work with recruiters to find the rightrole. Sometimes, even the most prepared find themselves in crisis and needa little help. Luckily, Indiana’s dedication to its veterans through the work ofIDVA and programs like MFRF means that Hoosier veterans don’t standalone.

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Your CVSO offers assistance in the following:Obtaining your DD-214Discharge ReviewFiling claims for service connected or non-service connected disabilitiesEducation benefitsLow Income Wartime Pension BenefitsSurvivor BenefitsVA Medical CareVA Home LoansG.I. Bill BenefitsVocational RehabilitationBurial BenefitsProperty Tax AbatementTuition and Fee Exemption for Children ofDisabled VeteransMotor Vehicle License PlatesResident Veteran Hunting & Fishing LicenseCONTACT CARROLL COUNTYFind Your CVSOCounty Veteran Service Officer(CVSO) Spotlight Larry LeachCounty Courthouse101 W. Main Street, ste 103Delphi, IN 46923veterans@carrollcountyin.govClerk: Anita HartmanMON TUE & THU8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM-5:00 PMWED: 8:00-NoonFRI: By AppointmentOffice: (765) 564-2502FAX: (765) 564-1858Carroll County5

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WATCHTUNE IN VA Research&DevelopmentFindingsHistoric AllWomenVeteran HonorFlightThe Veteran BenefitsAdministration (VBA) andthe Veteran HealthcareAdministration (VHA)services and benefits offercomprehensive supporttailored to the unique needsof those who served in themilitary. Utilizing the benefitsand services supports long-term well-being. Servicesand benefits include:Healthcare AccessDisability CompensationEducation and TrainingHome Loan GuaranteesMental Health SupportJob AssistancePension BenefitsSurvivor BenefitsVeteran Affairs News & NotesBenefits and HealthcareCheck out the VA Podcast Network The VA Podcasts Network offers a diverseselection of top-quality podcasts made withthe Veteran community in mind. Variety of Topics Veteran Focused Supreme CourtRules for Morethan 9000 CombatDisabled Veterans6New research on brain-computer interfaces,suicide and hypertension

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generation. I also want to make sure that every member feels welcome, valued and supported. If we treat our members like this, it willbuild strong relationships and friendships which will keep our leaguestrong. One way is to have all the new Marines and associate membersstand up at the beginning of our annual state meetings and introducethemselves. I want all the members to see who they are so they can seekthem out during events and meetings and make them feel welcome. Iknow what it is like to attend a conference alone and not feel welcome orincluded. I don’t want anyone to feel like that. (It was more difficult as I wasone of two female Marines attending at that time).IDVA: What are your priorities during your term? I am going to encourage more of our female Marines to join our ranks toinclude the department level. I want them to see there are Marines who aresupportive. They may not have felt that during their active-duty time, butthey need to know those Marines are out there. I will be putting moreemphasis on our veteran outreach, working with local communities, andmentoring our youth in areas through the Young Marine program and theROTC program. I will keep this phrase “One team, One Mission” at the forefront ofwhatever the department does. The phrase encapsulates the Marine CorpsLeague’s core values and objective. It is a call to action for all members tounite in their dedication to shared principles. We are a team, and we willcomplete our missions together. MARINE COMMANDANTcontinued from page 2 8The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairswould also like to congratulate KAY ROSS asthe most recent recipient of the SheilaCorcoran Hoosier Women Hero Award. Thisaward recognizes exemplary Hoosier veteranwomen committed to the betterment of theircommunity. Veterans are in good hands!Pictured left to right: Heather Harvey, U.S. House of Representatives-District Office of Congressman Andre CarsonMike Stephens, Indianapolis Regional OfficeDirectorKay Ross, Homeless Veteran Outreach CoordinatorTamieka Graves, Veterans Service Center Manager

July 2025 Newsletter

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