Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) is a government agency
of the state of Florida
under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to.
. Their vision is to help Florida veterans, their families and survivors to improve their health and economic well-being through quality benefits information, advocacy, education and long term health services.
Florida first began assisting military veterans when they returned from World War II
in 1944, but it wasn’t until 1988 that a constitutional amendment was approved by Florida’s voters to create a specific agency for that purpose. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs was created in 1989 and celebrated 20 years of service in 2009.
occurred on September 12, 2008. The facility opened for interments on January 7, 2009.
The new $650 million Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona broke ground on October 24, 2008.
Legislation was passed in 2009 that authorizes the Florida Commissioner of Education to award a Florida High School Diploma to honorably discharged Vietnam veterans who interrupted their high school education to serve their country.
On June 1, 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist
and other dignitaries toured the Wounded Warrior Project
headquarters in Jacksonville
and signed Florida House Bill 509, which waived building and permitting fees for residential renovations involving safety and accessibility for disabled veterans. It also removed the limit on fees for license tags which are directed to Florida’s Veterans’ Home Trust Funds. The legislation also incorporates the U.S. Code which provides tuition and fee deferments for eligible veterans attending Florida institutions of higher learning into Florida Law.
with a Chief of Staff
over four Divisions (Administration, Veteran’s Benefits, Information Technology and Veterans’ Homes) and three Directors (General Counsel
, Legislative Affairs and Communications). An Inspector General reports directly to the Executive Director.
authorized the Florida Veterans Foundation in 2008 as a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to support the FDVA and provide service and financial assistance to Florida’s veterans. The voluntary board of directors is chosen by the Executive Director of the FDVA. Fundraising activities include cooperative projects with businesses and donations from corporations, charitable foundations, individuals and veterans.
(USDVA) and permits states to collect a per diem
to help pay for the care of qualified veterans. Residents in the program do not require Medicaid
, which saves the state money.
The FDVA operates six long-term medical care facilities
in the following locations: Daytona Beach (Volusia County), Land O' Lakes (Pasco County), Pembroke Pines (Broward County), Port Charlotte (Charlotte County), Springfield (Bay County) and St. Ausutine (St. Johns County).
The facility in Lake City (Columbia County) is intended for Domiciliary Care where the client requires assistance with one or more instrumental activities of daily living
(IADL) which permit the individual to live independently. IADLs include preparing meals, shopping, taking medications, simple housework, using technology (including the telephone), and managing money.
, American Legion
, American Red Cross
, Blinded Veterans Association
, Fleet Reserve Association
, Jewish War Veterans, Marine Corps League
, National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers Association, The Retired Enlisted Association
, Veterans of World War I of the USA (Family Members) and Vietnam Veterans of America
.
FDVA Claims Officers will assist in the appeals process, and if necessary, represent the claimant at a personal hearing before the USDVA Hearing Officer. Disabled veterans are eligible to receive free hunting & fishing permits, license plates, exemption from property taxes, toll and parking permits, and tuition deferral.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to.
Mission and Vision
The mission of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is advocacyAdvocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
. Their vision is to help Florida veterans, their families and survivors to improve their health and economic well-being through quality benefits information, advocacy, education and long term health services.
Florida first began assisting military veterans when they returned from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1944, but it wasn’t until 1988 that a constitutional amendment was approved by Florida’s voters to create a specific agency for that purpose. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs was created in 1989 and celebrated 20 years of service in 2009.
Recent developments
The Florida Vets First program was implemented in 2008, providing information and contacts for housing, healthcare, employment & benefits to service men and women returning from deployment. Groundbreaking for the Jacksonville National CemeteryJacksonville National Cemetery
Jacksonville National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located within the city of Jacksonville, Florida. It encompasses , and began interments on January 7, 2009.- History :The relatively close St...
occurred on September 12, 2008. The facility opened for interments on January 7, 2009.
The new $650 million Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona broke ground on October 24, 2008.
Legislation was passed in 2009 that authorizes the Florida Commissioner of Education to award a Florida High School Diploma to honorably discharged Vietnam veterans who interrupted their high school education to serve their country.
On June 1, 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
and other dignitaries toured the Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project
The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the United States Armed Forces...
headquarters in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and signed Florida House Bill 509, which waived building and permitting fees for residential renovations involving safety and accessibility for disabled veterans. It also removed the limit on fees for license tags which are directed to Florida’s Veterans’ Home Trust Funds. The legislation also incorporates the U.S. Code which provides tuition and fee deferments for eligible veterans attending Florida institutions of higher learning into Florida Law.
Organization
The department is headed by an Executive DirectorExecutive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
with a Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
over four Divisions (Administration, Veteran’s Benefits, Information Technology and Veterans’ Homes) and three Directors (General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
, Legislative Affairs and Communications). An Inspector General reports directly to the Executive Director.
Commission on Veterans' Affairs
Members of the Commission on Veterans’ Affairs are appointed by the Governor of Florida. They are chosen to represent veterans residing in locations throughout the state. Their function is to act as liaison for the FDVA with veteran’s organizations & auxiliaries, communities and individuals. As of 2009, there were 8 members serving on the Commission.- Chairman Fred Raymond, Pasco County
- Vice-Chairman Tony Armbrister, Broward County
- Secretary Robert E. Creger, Lee County
- Al Linden, Alachua County
- Curt Ebitz, Citrus County
- Eileen Watson, Palm Beach County
- Joseph Martory, Miami-Dade County
- Rick Jensen, Escambia County
Foundation
The Florida LegislatureFlorida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
authorized the Florida Veterans Foundation in 2008 as a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to support the FDVA and provide service and financial assistance to Florida’s veterans. The voluntary board of directors is chosen by the Executive Director of the FDVA. Fundraising activities include cooperative projects with businesses and donations from corporations, charitable foundations, individuals and veterans.
Nursing homes
The State Veterans’ Homes Program is funded by the United States Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
(USDVA) and permits states to collect a per diem
Per diem
Per diem refers to a specific amount of money that an organization allows an individual to spend per day, to cover living and traveling expenses in connection with work...
to help pay for the care of qualified veterans. Residents in the program do not require Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
, which saves the state money.
The FDVA operates six long-term medical care facilities
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
in the following locations: Daytona Beach (Volusia County), Land O' Lakes (Pasco County), Pembroke Pines (Broward County), Port Charlotte (Charlotte County), Springfield (Bay County) and St. Ausutine (St. Johns County).
The facility in Lake City (Columbia County) is intended for Domiciliary Care where the client requires assistance with one or more instrumental activities of daily living
Activities of daily living
Activities of Daily Living is a term used in healthcare to refer to daily self-care activities within an individual's place of residence, in outdoor environments, or both...
(IADL) which permit the individual to live independently. IADLs include preparing meals, shopping, taking medications, simple housework, using technology (including the telephone), and managing money.
Claims and Benefits
The Claims and Benefits Division provides many different services to the veterans and their dependents. The primary function is to assist veterans and their dependents with their claims before the USDVA. Claims worked through the Tallahassee claims office help claimants obtain compensation and pension benefits. The FDVA is accredited with 12 service organizations in order to better represent the claimant with their claims and appeals. They include American Ex-Prisoners of WarAmerican Ex-Prisoners of War
Prisoners of War is a service organization that aims to assist the surviving U.S. military prisoner of war , particularly those who are elderly and those who have medical problems. Based in Arlington, Texas, the American Ex-Prisoners of War was founded in 1942. It received a congressional charter...
, American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, Blinded Veterans Association
Blinded Veterans Association
The Blinded Veterans Association is a U.S non-profit organization that was established to "help veterans and their families meet and overcome the challenges of blindness"....
, Fleet Reserve Association
Fleet Reserve Association
The Fleet Reserve Association is a non-profit organization chartered by the United States Congress that represents the interests of enlisted Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine veterans and active duty personnel in the United States....
, Jewish War Veterans, Marine Corps League
Marine Corps League
The Marine Corps League is the only Congressionally chartered United States Marine Corps-related veterans organization in the United States. Its Congressional Charter was approved by the 75th U.S. Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The organization credits...
, National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers Association, The Retired Enlisted Association
The Retired Enlisted Association
The Retired Enlisted Association is a non-profit organization of the United States.Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for uniformed services enlisted personnel of the United States, their families and survivors - including active components, Reserves, and National Guard, and all retirees...
, Veterans of World War I of the USA (Family Members) and Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that promotes the interests of United States military veterans of the Vietnam War era. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government...
.
FDVA Claims Officers will assist in the appeals process, and if necessary, represent the claimant at a personal hearing before the USDVA Hearing Officer. Disabled veterans are eligible to receive free hunting & fishing permits, license plates, exemption from property taxes, toll and parking permits, and tuition deferral.