Please contact the VAC Coordinator to add announcements or events to this calendar.

The next VAC meeting will be held on Wednesday January 20, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Click here for the draft agenda.

NEW  Virtual classes for caregivers will be held online weekly, beginning January 19, 2021 through February 23, 2021, from 4-6 p.m. This program is free and each participant will receive a book, The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. The book, along with an information packet and class summaries, will be provided to each participant prior to the start of class. Registration is required and the deadline to register is January 12th. Space is limited to 12 participants maximum and is first come, first serve, so register ASAP. To register, please call 301-600-6001 or email CaregiverSupport@FrederickCountyMD.gov. For more information please visit: www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/SeniorServices 

NEW  There will be a virtual workshop on Tuesday January 19 at 1 PM to give older adults, their family and friends step-by-step guidance to the online registration process for Covid-19 vaccine appointments. The virtual workshop will be conducted by Shawn Dennison, Public Affairs Officer, COVID Division of the Frederick County Health Department. Join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84359706661.  Pre-registration is not required. Persons new to Zoom may email virtualseniorcenter@frederickcountymd.gov for guidance.  For more information about programs and services, please visit: www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/SeniorServices  

NEW Farmers can apply for the new Agriculture Innovation Grants.  The program is designed to keep agriculture a viable and profitable industry for future generations of farmers, a goal of the award-winning Livable Frederick master plan. Farmers may apply for competitive grants of $5,000 or more to help expand or diversify their business operations. To be eligible, applicants must be a crop or livestock producer, a value-added producer, an agricultural cooperative, a seafood processor, or a primary or secondary timber products processor. Funds may be used for research and development, production buildings, major fixtures, or processing facilities. Information on the program, including how to apply, is available online at www.DiscoverFrederickMd.com/
 ag_innovation_grant. If a printed application is required, contact Katie Stevens, Associate Director of Agriculture Business Development in the Office of Economic Development. She can be reached by phone at 240-285-2795 or by email at kstevens1@frederickcountymd.gov.

NEW  The University of Alabama is excited to invite women Veterans to participate in the national survey, “Assessing the Needs of Women Who Served in the U.S. Armed Forces.” Women are experiencing transition challenges differently than their male counterparts. Your experiences can be a very valuable part of this study and we want to hear from you.  This 20-30-minute survey will be asking about your time in the armed forces, your needs, experiences, and preferences relating to your transition back to civilian life. All your answers are anonymous and will not be tied back to you in any way. Only summary level data will be reported. We thank you in advance for your willingness to help the profession and other military members in this important way. Click/copy the link to take the survey: bit.ly/38y975y.  If you have any questions please contact either Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas at katehendricksthomas@gmail.com  or Dr. Karl Hamner at khamner@ua.edu  / 205-348-0129. If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about your rights as a research participant, contact Ms. Tanta Myles, the Research Compliance Officer, at (205) 348-8461 or toll-free at 1-877-820-3066.

NEW Ask the Question Campaign Did you know that Maryland is home to approximately 385,000 Veterans, 30,000 active duty service members and 18,000 reservists/national guard members?  In addition, there are 130,000 Veteran households with children and another 60,000 reserve/national guard/active duty dependents.  The Maryland Veteran suicide rate is 17% and hovers almost 4% higher than the total rate of 13% (per 100,000 population).  Studies indicate that the majority of Veterans seek healthcare outside of VA and that their providers do not know whether their clients have served. These also providers lack high military cultural competency.  Maryland is launching the Ask the Question Campaign: Have you or a loved one ever served in the military? Asking this question promotes the opportunity to educate and connect more people to valuable military/Veteran related programs, thereby improving overall well-being of our service members, Veterans and families. Human services professionals are encouraged to complete training on military cultural competency and to learn about military/Veteran related benefits.  For more information, go to https://veterans.maryland.gov/ask-the-question-campaign/.

NEW Saratoga War Horse has released its 2021 schedule of programs at the Baltimore County Agricultural Center, 1114 Shawan Rd. Cockeysville, MD 21030. The Saratoga War Horse program takes place during 3-day classes, offered several times each month and throughout the year. The average class size is 5 participants. The program is available to Veterans and service members from all branches of the military, regardless of when or for how long they served. There is NO cost for Veterans to attend the Saratoga War Horse program. The program pays 100% of lodging, meal, and program expenses. For more info, contact the Veteran Intake Coordinator, Janine Jagodzinski, janine@saratogawarhorse.org 518-252-0285 or the local Outreach Manager, Jason Marshall jason@saratogawarhorse.org 518-531-3219

NEW Join the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals for a virtual self-improvement series! These workshops will teach you how to counteract stress, recalibrate your sleep, and handle complex problems with a series of manageable steps. No Cost Open to All Clients (Veterans, Military Families & Caregivers). Please contact the Cohen Clinic at 240-847-7500 or info.mfc@eseal.org. 

NEW The Steven A. Cohen Clinic is also offering Virtual Office Hours on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of every Month from 11:30am - 12:30pm EST. Registration Required: http://bit.ly/CohenOfficeHours. 

NEW  The Veterans Health Administration recently released the first 6 episodes of their new podcast "She Wears the Boots: A Podcast for Women Veterans." This podcast is dedicated to the recognition of the unique needs of women as well as the people who may be caring for them. She Wears the Boots hopes to provide information about resources and services in the VA that can foster resiliency and life enrichment.

VAC Meetings: All VAC meetings will be streamed live to the Frederick County Boards and Commissions FB Page. In order to listen to this meeting toll‐free, please dial 855‐925‐2801, enter code 9813 and select *1. 

Public comments will be accepted at VAC meetings on the VAC live portal located at www.frederickcountymd.gov/commissions, or by calling toll-free 855-925-2801, entering meeting code 9813. Leave a voicemail comment to be played back to the board or entering into a queue to give live public comment. Written comments and transcribed voice messages will be included in the VAC record and minutes. Please note that personnel matters are confidential and comments on those issues cannot be received through this kind of forum.