227 E. Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130 Phone: 740/652.7920 fax: 740/689-6203

Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30 PM Mon-Fri
Commission Board meets: 1st and 3d Wednesdays Monthly at 4:00 PM.

VIRTUAL PTSD

The Department of Defense has launched a website, "Virtual PTSD Experience", that will allow users to explore the causes and symptoms of post-traumatic stress in an anonymous setting on the Second Life virtual world platform. Second Life provides T2 a limitless space on the Internet where service members can learn more about PTSD causes, symptoms and resources for information and care. Visitors enter the Virtual PTSD Experience space through the Second Life website, which can be accessed for free. For more information, visit the Virtual PTSD Experience website:

http://www.t2health.org/vwproj/

Veterans Links Veteran's Information Portal National Resource Directory for Veterans VA Crisis Hotline Center for Women Veterans Help for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Information for Iraqi Freedom Veterans Wounded Warriors Family Support VA Life Insurance or VMLI Chillicothe VA Medical Center Lancaster VA Medical Clinic Mesothelioma (Asbestos Exposure) Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Resource

Veterans Links

Veteran's Information Portal

National Resource Directory for Veterans

VA Crisis Hotline

Center for Women Veterans

Help for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Information for Iraqi Freedom Veterans

Wounded Warriors Family Support

VA Life Insurance or VMLI

Chillicothe VA Medical Center

Lancaster VA Medical Clinic

Mesothelioma (Asbestos Exposure)

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Resource

Veterans Service Organizations The Ohio Department of Veteran Services Ohio Veterans' Homes The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame The Ohio Military Hall of Fame The Dept. of Ohio American Legion The Dept. of Ohio American Veterans (Amvets) The Dept. of Ohio Veterans of Foreign Wars The Dept. of Ohio Disabled American Veterans Military Order of Purple Heart Vietnam Veterans of America Korean War Veterans Association Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) National Guard Association of America Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Veterans Service Organizations

The Ohio Department of Veteran Services

Ohio Veterans' Homes

The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame

The Ohio Military Hall of Fame

The Dept. of Ohio American Legion

The Dept. of Ohio American Veterans (Amvets)

The Dept. of Ohio Veterans of Foreign Wars

The Dept. of Ohio Disabled American Veterans

Military Order of Purple Heart

Vietnam Veterans of America

Korean War Veterans Association

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

National Guard Association of America

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Newpapers Veterans Hour Online Newspaper Marine Corps Times Army Times Navy Times Airforce Times Stars & Strips Newspaper The Veterans Voice

Newpapers

Veterans Hour Online Newspaper

Stars & Strips Newspaper

The Veterans Voice

Ohio State Veteran's Benefits Ohio Veteran Housing Programs Ohio Veterans Home The Ohio Veterans Home Agency is a State of Ohio establishment comprised of two facilities, a home located in Sandusky, Ohio (approximately 60 miles west of Cleveland) and a home located in Georgetown, Ohio (approximately 45 miles east of Cincinnati). The Georgetown Home is a licensed nursing home providing two levels of nursing care – standard care and special care (Alzheimer/ Dementia). The Sandusky Home, in addition to offering standard care and special care in its licensed nursing home, also offers Veterans Hall (DOM), a domiciliary for those who are able to function in an independent living situation, and DOM+ for those requiring very limited assistance (supervised care) but who do not require the level of care provided to nursing home residents. Learn more about the Ohio Veterans Home Ohio Financial Assistance Benefits Compensation and VA Claims County Veterans Service Officers are extensively trained to assist with the preparation and submission of VA claims, compensation and appeals. Learn more about Compensation and VA Claims Financial Assistance Financial assistance is available through your County Veterans Service Office on a short term basis to eligible veterans and their dependents. Learn more about Financial Assistance Military Injury Relief Fund Ohio grants money to individuals injured while in active service as a member of the armed forces of the United States and while serving under operation Iraqi freedom or operation enduring freedom. Effective August 21, 2008 MIRF is exempt from State Taxation Ohio Education Benefits Ohio War Orphans Scholarship In order to be eligible for consideration of a scholarship, the child of an eligible person must meet the following requirements: (1) At the time of application, have attained his or her sixteenth but not his or her twenty-first birthday; (2) At the time of application, if a child of a veteran who entered the armed services: (a) As a legal resident of Ohio, have resided in the state for the last preceding year; (b) Not as a legal resident of Ohio, have resided in the state for the year preceding the year in which application for the scholarship is made and any other four of the last ten years; (3) Be in financial need, as determined by the Board. Learn more about the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Ohio GI Promise In an effort to enhance the benefits for veterans established in the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill, effective on August 1, 2009, the University System of Ohio is taking a proactive step to better serve those who serve our country. The following are components of our state-level initiative, the Ohio GI Promise. Learn more about the Ohio GI Promise Program Other Ohio State Veteran Benefits Burial Benefits Burial Benefits are available for eligible veterans. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer) Learn more about Burial Benefits Medals/Awards and Decorations Your County Veterans Service Office has forms available and can assist veterans and their families in search of Medals and awards. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer) Learn more about Medals/Awards and Decorations Military Records Your County Veterans Service Office has forms available and can assist veterans and their families in search of military records and discharges. Also please review links to the left for 'Request for Records'. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer) Learn more about Military Records Military/Veteran License Plates Ohio's Bureau of Motor Vehicles has many military/veteran license plates available to eligible veterans. Learn more about Military/Veteran License Plates Transportation to Medical Appointments Many of the organizations and County Veterans Service Offices across Ohio free transportation to local VA facilities. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer) Updating your Discharge Your County Veterans Service office has the forms available to request updates to your discharges and can assist you in submitting the form properly. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer) Recreational Benefits Ohio offers the following recreation benefits for qualifying veterans: Hunting & Fishing Licenses for qualified veterans FOR INFORMATION CALL 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) Boating Licenses for qualified veterans FOR INFORMATION CALL 877-426-2837 Camping at Ohio State Parks FOR INFORMATION CALL 877-426-2837 http://ohiodnr.com/camps/discounts/tabid/205/Default.aspx

Ohio State Veteran's Benefits

Ohio Veteran Housing Programs

Ohio Veterans Home
The Ohio Veterans Home Agency is a State of Ohio establishment comprised of two facilities, a home located in Sandusky, Ohio (approximately 60 miles west of Cleveland) and a home located in Georgetown, Ohio (approximately 45 miles east of Cincinnati). The Georgetown Home is a licensed nursing home providing two levels of nursing care – standard care and special care (Alzheimer/ Dementia). The Sandusky Home, in addition to offering standard care and special care in its licensed nursing home, also offers Veterans Hall (DOM), a domiciliary for those who are able to function in an independent living situation, and DOM+ for those requiring very limited assistance (supervised care) but who do not require the level of care provided to nursing home residents.
Learn more about the Ohio Veterans Home

Ohio Financial Assistance Benefits

Compensation and VA Claims
County Veterans Service Officers are extensively trained to assist with the preparation and submission of VA claims, compensation and appeals.
Learn more about Compensation and VA Claims

Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available through your County Veterans Service Office on a short term basis to eligible veterans and their dependents.
Learn more about Financial Assistance

Military Injury Relief Fund
Ohio grants money to individuals injured while in active service as a member of the armed forces of the United States and while serving under operation Iraqi freedom or operation enduring freedom. Effective August 21, 2008 MIRF is exempt from State Taxation

Ohio Education Benefits

Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
In order to be eligible for consideration of a scholarship, the child of an eligible person must meet the following requirements: (1) At the time of application, have attained his or her sixteenth but not his or her twenty-first birthday; (2) At the time of application, if a child of a veteran who entered the armed services: (a) As a legal resident of Ohio, have resided in the state for the last preceding year; (b) Not as a legal resident of Ohio, have resided in the state for the year preceding the year in which application for the scholarship is made and any other four of the last ten years; (3) Be in financial need, as determined by the Board.
Learn more about the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship

Ohio GI Promise
In an effort to enhance the benefits for veterans established in the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill, effective on August 1, 2009, the University System of Ohio is taking a proactive step to better serve those who serve our country. The following are components of our state-level initiative, the Ohio GI Promise.

Learn more about the Ohio GI Promise Program

Other Ohio State Veteran Benefits

Burial Benefits
Burial Benefits are available for eligible veterans. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer)
Learn more about Burial Benefits

Medals/Awards and Decorations
Your County Veterans Service Office has forms available and can assist veterans and their families in search of Medals and awards. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer)
Learn more about Medals/Awards and Decorations

Military Records
Your County Veterans Service Office has forms available and can assist veterans and their families in search of military records and discharges. Also please review links to the left for 'Request for Records'. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer)
Learn more about Military Records

Military/Veteran License Plates
Ohio's Bureau of Motor Vehicles has many military/veteran license plates available to eligible veterans.
Learn more about Military/Veteran License Plates

Transportation to Medical Appointments
Many of the organizations and County Veterans Service Offices across Ohio free transportation to local VA facilities. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer)

Updating your Discharge
Your County Veterans Service office has the forms available to request updates to your discharges and can assist you in submitting the form properly. (Contact your County Veteran Service Officer)

Recreational Benefits
Ohio offers the following recreation benefits for qualifying veterans:

Hunting & Fishing Licenses for qualified veterans
FOR INFORMATION CALL 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543)
Boating Licenses for qualified veterans
FOR INFORMATION CALL 877-426-2837
Camping at Ohio State Parks
FOR INFORMATION CALL 877-426-2837
http://ohiodnr.com/camps/discounts/tabid/205/Default.aspx