A shortage of affordable housing often leads to homelessness for Minnesota veterans. According to Wilder Research, 46% of veterans name the shortage as the primary barrier to finding a stable place to live – and they need your help.

Introducing Valor Place … and the Need

The Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is building a twin home in Plymouth called Valor Place, designed to provide stable, affordable, rental housing for U.S. military veterans. Owned and managed by HRA, the two units will be available to vets and their families who meet income and other eligibility requirements. Learn more about the Valor Place project at plymouthmn.gov/valorplace

To make Valor Place possible, the HRA has teamed up with Charles Cudd Co., Outreach Development Corporation, Plymouth Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans – and we would welcome the opportunity to add your business to our list of partners. 

Help Make a House a Home – by Nov. 1

We are seeking in-kind donations to furnish the twin home. Once complete, each unit will be about 1,800 square feet and feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a full kitchen, a two-car garage and more. Furniture, household goods, and the like will give veterans an established place to call home without purchasing or finding furniture to fit their new spaces. A list of needed furniture and furnishings is attached.

With a targeted completion date of Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, we need your help to furnish the homes by Nov. 1.

Ways to Give

• Donate furniture, furnishings, and household items: Please contact me to arrange pick up or delivery of items.
• Donate online: Make an online tax-deductible donation using the City of Plymouth’s secure online payment portal at plymouthmn.gov/valorplace.
• Donate by mail: Make your check payable to Outreach Development Corporation (indicate “Valor Place” on the memo line) and mail to: 

Outreach Development Corporation – Valor Place

1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth, MN 55447

All donations, whether in-kind or financial, are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

On behalf of our team and our military vets, thank you for your support.

Dean Sherman

Vice President, Plymouth Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

deanshermanmn@gmail.com – 612.743.7591

2020 VA Loan Benefits

2020 has been a confusing year, to say the least. However, some positives have come out of it too. Especially regarding VA home loans, which at the beginning of the year had some significant changes take place.

These changes came after the Bluewater Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on June 25^th, 2019. This new law brought about changes to VA benefits so that they covered Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to a dangerous chemical referred to as Agent Orange, while on deployment. VA home loans were also changed by the new law as they removed loan limits for first-time borrowers removed, and funding fees changed.

VA Home Loan Changes

The signing of the new law saw the removal of loan limits for first-time borrowers, which allows them to shop for homes in areas that were previously too expensive. However, because these loans are provided by qualified lenders and not the VA itself, each lender has to make sure that the borrower can afford their monthly payments.

As a result, lenders have the freedom to set up their own loan limits, which are not administered by the VA, but rather by the applicant’s ability to make payments on time. Currently, VA Home Loan Centers has a loan limit of $5,000,000 for first-time borrowers who are qualified.

This removal of loan limits does not cover borrowers with more than one existing VA loan. Hence, they are still subject to the loan limit set up by their county. As a result of this new law, county limits across the country were also raised from an average of $484,350 to $510,400. Although some counties have even higher loan limits based on the cost of living.

In addition to these changes for first-time borrowers and second-time borrowers, the new law also brought changes to other groups of people. Native American veterans, for example, are no longer required to limit themselves when purchasing or buying a home on Federal Trust Land.

The new law also brought changes to the VA funding fee, which is a one-time payment that is paid by the borrower to lower the cost of a loan for tax-payers. The changes that took place increased the funding fee that is funded by active duty service members from 0.15% to 0.30%. At the same time, it lowered the funding fee for members of the National Guard and military reserves.

Active Duty personnel who have been awarded the Purple Heart due to their heroism can have their funding fee payment waived. The only requirement is that Purple Heart recipients close on their property while still in active duty. Moreover, the program did not affect disabled veterans who were already exempt from having to pay for the funding fee.

All of these changes to the funding fee are temporary and are set to last until 2022.

VA Home Loans

VA home loans are government-guaranteed loans that are designed to assist veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible spouses become homeowners. Created by an act of congress in 1944 to help veterans returning home from World War 2, buy a home. VA home loans have since helped about 22 million American Veterans but the home of their dreams.

Several eligibility requirements must be met to qualify for the VA home loan, these include military service, property, income, and credit score https://www.vahomeloancenters.org/va-home-loan-eligibility. If an applicant meets all of these requirements, they will be able to purchase a home with some of the best benefits available. These benefits include:

• Zero money down payments.
• Lower monthly mortgage payments.
• No pre-payment penalties.
• Lower interest rates.
• No mortgage premiums.

In addition to these great benefits, VA loans also offer the option of having your home loan either be a 15 or a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Conclusion   

The changes that were implemented at the beginning of 2020 have made an already excellent home loan program even better. By signing this program into law, the government reinforced the notion that they really care about our men and women in the military.

Phil Georgiades is the CLS for VA Home Loan Centers, a government-sponsored brokerage focused on VA Home Loans. With over 22 years of experience working in real estate, Phil and his team of trained agents can help you find the loan that is right for you. To apply for a VA loan, please visit https://www.vahomeloancenters.org/apply-for-a-va-home-loan/

Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

This was the realtor I was referred to by USAA, vetted by their realtor service.
She & her husband are a team, the best. I’m so grateful to them.

After I fired probably the worst crooked realtor on the planet (all during my hubby’s MN ARNG training absence), they got my house sold.

Yearly tradition of companies, organizations reaching out to servicemembers and veterans continues.

Read more

From all of us to all of you.

HAMEL VFW DINNER & DANCE – APRIL 14TH

The Hamel VFW is hosting a Dinner & Dance on Saturday, April 14th from 5-11:30. Food will be served from 5-8:00 pm. The band Tail Spin will play from 7-11:30. These folks play great country and classic rock.

Grab your boots and head to the “V”!

One source connecting you to your best MilLife

Thursday, March 8, 2018, 8-9 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 2-3 p.m. ET

Facilitated by: John Mack, MSW

Military OneSource is pleased to offer dynamic group discussions where you can see, text and chat with licensed counselors and a small group of other service members and their families online.

Getting ready for a PCS or other move? Join our relocation expert and others just like you to discuss ways to manage the stress of relocating and learn practical tips to help you get ready for your move.

March 2018 DGD Moving Again.pdf

Michael J. Meier | Minnesota Military OneSource State Consultant

Contractor

michael.meier@militaryonesource.com | Office: 612-751-4290

Visit www.militaryonesource.mil or call: 800-342-9647

Child Traumatic Grief Series
Supporting Military Children with Traumatic Grief

Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 @ 9:00 am PT/ 12:00 pm ET

Presenters: Judith Cohen, MD, Allegheny Health Network; Robin Goodman, PhD ATR-BC, A Caring Hand, The Billy Esposito Bereavement Center; Zaneta Gilano, LMSW, CT, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS); Carole, family member

During both peace and conflict, children with parents in the military face unique military related stressors. Military children may develop childhood traumatic grief following the death of a caregiver from combat or non-combat situations. This presentation will provide an overview of issues specific to military culture and family life, describe two models for treating military children with traumatic grief, and will highlight a military consumer voice.

Developmental Trauma Disorder: Identifying Critical Moments and Healing Complex Trauma Series 
Guiding Youth through Loss and Betrayal

Date/Time: Thursday, February 15 at 1:00 PM ET/ 10:00 AM PT

Mark your calendars for the next Developmental Trauma Disorder Training Webinar coming in February. And in case you missed it, watch the first two clinical training webinars here:

New Resources for Military Families: 
Sesame Street for Military Families

Sesame Street for Military Families has released new content! Visit the link below to find interactive games, videos, and printable activities for military families to do with their preschool children. Topics include staying healthy together, creating fun and meaningful birthday traditions, encouraging children’s self-expression, making changes more comfortable, and so much more!

New Guide for Parents and Caregivers:
Talking to Your Child About a Suicide Death

The death of a loved one is the most difficult life event that many children ever experience. A death due to suicide can be especially hard to face. Parents and caregivers may feel overwhelmed as they try to decide what to tell their children about a suicide death while struggling with their own grief over how the person died. This new guide includes tips for caregivers in preparing to tell their children about a suicide death and helping children to grieve in healthy ways.

Talking to Your Child About a Suicide Death

Upcoming Webinar:
Human Trafficking and the Opioid Crisis

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) will host a 90-minute webinar that highlights emerging trends, case studies, and research on human trafficking and substance use with a specific focus on the opioid crisis. Presenters Elizabeth Hopper (Project Director of REACH, the Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute), Audrey Morrissey (Associate Director of My Life My Choice), and Ginny Sprang (Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky) will discuss (1) the role of substance use for individuals at risk of, currently experiencing, or recovering from trafficking; (2) trauma-informed approaches from provider, client-based, and research perspectives to understand contributing factors to vulnerability; and (3) promising practices and treatment options that address the underlying issues that put victims and survivors at risk.

Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

Register here

New Resource:

Network members Virginia Strand and Ginny Sprang have edited a comprehensive reference, Trauma Responsive Child Welfare Systems (Springer 2018), which offers a framework for introducing and sustaining trauma-responsive services and culture in child welfare systems. Organized around concepts of safety, permanency, and well-being, chapters describe innovations in child protection, violence prevention, foster care, and adoption services to reduce immediate effects of trauma on children and improve long-term development and maturation. Foundations and interventions for practice include collaborations with families and community entities, cultural competency, trauma-responsive assessment and treatment, promoting trauma-informed parenting and, when appropriate, working toward reunification of families. The book’s chapters on agency culture address staffing, supervisory, and training issues; planning and implementation; and developing a competent, committed, and sturdy workforce.

Topics covered include the following: (1) trauma-informed family engagement with resistant clients; (2) introducing evidence-based trauma treatment in preventive services; (3) working with resource parents for trauma-informed foster care; (4) use of implementation science principles in program development for sustainability; (5) trauma-informed and secondary traumatic stress-informed organizational readiness assessments; and (6) caseworker training for trauma practice and building worker resiliency.

For more information

New Article:

R. Rodriguez-Rey, J. Alonso-Tapia, N. Kassam-Adams, and H. Garrido-Hernansaiz are authors of the article The Factor Structure of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory in Parents of Critically Ill Children, published in 2016 in the Spanish journal Psicothema (Volume 28, Issue 4) and available in English and Spanish at the link below. The study analyzed the factor structure of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in a sample of parents whose children had survived a critical hospitalization, in order to consider the structural validity of the PTGI scores for this population and to report our understanding of posttraumatic growth (PTG) as a construct. PTG was conceptualized as consisting of changes in three broad dimensions: self, interpersonal relationships, and philosophy of life. Authors studied 143 parents who completed the PTGI six months after their child’s discharge from pediatric intensive care. The PTGI scores’ factor structure was studied through confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) of different models supported in prior research, followed by an exploratory principal component analysis (PCA). While prior models tested through CFA did not provide an acceptable fit for the data, through exploratory PCA, three components emerged that explained 73.41% of the variance: personal growth, interpersonal growth, and transpersonal growth. Subsequent CFAs on this three-factor model showed that a bifactor model had the best fit. Authors concluded that the three dimensions initially theorized appear to be robust, which supports the structural validity of its scores.

New Article:

C. D. Santiago, A. K. Fuller, J. M. Lennon, and S. H. Kataoka had their article Parent Perspectives from Participating in A Family Component For CBITS: Acceptability of A Culturally Informed School-Based Program published in 2016 inPsychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy (Volume 8, Issue 3). They explored parents’ responses to a family component developed as an addition to the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). The family component was developed to improve engagement and participation in CBITS and to support parents’ skill-building. To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the family component from the perspective of parents who participated, qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 low-income, Latino parents (80% female; 80% immigrants; average age = 38.07). Researchers found that parents (1) agreed that there was a need for programs like CBITS; (2) expressed a firm belief in the importance of parental involvement with their children and schools; and (3) reported a high level of satisfaction with the family component, indicating that it was beneficial to them, culturally relevant, and that they would recommend it to others. Parents noted some logistical barriers to participation and areas for improvement. Overall, the results of the study indicate that CBITS + Family is an appropriate, acceptable, and feasible intervention for Latino families. Supplemental data from children whose parents participated in the program provided further support for the value of the family component. Authors also discussed clinical implications for implementing culturally sensitive, school-based interventions.

New Article:

Michelle Sherman, Jenna Gress Smith, Kristy Straits-Troster, Jessica Larsen, and Abigail Gewirtz are the authors of Veterans’ Perceptions of the Impact of PTSD on Their Parenting and Children published in Psychological Services (Volume 13, Issue 4) in 2016. Although considerable research has examined the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on couples and partners, relatively little is known about how it can affect parenting, children, and the parent-child relationship. While adverse effects of parental PTSD on child functioning have been documented, the processes by which these outcomes occur are unknown. Additionally, parents’ perspectives on how their PTSD affects parenting and children have yet to be studied. This 3-site, mixed methods exploratory study included 19 veteran parents who had a diagnosis of PTSD. Participants were recruited from Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Veterans participated in focus groups or individual interviews and completed questionnaires, responding to questions about the effects of PTSD on their functioning as parents. Two sets of themes emerged from the qualitative inquiry: (1) Veterans reported parenting difficulties that were associated with three PTSD symptom clusters, including avoidance, alterations in arousal and reactivity, and negative alterations of cognitions and mood; and (2) Veterans described both emotional (e.g., hurt, confusion, frustration, fear) and behavioral (e.g., withdrawal, mimicking parents’ behavior) reactions in their children. Veterans also shared numerous ways in which their children provided practical and emotional support. Authors offer implications of these findings for future research, program development, and clinical care, including a free online parenting resource for veterans with PTSD based on this research.

For more information

Plymouth Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

Financial Statements

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

PBYR FS 12 31 2017.pdf