January 9, 2025 MADISON— Marine veteran and advocate Yolanda Medina has been appointed to the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs. Medina currently serves as the director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center at UW-Milwaukee, supporting the largest population of military-connected students in the University of Wisconsin system. The Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs is a nine-member, part-time citizen advisory board to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). It includes one representative from each of the state's eight congressional districts and one at-large member. Medina will represent District 5 in southeast Wisconsin.
January 6, 2025
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is asking for folks to help us show our veterans how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice by sending Valentine’s Day cards to veterans living in WDVA facilities. *Read the full press release to learn how to mail Valentine's Day cards by January 31, 2025.
November 21, 2024
MADISON—The Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM) has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. This achievement reflects the excellence and professionalism of the entire WVM staff as they preserve and educate the public on Wisconsin’s veteran history. October 21, 2024
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary-designee James Bond announced
$550,000 in grants were awarded to 15 nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance,
entrepreneurship training, or other services to Wisconsin veterans and their families.
“I am thrilled that WDVA can help these nonprofits with their innovative work on behalf of our
state’s veterans,” said Secretary-designee Bond. “These grants will help provide mental
healthcare, basic amenities, job training, assist veteran entrepreneurs, and more. Wisconsin is
lucky to have so many folks stepping up for those who have served in the armed forces.
September 5, 2024
In honor of Vern Larson, military veteran, Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs member, and family man, Governor Tony Evers and WDVA Secretary-designee James Bond issued the following statements:
"Vern Larson was steadfast in serving others throughout his life, including the entirety of his career, and he will be remembered and revered by so many who he helped and advocated for throughout his many years of distinguished service," said Gov. Evers. "In addition to serving over two decades in the military, Vern also served on the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs and volunteered with local organizations and senior facilities, always going above and beyond to support Wisconsin’s veterans and their families across our state. Kathy and I were saddened to hear of his passing, and we extend our deepest condolences to Vern’s loved ones and all those who had the honor of knowing him." “Vern Larson was the embodiment of service, giving his time and voice to help veterans and their families,” said Secretary-designee Bond. “As a Veteran with a service-related disability myself, I appreciate his unwavering commitment to ensuring veterans had access to medical care. His contributions, leadership, and passion will leave a lasting legacy. He will be deeply missed, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and all who were touched by his work.”
August 27, 2024
Last week, Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary-designee James Bond reached an important milestone—in just over a year, he traveled to every one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties and 11 tribes to personally consult with each of the state’s 83 County and Tribal Veteran Service Offices. CVSOs and TVSOs are crucial in advocating for veterans in their communities and connecting veterans and their families with federal and state benefits.
August 8, 2024
WEST ALLIS—Yesterday at the Wisconsin State Fair, the Wisconsin State Building Commission unanimously approved spending $9 million to purchase the building that currently houses the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Purchasing the building, located on the Capitol Square, is the next step in the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs plan to construct a new state-of-the art facility to preserve our state’s veteran history.
May 16, 2024
MADISON — Gov. Tony
Evers, together with Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Secretary
James Bond, announced today that nine nonprofit organizations are receiving
Veteran Mental Health Community-Based Organization Grant funding to promote
positive mental health through activities, programs, and services that enhance
the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of Wisconsin veterans. February 7, 2024 Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary-designee James Bond announced $350,000 in grants were awarded to 12 nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance, entrepreneurship training, or other services to Wisconsin veterans and their families. “These grants directly fund the good work being done on the ground to assist veterans and their families," said Secretary-designee Bond.
January 3, 2024
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is asking once again for caring individuals to send Valentine’s Day cards to our veterans living at the Wisconsin Veterans Homes in Chippewa Falls, King, and Union Grove. Please be sure to mail your Valentine’s Day cards to our veterans no later than January 31, so they may arrive in time to be distributed to all our Homes on February 14. View the full press release and mailing details here.
December 14, 2023
On Thursday, Dec. 7, the Lac du Flambeau Family Resource Center was presented with a $50,000 check from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) to assist tribal veterans with mental health services at the Lac du Flambeau Joni Mathews Veterans Service Office.
December 11, 2023
MADISON—This week, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) was awarded grants totaling $732,628 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to support the hiring and retention of nursing staff at WDVA's three veterans long-term care homes. “Our veterans homes provide dignified, high-quality care to our state's veterans and their spouses," said WDVA Secretary-designee James Bond. “Nursing homes across the nation are struggling due to workforce shortages in a post-pandemic landscape. To maintain exceptional care standards, we must invest in recruiting qualified and caring nursing staff. These grants will fund a top priority for WDVA—making our long-term care homes the gold star for veteran care." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin's decline in nursing staff is more severe than the national level, with an 18.3 percent decrease in staff at nursing care facilities throughout the state from February 2020 to May 2023, compared to 11.6 percent nationally.
This is the second year in a row that WDVA has applied for and received these grants.
November 27, 2023
MADISON — Today, Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary-designee James Bond announced that applications are now being accepted for the second round of three Veteran Mental Health Grants: The Emergency Crisis Mental Health Treatment Program Grant, the Veteran Mental Health Ancillary Treatment Program Grant, and the Veteran Mental Health Community-Based Organization Grant.
November 17, 2023
MADISON—The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) today announced that 7 organizations are receiving $474,407 from two Veteran Mental Health grant programs that will directly subsidize mental health care for Wisconsin veterans. These grants are part of Governor Tony Evers’ $10 million investment in veteran services, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
November 1, 2023
MADISON — Over the past several months, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary-designee James Bond has traveled to each of Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized Tribes to meet with leaders and Tribal Veteran Service Officers to discuss the issues unique to veterans in their communities. Secretary-designee Bond was pleased to be accompanied by the Department’s new Tribal Liaison, Melissa Doud. Follow this link for photos (Note: Photos taken at most, but not all, visits).
September 7, 2023 MILWAUKEE — Gov. Tony Evers, together with Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Secretary James Bond, today announced 16 nonprofit organizations are receiving Veteran Mental Health Community-Based Organization Grant funding to promote positive mental health through activities, programs, and services that enhance the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of Wisconsin veterans. In addition to announcing organizations that will receive Veteran Mental Health Community-Based Organization Grant funding, Gov. Evers today also announced two additional veteran mental health grants for mental health providers—the Emergency Mental Health Grant to serve veterans with crisis or emergency mental health needs and the Ancillary Mental Health Grant for licensed providers to administer mental health services to veterans.
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