A message from the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services
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Formation of the Maine
Veterans’ Dental Network
The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS) is pleased to announce the formation of the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network in partnership with Northeast Delta Dental
and participating dental clinics. The network will provide dental services to Maine’s veterans who otherwise could not afford them. In 2021, Northeast Delta Dental
provided a $35,000 ear-marked grant for veterans, which has been divided between
the clinics. Services will be provided on a first come first serve basis and will be
available until funds run out.
Working with community partners, MBVS is creating a state-wide referral system to the clinics and will assist with connection to them. Any veteran who is not 100% service-connected to the VA, doesn’t have dental insurance, and cannot afford to pay for dental care out of pocket may contact the below list of dental clinics on May 17th to enroll in the program. Wabanaki Tribal Health Centers not offering dental services in house may refer their veteran dental patients to the clinic nearest to their community.
The participating clinics include: Community Dental (Biddeford, Farmington, Lewiston, Monson, Portland, and Rumford); Lincoln County Dental (Wiscasset); Kennebec Valley Family Dentistry (Augusta); Waterville Community Dental (Waterville); UNE Dental Clinic (Portland); UMA Dental Clinic (Bangor); Eastport Health Care (Eastport), and Fish River Rural Health (Madawaska, Fort Kent, and Eagle Lake). The following are services included in the grant: Preventative, diagnostic, restorative, oral surgery, and major restorative. Services not included in the grant are as follows: Dental implants, orthodontics, fixed bridges, telehealth or PPE charges.
“It is clear that the state’s dental clinics are uniquely qualified to identify the veterans in their communities who most need access to oral health services,” stated Sarah Sherman, MBVS Director of Strategic Partnerships, “We are very hopeful that once a foundation is created for this program it will continue to grow.”
To receive dental services, veterans must provide a copy of their DD-214 (discharge papers) and grant permission for clinics to forward the document to MBVS for addition
to their database. An Honorable or General Under Honorable discharge is required
to qualify for the program. Veterans who don’t qualify due to their type of discharge,
can work with the clinic to arrange another means of access to care. If the veteran doesn’t have a copy of their DD-214, MBVS can help them acquire one by submitting
the State of Maine Request Form as found on their website - https://www.maine.gov/veterans/forms/index.html
MBVS Director David Richmond noted, “There has been a long-standing need to provide dental services to Maine veterans who cannot afford to pay for them out of pocket. It is with invested research and great pride that we kick off this inaugural program. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the clinics who participated in the Bureau’s needs assessment which ultimately led us to this solution and to Northeast Delta Dental’s President & CEO, Tom Raffio, and Chief Dental Officer, Dr. Mitch Couret for their encouragement and mentorship in building the program. This wouldn’t have been possible without their generosity and we greatly appreciate it.”
For more information or to access the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network, please contact Sarah Sherman at 207-430-5816 or email sarah.sherman@maine.gov.
Visit the MBVS website to learn more about available oral health resources
in the State of Maine. -https://www.maine.gov/veterans/benefits/healthcare/dental_access_and_information.html
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Memorial Day Ceremonies and the
Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemeteries
Across the State of Maine Memorial Day ceremonies will continue to look different in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact local officials to ensure you have the most up to date status of community events in your area.
A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at noon by the outdoor committal shelter at the Northern Maine Veterans' Cemetery and will be hosted by their cemetery committee. The event will consist of a keynote speaker, twenty one gun salute, and prayers.
The Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Association will host an event on Memorial Day at the Southern Maine Veterans' Cemetery at 83 Stanley Road
in Springvale. The ceremony will be held at the Committal Shelter and will begin at
11:00 a.m. with an opening prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, Amazing Grace, a wreath laying, rifle salute, the playing of Taps, and ending with a closing prayer.Recently MBVS met virtually with the Maine Veterans’ Coordinating Committee and members of the Veterans’ Cemetery Association to start planning Memorial Day events at the two Augusta Veterans’ Cemeteries. COVID-19 updates will be closely monitored leading up to the event and all current protocols will be required for event attendance. For the most recent information pertaining to the Memorial Day event at the Maine Veterans’ Cemeteries, please continue to monitor the MBVS Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/mainevets or call MBVS at 207-430-6035.
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Maine’s Homeless Veterans
Receive a Helping Hand
The MBVS Homeless Veterans Team has seen a large uptick in the number of identified homeless veterans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (almost doubled in number). Working with partner agencies, MBVS has advocated to shelter veterans and connect them to community partners for services including: Connection to a means of identification (State of Maine ID and/or VA ID) which is necessary to receive services,
VA and state benefits, employment, clothing, food, medical and mental health services.
If you are aware of a homeless veteran in your community that needs help, please contact MBVS Homeless Veterans Coordinator’s Assistant, Rebecca LaBonte at
207-446-0168 or email rebecca.labonte@maine.gov.
The MBVS Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance Program (VEFAP) can be utilized for homeless veterans who have an emergency financial need and qualify for the program. See the MBVS website VEFAP link for more information - https://www.maine.gov/veterans/benefits/tax-finance-benefits/vefa.html
Often, MBVS is asked, “How can I help homeless veterans?” One way is to connect with Maine Veterans in Need, a volunteer organization which addresses the core issues effecting homeless veterans – lack of shelter, clothing, and food. Contact James Bachelder - james.bachelder@metrocast.net or David Patch - dapatch@roadrunner.com for more information on ways you can help Maine’s most vulnerable veterans. |
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What’s Going On
May 15: Armed Forces Day Ride starts and ends at L-A Harley Davidson (839 Main Street, Lewiston). Registration 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Kickstand up:10:30 a.m.
Back at L-A Harley Davidson 12:30 p.m. Ride to benefit Veterans of Foreign Wars.
May 22: The L&A Veterans’ Council is looking for volunteers to place flags on veterans’ graves for Memorial Day. Meeting location is Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston, ME at 10:00 a.m. Call Jerry DeWitt to sign up – (207-576-0376) or email jdewitt@tchms.org
June 1: A Soldier’s Journey Home is currently looking for volunteers in to assist with their next veteran's build in June for Maine's Army SGT Christy Gardner. The structure will be an ADA-compliant, mortgage-free, smart home. If you would like to volunteer please contact David "Rico" Petruccelli at 207-252-3943 or email rico@soldiersjourneyhome.org. For more information see the Foundation's website - https://www.asoldiersjourneyhome.org/
June 19: Veterans Count is hosting an Over the Edge fundraising event. Rappel down One Canal Plaza in Portland, ME. Pre-register for the event and help raise $1,000
for a great cause. FMI – https://vetscount.org/maine/
July 18-23: Couples Retreat for Veterans and Active Military Couples at the Oceanwood Conference Center in Old Orchard Beach.
FMI - https://www.projectnewhopema.org/events/
August 29-Sept. 4: PTSD Veterans Retreat Oceanwood Conference Center in Old Orchard Beach. FMI - https://www.projectnewhopema.org/events/
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