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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, 2018
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1 • Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 - The Independent-Register
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WDVA program helps in-need veterans get assistance, resources BY WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS
Gerald Sieren goes to work every day with one mission: assist Veterans in need. As a Marine Corps Veteran, Sieren not only has a service mentality, but the experiences he gained during his military service help him bond with and gain the trust of Veterans who need mental health or substance use services. He works as the Region 11 coordinator of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program. Sieren started as a VORP coordinator in 2015 in the La Crosse area, but has since moved to southeastern Wisconsin. Because he is formerly homeless and has suffered from mental health issues, Sieren said that he knows how things can be for in-need Veterans. “It wasn’t easy for me to ask for help,” he said. “If this program had existed when I was in need, it would have helped me from so much loss. Now, I
use my past personal experiences with Veterans. Knowing where they are, and of the help they need gives me that edge to connect and make easy transitions.” Coordinators like Sieren work throughout the state to connect Veterans to community services and provide case management and support with a special focus on treatment and recovery. He has an office, but rarely sees it as he spends his day working directly with Veterans throughout his region, which includes Green, Rock, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha counties. A big part of Sieren’s job as a VORP coordinator is building relationships with those in the community and working with them to better serve Veterans. He often collaborates with County Veterans Service Offices, Veteran service organizations, local government agencies, community nonprofits and others. Building those relationships opens the door for Veterans to also receive individualized
wrap-around services such as housing, food, clothing, furniture, education, and employment. “I appreciate knowing that once I provide Jerry with a Veteran’s contact information, he will make contact with them in a matter of hours rather than days,” Rock County CVSO John Solis said. “His promptness shows our Veterans their needs are taken seriously, and resources are being accessed to meet those needs.” Recently, Sieren met a homeless Veteran living in Lake Geneva. The Veteran, who served in Iraq, is disabled due to a car accident and was living in his vehicle with his wife and three children. He was not enrolled with the USDVA’s healthcare system at the time. Sieren met with the Veteran at the CVSO office in Walworth County, and immediately came up with a plan. He enrolled the Veteran in the VA healthcare system and filed a claim. The Veteran made an appointment for mental
Governor Walker encourages students to submit ornaments for ‘America’s Dairyland’ themed tree GOVERNOR WALKER PRESS RELEASE
We are pleased to announce America’s Dairyland as the theme for the 2018 Capitol Christmas Tree. The State Capitol Christmas Tree is displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda and serves as a centerpiece of festivity for thousands of visitors as they tour and do business in the State Capitol. Every year this tree is filled with joyful ornaments, handmade by students around the state. This year, we want to extend a special invitation to your school and students to contribute handmade ornaments showcasing America’s Dairyland. We ask that students make ornaments from non-breakable material. They must be strong enough to hold up during shipping and to be handled while the tree is
being decorated. For these reasons, we recommend students do not use fragile items or paper cutouts that may tear easily. We suggest ornaments that are 4-6 inches in size and are made from a color that contrasts with the color of the tree so they can easily be seen and enjoyed by all visitors. Please attach a ten-inch loop of ribbon or string from which each ornament will hang. If you have any questions about an ornament, please contact the Facilities Management Information Center at (608) 266-1485. Please note that ornaments will not be returned. Please send your ornaments to the address below by Friday, Nov. 23. Also, be sure to include the teacher’s name and grade, school name, and
address so that we may acknowledge your contribution. Send items to: Claire Franz Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Facilities Development & Management 17 West Main Street, Suite 119 Madison, WI 53703 We hope your school shares your classroom’s experience making the ornaments with pictures and stories through Facebook and Twitter using #WICapitolTree and #AmericasDairyland. We gratefully accept any ornaments your school provides for the tree. Thank you for helping make the State Capitol beautiful this holiday season.
health for his PTSD, and Sieren connected him with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing, and got him a fuel card to get to his appointment. Today, the Veteran is receiving non-service connected pension and filed his claim for PTSD with the VA. He was awarded a housing voucher, and found housing in the Beloit area. His children are in school, and he’s actively going to the VA Medical Center
for treatment. The WDVA’s Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program started out as a pilot program in 49 counties in 2014 and recently expanded to all 72 counties in Wisconsin. Since the program’s inception, coordinators have helped about 500 Veterans obtain mental health services, substance and alcohol treatment, and other supportive services. If you know of a Veteran in need, contact Sieren at 262-225-7636.
Sign up opens for 2019 Landscape Pesticide registry WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEWS RELEASE
The Landscape Pesticide Registry is now available to sign up for the 2019-growing season, and will remain open until February 1. The registry allows users to request that commercial lawn care companies notify you before they apply pesticides to lawns, trees and shrubs on the block where you live, or on blocks immediately adjacent to yours. You do have to list the addresses for which you want notification. Participation in the registry is free. Returning participants can log onto their existing MyDATCP account to renew their registration. You can confirm that you want to continue to receive notice for the same properties as last year, or you can add and delete properties. New users will need to set up an account and enter all the addresses for which you want notification. You can register online until February 1 at https://mydatcp.wi.gov/. Paper applications are also available here. If you use paper, you will have to relist all the addresses every year that you participate. If you are already an active user of the registry, you should have received an email or a letter from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reminding you to renew your participation, with instructions. You may continue adding addresses until February 1, when the registry will be closed to the public so department staff can review it for ineligible addresses. It will take effect March 15, when pesticide applicators will be able to search it to find out if any of their clients’ addresses have been listed. The registry applies only to commercial landscape applications. Homeowners or landlords who do their own applications are not covered by the notification requirements, nor are applications to the inside or outside of buildings. The registry does not allow for notification of pesticide use in agriculture, or for you to be notified about applications around your workplace or your children’s school or day care center.
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