Dental Care for Rural Veterans

Dental Care for Rural Veterans

In America’s Heroes Group podcast, episode 396, Dr. Annaliese Cothron joins us to discuss the disparities that rural Veterans experience. Dr. Cothron is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of American Institute of Dental Public Health, as well as a manager of the Program Fund Development and overall strategy of AIDPH.

There is a higher rate of suicide in rural VA users (33%) than urban VA users (29%). 

“Rural Veterans are less likely to self-report in some ways, like having poor mental health days,” Cothron explained. “But we also know that rural Veterans are pretty vocal about saying ‘yeah we want access to care and we want it in a way that makes sense for our lifestyle, where it’s convenient, where it’s co-located, where we can go and experience a holistic form of healthcare.’”

The American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) was created in 2015 to promote and disseminate evidence-based health promotion practices to advanced education students and practitioners in dental public health. AIDPH serves as a platform for creative programming that centers health equity as a cornerstone of oral health education and training.

America’s Heroes Group’s mission is to honor and respect the relentless commitment, ultimate sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of our retired Veterans and Active Service members thereby empowering and transforming their lives as they age in place and reacclimate back into society through identifying and positioning local and national communities as military friendly. 

Listen to America’s Heroes Group Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Pandora. Or, tune in live every Saturday from 4-6 pm CST on iHeartRadio or our Facebook page.

Veterans Supporting Veterans

Veterans Supporting Veterans

America’s Heroes Group podcast, episode 395, focuses on peer support services and groups in the VA healthcare system. We are joined by Sonya Ebhotemen, who is a US Marine Corps Veteran and Lead Peer Specialist at Hines VA Medical Center working in patient experience.

“It’s kind of like the buddy system in the military,” said Ebhotemen. “We are able to get Veterans, who are new to the VA, to the right resources they need and also utilize our own recovery journey to help connect them to services in the VA or in communities of their choice.”

VA Hines Healthcare System’s mission is to offer options to timely, quality services for Veterans through care and respect for one’s physical, psychological, and spiritual health.

America’s Heroes Group’s mission is to honor and respect the relentless commitment, ultimate sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of our retired Veterans and Active Service members thereby empowering and transforming their lives as they age in place and reacclimate back into society through identifying and positioning local and national communities as military friendly.

Listen to America’s Heroes Group Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Pandora. Or, tune in live every Saturday from 4-6 pm CST on iHeartRadio or our Facebook page.

Bill extends Benefits to Black WWII Veterans

Congressional Bill Introduced to Extend Benefits to Black WWII Veterans

In America’s Heroes Group podcast, episode 394, we address the exclusion of Black Veterans from the G.I. Bill and discuss a new bill that has been introduced in Congress to remedy the issue. Stephanie Kalota joins us as a US Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Veteran and the Founder/Creator of Veteran Legislative Voice.

“After World War 2, Black Veterans were more likely to be dishonorably discharged,”  Kalota explained. “39% of all Black soldiers were dishonorably discharged in comparison to 21% of White soldiers.”

The Veteran Legislative Voice (VLV) is a page to help veterans, spouses and patriotic Americans exercise their 1st amendment rights in contacting their government and voice their opinions about issues affecting our military service members.

America Heroes Group’s mission is to honor and respect the relentless commitment, ultimate sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of our retired Veterans and Active Service members thereby empowering and transforming their lives as they age in place and reacclimate back into society through identifying and positioning local and national communities as military friendly.

Listen to America’s Heroes Group Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Pandora. Or, tune in live every Saturday from 4-6 pm CST on iHeartRadio or our Facebook page.

Successful Reintegration for Justice Involved Veterans

Successful Reintegration for Justice Involved Veterans

America’s Heroes Group podcast, episode 392, discusses the benefits available for homeless and justice involved Veterans. Joining us is Kevin Hull, a US Navy Medic Veteran and Chicago Regional Office Homeless Veterans and Justice Involved Outreach Coordinator.

“It’s important for us to be able to regularly go out and engage with this Veteran population through outreach by going into the jails to facilitate access to [Veteran Justice and Healthcare Reentry Programs] services at the earliest possible point,” Hull explained.

VA Chicago Healthcare System’s mission is to offer options to timely, quality services for Veterans through care and respect for one’s physical, psychological, and spiritual health.

America Heroes Group’s mission is to honor and respect the relentless commitment, ultimate sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of our retired Veterans and Active Service members thereby empowering and transforming their lives as they age in place and reacclimate back into society through identifying and positioning local and national communities as military friendly.

Listen to America’s Heroes Group Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Pandora. Or, tune in live every Saturday from 4-6 pm CST on iHeartRadio or our Facebook page.