State of Minority Veterans Affairs, A Call for Help Bi-Weekly Report
Submitted by H. Fennell, Sr.
Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc.
May 14, 2004
GOAL:
To develop an abstract document that will facilitate for awareness and changing in policy flaws that preclude the delivering of sensitive and dignified health care services for minority veterans.
Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc. has either met with or had contacts with the following individuals and discussed “The State of Minority Veterans Health Affairs”
*** Denotes, Panel Membership Request
Dr. Jacquelyn Smith-Crooks, Harvard University School/Public Health, Community Relations
Dr. Joseph Warren, Veteran/Northeastern University ***
John Auerbach, Commissioner, Boston Public Health Commission
Harvard Street Neighborhood Community Health Center (Added September 3, 2004)
Capt. David L. Ramsay, VFW Post #8772 (Added September 19, 2004)
Multicultural AIDS Coalition, Inc.
Black AIDS/HIV Coalition, (BHAC)
Walter Lucas, NESHV
Amos Marshall, NESHV
Mary Osfrem, Boston Public Health Commission *** Explain Process to track vets so far.
Albert Williams, Veteran/Member of the William E. Carter American Legion Post No. 16
Ralph Browne, Veteran/272 Veterans Association ***
Ralph Cooper, Veteran/Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse, Inc.
MaryBeth O’Sullivan, U/Mass Boston
Rev. Carol Johnson, Veteran, (Added on Agusut1, 2004)
Ernest Branch, Veteran/Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse Development Corporation ***
John Jenkins, Veteran/West Insurance
Dorothy Boyd, Veteran/William E. Carter American Legion Post No. 16 ***
Ron Armstead, Veteran/Black Veterans Historian ***
Loren E. Roberts, Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors
Abu Hanif Abdal Khallaq, Veteran/Educator ***
Critical Mass.
Committed Agencies:
Whittier Street Community Health Center
Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center
“The State of Minority Veterans Affairs” is a continuum of work started by other veteran’s agencies and some community based health service providing agencies to track how health care is administered to veterans that are eligible to receive health care treatment at the VA Medical Centers in Greater Boston and how a systemic approach using a proposed monitoring committee of concerned agencies/citizens can help to identify health disparities and impact for policy changes needed to improve and better sensitize services that are being rendered in the area of substance abuse and related health diseases, e.g., HIV/AIDS, mental health and homelessness as well as some discussion on the state of health-care for incarcerated veterans.
Invitations to:
*** Invitations should be communicated to any and all that organizers think should be in attendance with an RSVP date being October 15th, 2004.
City of Boston Commissioner for Veterans Services
Commissioner of Veterans Services, Commonwealth, Thomas Kelly
Director, New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Frederica M. Williams, President/CEO, Whittier Street Community Health Center
Jim Green, City of Boston Homeless Services
Terry Wilson, Veteran/Cardinal Medeiros Program
Amos Marshall, Veteran/New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Walter Lucas, Veteran/New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Director, Central Mass. Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Office of U. S. Senator John Kerry (No Response)
Office of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy “ “
Office of Congressman Steven Lynch “ “
Office of Committee Chairperson, Veteran “ “
Michael Lawson, Chief Administrator, VA Medical Center, Jamaica Plain (No Response)
Task Responsibility:
Commissioner John Auerbach has agreed to help with the reviewing of past data that has been gathered concerning veterans within their system and related illnesses, but has acknowledged that there is no systemic method in place to track veterans. Many minority veterans even though qualified, opt to use the community based health care systems and government sponsored insurance that overloads the present health care system based on the apathy, racism and lack of culturally sensitive health service delivery that is a consensus of minority veterans that have sought treatment at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain and other VA Medical Centers in Greater Boston.
Program Structure Proposal:
Over-view of Conference
Moderator and Introduction of Panel
Panel Discussion
Lunch
Questions/Answers
Closing Remarks
Logistical Needs:
Budget for Food, Printings, Mailings
Video Shoot, Contact BNN Station Manager, Curtis Henderson/Veteran
Meeting will be scheduled to further plan and develop. Emails will be used to augment the communications. Comments are welcomed. If agency heads are unable to attend the meetings, please designate a representative.
There is no ending when veterans that have served are now under served..
