TRIBAL VETERANS SERVICEOFFICER PROGRAM

Serving Native American Veterans and their families

FACTS ABOuT NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS

• NativeAmericanshaveoneofthehighestrecords ofmilitaryservicepercapitaofanyethnicgroup.

• Twentyfivepercentofable-bodied,adultNativeAmericans enlistinthearmedforces,comparedtothreepercentof thegeneralpopulation.

•NativeAmericansapplyforandreceivefewerveterans benefitsthanveteransgroups;lessthan50percentof eligibleAmericanIndianveteransinMinnesotaapplyfor thebenefitstheyhaveearned.

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VeteransServiceBuilding

20W.12thStreet|St.Paul,MN55155-2006Phone:(651)296-2562

www.minnesotaveteran.org

Native Americans 25%

General Population 3%

% Of Able-bOdied AmericAns enlisting in Armed fOrces

www.minnesotaveteran.org

TVSO CONTACTS Forquestionsorassistance,pleasecontactyourTVSO:

ErnieSteel–(218)[email protected]

ClarenceEverson–(218)[email protected]

GregDavis–(320)[email protected]

JimLoud–(218)[email protected]

ToddDionne–(651)[email protected] WendySederstrom–(651)[email protected] St.PaulClaimsOffice–(612)970-5662

GalynMinkel–(320)[email protected]

SamMason–(218)[email protected]

ChuckSmith–(218)[email protected]

FrankBowstring–(218)[email protected]

Bois Forte

Grand Portage

Mille Lacs

Red Lake

Twin Cities Metro Area

Upper Sioux Community

White Earth

Fond du Lac sponsored TVSO

Leech Lake sponsorsed TVSO

Thank you for serving in the military with courage, honor and bravery.

Native American Veterans have given the most, yet asked for the least.

Availableinalternativeformatssuchasbrail,largeprint,audiotapeandcomputerdisc.

AreyouaNativeAmericanVeteran?Ifso,youshouldbegettingthebenefitsandservicesthatyou’reentitledto.

NativeAmericanshaveoneofthehighestlevelsofparticipationofmilitaryservicepercapitaofanyethnicgroup.Althoughtheyserveinthemilitaryinlargenumbers,theyapplyforandreceivefewerVeteransbenefitsthanotherethnicgroups.

That’swhytheMinnesotaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs(MDVA)createdtheTribalVeteransServiceOfficer(TVSO)Program:tomakesurethatyouhaveaccesstothebenefitsandservicesthatyouhaveearned.

ABOuT ThE PROGRAM The TVSO Program:

• Providescommunityoutreachandadvocacytotraditionally underservedNativeAmericanVeteransandtheirdependents.

• Actsasaliaisontovariousstateandfederalprogramsthat provideVeteransbenefits.

• WorkstoensureVeteransreceivethebenefitstheyhaveearned.

WhAT TVSO’S DOTribalVeteransServicesOfficers(TVSO’s)—locatedoneightreservationsinMinnesotaandintheTwinCitiesmetropolitanarea—arehighlyexperienced,trainedprofessionalswhounderstandyourneedsandconcerns.Theywillworkwithyouto:

• Fileservice-relateddisabilityclaims.

• Ensureyou’reawareofthebenefitsavailabletoyouthrough avarietyofprogramsonreservationsandintheTwinCities metroarea.

• Actasaliaisonbetweenyouandotherservicesavailablewith thestate,federalandTribalgovernments.

SPECTRuM OF SERVICES As a Veteran, you and your family are eligible for these services:

• Emergencyfinancialassistance• On-the-jobtraining• Federalclaimsassistance• Highereducationsupport• Burialservices• Individualandfamilycounseling• Financialcounseling

PROGRAMS OFFERED

Federal Claims Assistance: HelpsyoufileaclaimattheSt.PaulandFargoClaimsdivisionoffices.

LinkVet Call Center: LinksyoutotrainedMDVAstaffforimmediatecrisisinterventionandinformationonVeterans’benefits,healthcare,educationandreintegration.

State Soldiers Assistance Program (SSAP): Providesdirect,emergencyfinancialassistanceforshelter,utilities,opticalanddentalbenefits,andcashgrantsforfoodandpersonalneeds.

Minnesota Veterans Preference Act (VPA): Ensuresthatstate-grantedVeteranspreferencerightsareupheldandenforced.

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetary (Little Falls, MN):Providesyouwithseveraloptionsfordignifiedburialservices.

Minnesota State Approving Agency (SAA): AllowsyoutoreceivepaymentsforfederalG.I.Billeducationbenefits.

On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship Program: ProvidesopportunitiestouseearnedfederalG.I.Bill’seducationbenefits.

Higher Education Veterans Program: Providesinformationonbenefitsandresourcestohelpyousucceedincollege.

Women Veterans Program: EnsuresequitableaccessforfemaleNativeAmericanVeteranseligibleforfederalandstatebenefitsandservices.

Minnesota Service C.O.R.E. (Case Management, Outreach, Referral and Education): BringsessentialservicestocommunitiesinMinnesotaatnocharge.

so pick-up the phone and call us today – we’re here to help you get the benefits you need and deserve!

Note: See back panel for TVSO contacts and phone numbers